SWC 263: Haslemere to Midhurst via Temple of the Winds and the tiny hamlet of Henle
Distance: 14.1 Miles (22.7 km), with options to shorten to approximately 12 miles (19.4 km)
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (7 out of 10 with both shortcuts)
Train: Take the 9:30 Portsmouth Harbor train from London Waterloo to Haslemere, arriving at 10:20. The return journey requires taking a 70 bus from the Midhurst Bus Terminal to Haslemere station (20 minutes) – buses run at 17:05; 18:05 and 19:10 and return trains to Waterloo from Haslemere are frequent (02; 14 and 30 past the hour). Buy a day return to Haslemere.
First off, apologies for the bait and switch. I was very much looking forward to a Rowlands Castle extravaganza and had been hoping the forecast would improve….However, it is still looking like a potentially very soggy day for being on such an exposed walk. So, thought this little gem might make for a reasonable (and less exposed) back-up….combining some of the best features of the route from Haslemere to Midhurst – first gently climbing to the Temple of Winds viewpoint on the Black Down before dropping steeply into the valley to lunch in the tiny hamlet of Henley. After lunch the route again climbs for more stunning views back across the morning route and onward to the South Downs in the distance before dropping down to finish with a stroll through the Cowdray Estate and its evocative house ruins. The walk instructions and more details are available here. For those wishing to avoid a bus, it would be possible to switch to walk 218 (Midhurst Way – Midhurst to Haslemere direction direction) at Henley and walk back to Haslemere (about 15 miles).
The recommended lunchtime pub is the Duke of Cumberland Arms in Henley (tel 01428 652 280), about 8 miles (12 km) into the walk, which serves food until 2:30PM. An alternate pub, the Kings Arms (tel 01428 641 165), which serves food until 2:30 can be found with a diversion from the main route. Please call ahead to confirm availability or bring a picnic!
The recommended tea stop is the Cowdray Farm Shop and Caf̩ Рopen until 5:00pm. Midhurst also has a several options for post walk libations.
It is expected to walk in groups of no more than six and provide contact details. To facilitate the collection of contact details, please pre-register for this walk on the "events" page at https://www.lwug.co.uk/. You will need to first sign-on and possibly register if you have not previously registered on the site.
If you test positive for COVID within a week of attending this walk, please contact me by emailing {remove the AAA} AAAcovid@lwug.co.uk, a private dedicated COVID reporting email address.
Enjoy the walk!
3 comments:
Hey there,
What do I write in the “Walk's Poster you know” section to pre-register?
N=10 W=Rain_more_or_less_over_by_11. Surrey at its bright spring green best, rather overcast on Blackdown where the car drivers met up with the main group. We got a table at the Scarlet Arms without reservation but no food as it was "too slippery to carry the food down to where we were sitting". Two walkers visited the Kings Arms en route which was closed so no beer or food there. It was a longish morning and with my better half a bit tired from her Kings Arms diversion we got the bus back from Henley.
Just to supplement the earlier report -- our "aperitif" was at the Duke of Cumberland -- recommended to pre-book for lunch....After eating our lunches outside the pub, most of the group walked on to Midhurst in much drier conditions with the views of the South Downs becoming clearer. All walked the long route and arrived at the Cowdray Estate just in time for a tea stop at the outdoor cafe before the final stretch to Midhurst and the 18:05 bus back to Haslemere where the new train/bus schedule requires a bit of a sprint from bus to train....
Post a Comment