tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post3241082279960703012..comments2024-03-28T11:16:38.801+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: Saturday walk - Petersfield to Rowlands Castle - Varied scenery in the western South DownsAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-2444515758330382012019-05-25T18:02:34.587+01:002019-05-25T18:02:34.587+01:00N=17 on this walk on a day that was basically w=su...N=17 on this walk on a day that was basically w=sunny, give or take a bit of cloud. Worse weather has been walked in at worse times of year. <br /><br />An early excitement (for me at least) was seeing a flock of swifts screaming over Petersfield. Further excitement came after passing though a new housing estate on the edge of the town when we found a gate the path passed through locked shut with a sturdy cable. A nearby workman opined that the path “should have been re-opened by now” and lent us a Stanley knife with which to cut the cable. We decided instead to pioneer a route through the shrubbery which circumvented the gate. <br /><br />After a walk through flowery meadows we came to pretty Buriton, where there was some debate about whether to lunch there or push on to Chalton. About half opted for Buriton, where the Five Bells has a very pretty garden, where we sat in the sun or not according to taste. The food was hearty rather than particularly inspired, but certainly filled a hole. We were almost the only diners. <br /><br />After lunch all was very dreamy and nice, and after crossing the railway line some of us sat on the downs and watched the occasional common blue and small heath butterfly flitting about. We then joined the Chalton lunchers for tea in the terraced garden of the Red Lion. <br /><br />On through waving fields of barley and along fine open ridges, and past a surprising field of (surely planted?) tansy-leaved phacelia (a striking purple flower), which was swarming with bees. <br /><br />Bringing up the rear yours truly then got to Rowlands Castle, anticipating a convivial drink at the Castle Inn, only to find the rest of the party gathering themselves to get the 5.46 train. So I sit here alone, dear reader, with my half of cider, and pen these lines.Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.com