Walkers keep on walking

The choir undertook further walks in March and April. On March 20, a group of seven left the Hare and Hounds in Godstone and walked around Bay Pond to St Nicholas Church. We skirted the church graveyard and went past Moore's Shaw to the A22, crossing the busy road to reach quiet meadows and Knight's Garden Centre.

Steep ascent near A22

A short walk along the A25 led to Nagshall Farm from which we followed the clear path towards Hop Garden Cottage. Here the path was inexplicably blocked off, which required a steep ascent through dense woods to the busy A22, where we had walked with no pavement and lorries speeding by. Eventually we were back on the muddy path to Tandridge where we viewed the ancient yew before slaking thirsts at the Barley Mow.

Walkers pose by ancient Tandridge Yew

The return journey across rolling meadows was less eventful, save for a short detour around Leigh Mill pond where erosion had made the regular path dangerous. Supper was taken back at the Hare and Hounds.

On 17 April 16 walkers left The Diamond in Hurst Green on an eastward footpath across the East Grinstead rail line and into Honesland Wood. We then crossed the Uckfield line by a road bridge, turned south west and returned across the line, this time via a footpath level crossing. The walk was marked by numerous enervating styles before we reached Staffhurst Wood.  Here we enjoyed the seas of bluebells waving in the spring sunshine, followed by numerous pretty streams and ponds.

The Diamond 16 at the Royal Oak

We exited on the west side and crossed fields to the Royal Oak pub and its glorious sunny patio. The return journey led through Foyle Farm back to the Diamond. As this pub doesn't serve food on Monday evenings, we drove to the nearby Haycutters pub. They could not accommodate us either so we moved on to the Old Bell in Oxted, where there was plenty of space, plenty of food, but horror of horrors, no beer. We were so exhausted we ate there anyway.