Woodmansterne wander

A small but perfectly formed choir walking group departed the Woodman pub in Woodmansterne on a rare sunny afternoon on 27 June. Master navigator Dave Bannister guided the group into a beautiful hidden downland slope, which none of the group had seen before, and which led across to Park Downs near Banstead.  

Six of the seven walkers pause on Park Downs

After crossing Holly Lane the group retraced a route skirting Banstead Wood which had previously been walked in the opposite direction up to Perrots Farm. Dave then led the walkers through the edge of the woods to Fames Rough, a rare chalk grassland site he had been working on a few weeks earlier, and on to the chalk grassland of the Chipstead Valley.

Fine walking weather - at last!

A short detour through a meadow full of spectacular wild spring flowers took the group past the ancient Nuttery with its 200-year-old walnut trees to a welcome stop at the Ramblers Rest. Meeting up with Ted Mouat, the group supped a refreshing beer, bathed in sunshine in the pub courtyard, before embarking on the return walk to Woodmansterne.

Leading the way on Park Downs

The whole group stayed for dinner, no doubt attracted by the cheap but excellent beer, half-price meals and enormous desserts!

"The entire group stayed for dinner" - photos by Trevor Watkins