In my own footsteps

Sun 28 Sept, 2008: 10 miles, ascent approx 250m (Map: OS Explorer 135)

A lovely sunny autumn Sunday saw me back in Ashdown Forest to do a walk with the Sussex Womens Walking Group. This walk followed a route very similar to the walk I did on 31st August (In the Footsteps of Piglet).

Four of us met at Bushy Willows Car Park, on the B 2026, about 2 miles north of Duddleswell and about 4 miles south of Hartfield, just north of the junction with the B2188.

Crossing the road from the the car park, we joined the Vanguard Way, which follows a broad track almost parallel to the B2026, after about a mile the VW crosses this road. After crossing, we turned roughly N from the VW on a track that's not on the map, passing just to the W of the trig point at Gills Lap - "Galleons Lap". We soon arrived at the AA Milne/EA Shepard memorial (the "Enchanted Place"). The view N and W over and beyond the Forest was beautiful on this clear sunny morning.

Continuing along the same track and down hill, kept on what appeared to be the main track as it turned slightly E of N (also not on the map), shortly after arrivingat the minor road that runs W from the B2026 nearby. N.B. As before, what is on the ground (tracks) and what is on the map (not much) doesn't always quite correspond in these parts.

After following this road for a couple of hundred yards we then took the road roughly N and then NW to Marsh Green. Here we took a footpath (starts as a track) NW towards Fincham Farm. Distracted by chat (not unusually), about a quarter of a mile from the road, we took the fork N instead of heading NE towards Fincham Farm, realizing our error, we took the footpath NW to take us to the B2110 near where we expected to be. After a dog-leg of about a quarter mle west on the B2110, we rejioned the planned route and continued N by footpath across Parrock Lane. Here Pooh stick collecting started in earnest with intense discussion of the merits of stick size, shape, etc.

We arrived at the disused railway track (the Forest Way) and followed this for a mile in the direction of Hartfield. The families of cyclists were out in force today, enjoying the early autumn sun. We dropped down the embankment (where the tracked bridges a bridleway)and turned south on the bridleway, stopping just before the woods for a lunchbreak in the sun (although it was a bit dewy under bum). After assorted lunches, we continued through the woods up towards Newton's Hill and the B2110. After a short dogleg NE on the road we arived the footpath, which leads roughly S and is signposted for Pooh Sticks Bridge in English and Japanese.

Going S at first, this path then bends SW past Gallipot Hill Farm and then down hill across fields to join a bridleway also running SW to Pooh Sticks Bridge - tiddley pom! We were armed with a selection of finely-tuned racing sticks, and had a best-of-three series and an outright winner - well done Kaz S.

With Tina refreshed by a change of socks, half a mile later we were back at the road, crossing our outward path and very soon picking up the footpath running SE and then NE through Posingford Wood and then SE to the B2026 again. After a couple of hundred yards NE on the road, we picked up a footpath down over a footbridge and SE then E into "Hundred Aker Wood" ("Five Hundred Acre Wood" on the map), to join the Wealdway S and the SW up through the wood and on across heathland for another mile in the same direction.

We saw a pair of buzzards circling in the distance as we looked out over the alledged location of Pooh's "north pole". We also saw another unidentified smaller raptor, though we couldn't see it clearly, we decided it wasn't a sparrowhawk or a kestrel. Soon we reached the VW again and retraced our steps back to the car park.

Great weather after a crappy summer. Altogether a great day!

Here's a brief write up on my holiday last week.

Being a bit late with organising things, plans didn't quite work out and I ended up going to Madeira for a week's walking with Exodus Holidays: the hotels were variable but ok-ish, our guide (Leonardo) was excellent, the grade of walks was as expected, and the rest of the group were a good bunch for a weeks' walking.

Weather was typically Madeiran (apparently) - some sun + heat, especially lower down, some breeze, some cloud, and a bit of rain. There were swimming opportunities most days (great for me).

Day 1 Arrival late evening Machico
Briefing, drinks, and bed

Day 2 Ponta da Sao Lourenco
5 miles, approx 100m ascent/descent
This looked easy on paper, and the outward leg was lovely; however, by midday the sun was well and truly up, it was bloody hot with no shade. There was a brief respite with a dip in the sea at lunchtime, but on the return leg I felt like I was cooking. Two ice lollies at the end of the walk helped restore me to normality though I was a bit concerned about how the rest of the week would work out if the weather stayed like this.

Day 3 Machico to Porto da Cruz
8.5 miles, approx 300m ascent/desent
It was a bit cooler, fortunately, as we started with a steep ascent from Machico. After our initial up we followed a levada for a stretch before further ascent over a low pass to arrive on the cliffs on the north coast. An adventurous afternoon followed as we negotiated a stretch of exposed cliff path with a 300m sheer drop to the sea below (this got christened  "the path of certain death"). Anyway, after surviving certain death, we bimbled down into Porto da Cruz, stopping for scrumped grapes and figs on the way. The walk ended with drinks and a swim in the surf.

Day 4 The Levada do Caldeiro Verde from Queimadas to Caldeiro Verde then down to Ihla
8 miles, approx 100m ascent/400m descent
The levada walk from Queimadas to Caldeiro Verde is a classic Madeira walk, apparently now made safer (and less adventurous) by installation of rails along the most precipitous stretches, although there are still dark tunnels to liven things up a bit. This is a beautiful walk, but its popularity resulted in hoards of walkers on the way out and at the caldeiro itself. On the way back, we left the main drag back to Queimadas and headed for the village of Ihla in the valley below. Despite the crowds on the outward leg, the forests of laurel, hydrangea, bay, and dandelion trees was wonderful and the "green cauldron" itself well worth a look. 

Day 5 Achada do Teixeira to Encumeada via Pico Ruivo, Pico do Jorge, and Boca Encumeada
9.5 miles, approx 600m ascent/1100m descent
The big walk of the week, and an early start to see the sunrise at Achada do Teixeira. This is another classic walk, with a well-marked trail, but without yesterday's crowds as it really is one for the comitted walker. It was chilly up top, and the view from Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on the island (1862m)  was obscured in cloud and drizzle. After a long stretch of steps down and then up a bit more up and down, we ascended toward the top of Pico do Jorge, the way was steep, drizzly and sweaty and brought us to the start of our long descent. After a bit of a chilly lunch stop we headed down - about 2.5 hours descending 1100m in 3-4 miles, mostly on steep and damp rock steps. This was a real challenge for me with my fear of steep descents and slippy steps, but there was time and space for me to plod on without distractions, finally arriving at Encumeada in sunshine to the sound of a buzzard mewing and the distant site of our hotel. Cold beer was followed by a hot bath and a room with a magnificent view!

Day 6 Encumeada to Boca da Corrida following the Caminho Real da Encumeada
8 miles, approx 400m ascent/100m descent
Our last walk of the trip and I was surprised by how well I'd recovered from the day before. Today's walk followed an old Royal Road (a Caminho Real) from Encumeada, heading down a touch to cross the head of the Ribeiro Brava (a couple of almost dry streams) before ascending to a mountain pass above the beautiful Curral de Freiras and then climbing a little more to Boca da Corrida - our journey's end. The walk started off through woodland (eucalyptus and pine) before ascending into scrub of broom and brambles (ouch), with butterflies and spectacular views into the valleys below and of the mountains above. We stretched out along the track and I enjoyed a solitary walk up to the pass. Although the cloud was building in the valleys, the view down to the Curral was lovely. I had a good long lunch break and a lie-down on a rock watching the swifts swooping a few feet above me. I loved this walk!!!

Day 7 R&R day in Funchal
Dolphin watching and lazing by hotel pool for me
 
Day 8 Back to Blighty
Late morning flight

Sun 31 Aug, 2008: 11 miles, ascent approx 250m (Map: OS Explorer 135)

Other titles for this post could have been "No Country For Soft Toys" or "The Car Parks of Ashdown Forest"(there are quite a few).

Another wet Sunday morning, but forecast to get better later (whatever that means), also a lazy start, but eventually I pootled up beyond Uckfield in East Sussex, arriving at my starting point, King's Standing car park in Ashdown Forest at about noon. The car park (not to be confused with the multitiude of other car parks in the area) is a couple of miles north of Duddleswell  and about 4 miles south of Hartfield on the B2026, very close to its junction with the B2188.

Today's walk was devised from bits of a few other walks in this area to give a good flavour of Pooh Country while avoiding the village of Hartfield and its Pooh-tat shops.
 
Leaving the back of the car park I crossed some rough bits to join the Vanguard Way going NW across the B2188. After about a mile of broad track almost parallel to the B2026, the VW eventually crosses this road. After crossing, I turned roughly N on a track that's not on the map, passing just to the W of the trig point at Gills Lap - which AA Milne immortalised as Christopher Robin's "Galleons Lap". Continuing N in the rain I passed to the W of a quarry ("Sandy Pit"?) and then arrived at the AA Milne/EA Shepard memorial (the "Enchanted Place") with its view N and W over and beyond the Forest.

Still heading along the same track (roughly N) and down hill, the houses at Jumper's Town came into view, and I picked up a track heading slightly E of N (also not on the map), to arrive at the minor road that runs W from the B2026 nearby. This was all a bit of a wiggle - as I've found before what is on the ground (tracks) and what is on the map (not much) doesn't always quite correspond in these parts.

I followed this road and then a smaller one going just N of W; to try and pick up the footpath near Podlea Flock Farm that runs N to Marsh Green. Anyway, the path eluded me, so I retraced my steps part way and took the road roughly N and then NW to Marsh Green. Here I found my next path going NW via Fincham Farm to the curiously-named Cabbagestalk. After a short dog-leg west on the B2110 I continued N by footpath across Parrock Lane towards the disused railway line. It had almost stopped drizzling when I spotted a fallow doe and young ahead of me on the track, but they sensed me and were gone in an instant.

Soon I saw my first mountain (not) biker whizzing past ahead of me on the Forest Way (that's the disused railway line). After a drizzly snack (pasty), I joined the FW going roughly NE towards Hartfield. The sun was coming out as the rain stopped and I wandered along the old track, which seemed quite narrow, thinking of steam trains passing under the overhanging trees.

After about a mile of sun-dappled track, I reached a bridge, where a path passes beneath. Dropping down the embankment, I turned south on the bridleway towards Newton's Hill and the B2110 again.

A 100-yard dogleg NE on the road brought me to the footpath going roughly S and signposted for the infamous Pooh Sticks Bridge.

After its initial run S, this path bends roughly SW past Gallipot Hill Farm and then down hill across fields to join a bridleway also running SW. Feeling welcomed by numerous "no picnic-ing" signs I marched onwards towards the eponymous bridge without tarrying amidst the families chucking twigs as per the prescribed ritual (been there, done that).

Within half a mile I rejoined the road briefly (crossing my outward path) before picking up th footpath running SE. Not focuing on the nav in hand I missed my turning to the NE and arrived at Chuck Hatch car park. Steps retraced, I picked up the footpath wanted going NE through Posingford Wood and then SE across a horsey-type place to hit the B2026 again. A brief bit of road NE took me to a footpath down and SE then E into Five Hundred Acre Wood ("Hundred Aker Wood"), where I joined the Wealdway S and the SW up through the wood for a mile or so and the on across open-ish heath for another mile in the same direction (and still mostly upwards).

Somewhere to the west and down below me at this point was the fabled location of the "north pole" as found when CR and Pooh went on an "expotition". Eventually, this path crosses the VW, which I rejoined to retrace my outward path back to the car, via an ice cream van.

The walk had ended up being a tad longer than expected because of my detours, but the rain did stop. "Tiddley Pom" as Piglet once sang.