Rural Strides

Rural Strides Sharing the secrets of the Western Weald through walks. Pure escapism…. just one hour from London

Messing about by the Rother, appreciating the beauty in and around its rarely visible banks.
29/05/2026

Messing about by the Rother, appreciating the beauty in and around its rarely visible banks.




28/05/2026

At the start of May a group of us went east for a sunrise walk. With a 4.30am start we naturally needed somewhere to stay overnight. While some of the group chose a comfy bed, 12 of us champed in Firle church. Well, what an adventure that was! And in case you are wondering, there were no mice or ghosts! 🐭👻




20/05/2026

Have you heard the Nightingale’s beautiful song yet? 🪶🎶




Sometimes you just have to have faith! The dreadful forecast led to lots of cancellations for today’s To The Manor Borne...
19/05/2026

Sometimes you just have to have faith! The dreadful forecast led to lots of cancellations for today’s To The Manor Borne walk, but I was convinced the roughly 3 hour gap on the Met Office radar would align perfectly …….& it did ☺️ Maybe there is something deeper unfolding with this year’s Legacy of Belief walks theme 😅

Thank you - I’m a big fan of your weather radar 🙏🏻




A lovely late Rogationtide circumnavigation of West Thorney parish today, combining the ancient tradition of Beating the...
17/05/2026

A lovely late Rogationtide circumnavigation of West Thorney parish today, combining the ancient tradition of Beating the Bounds with remembrance of fallen servicemen - both German & those of the Royal Artillery, who are based on the island.

Armed with sticks to mark key places along the route & pens to sign memory books, we followed the parish boundary, while learning more about the story of West Thorney - including the discovery of where East Thorney once stood. After all, one of the original purposes of Beating the Bounds was to connect people more deeply to place.

Do you know where East Thorney is?




𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟱Corhampton church sits tucked from sight in the Meon Valley, like a wren in the hedgerow. Its dimin...
17/05/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟱
Corhampton church sits tucked from sight in the Meon Valley, like a wren in the hedgerow. Its diminutive size behind the mighty churchyard yew makes it easy to miss, but step inside & the building sings out loud.

Dating from around 1020, it is Saxon & perhaps the oldest surviving church in the South Downs National Park, built at roughly the same time as the great yew was planted.

On the outside there’s a wonderfully decorative mass dial. Thanks to the shade of the tree, it has long since ceased to tell the time accurately, but remains one of the finest examples I have seen locally.

Inside, the great rounded chancel arch & remarkable medieval wall paintings, described as “an impressive scheme” depicting the life and miracles of St Swithun, speak powerfully of the church’s age & importance. The west gallery, meanwhile, is one of the few remaining locally that once provided musical accompaniment to services.

Set high on a steep mound beside a busy road, & half hidden by the yew, it can be difficult to get a true sense of this church’s charm. How I wish we could step back in time & sit with those two figures perched on the church fence .....what a beautiful sight it must have been.




You are never too old for Pooh sticks…….especially when presented with both an invitation and ready snapped sticks…….& I...
15/05/2026

You are never too old for Pooh sticks…….especially when presented with both an invitation and ready snapped sticks…….& I won 🙌🏻🤩

𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟰For anyone who’s walked the South Downs Way St Mary & St Gabriel in South Harting needs no introduc...
15/05/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟰

For anyone who’s walked the South Downs Way St Mary & St Gabriel in South Harting needs no introduction. Its copper spire can easily be seen below the ridge line path. However, I wonder how many walkers have stepped off the ‘motorway’ to look inside the cathedral of the Western Downs?

Although its origins are thought to date back to Saxon times, today’s church was largely built after 1576 when a catastrophic fire swept the building.

This year marks the 550yr anniversary of the fire with many special events planned. These include a celebratory quarter peel of the bells for Pentecost on 23 May which involves roughly 1300 changes of the bells 🔔…..be sure to listen out & count!

Inside, this is no small Downland church. The majesty of its columns, arches, roof and epitaphs (including a Philip Jackson sculpture of the Angel Gabriel) are natural accompaniments to the village’s roll call of wealthy family names. From the Cowpers to the Carylls and Fords to Featherstonehaughs.

Another family name worth searching for is Godfrey. This is remembered on a pew brass. The son, Lt Col Arthur Godfrey, was the only Englishman killed during the war in Spitsbergen. He did not give his life in vain as the capture of Spitsbergen was strategically very important to WWII.





exploremoreً

A welcome gap in the rain clouds for this morning’s walk with a lovely group from , who chose to spend time together in ...
15/05/2026

A welcome gap in the rain clouds for this morning’s walk with a lovely group from , who chose to spend time together in nature during their offsite at




Wine & cheese anyone?😅 A beautiful walk followed by the opportunity to savour the delights of Upperton Vineyard……extra p...
13/05/2026

Wine & cheese anyone?😅

A beautiful walk followed by the opportunity to savour the delights of Upperton Vineyard……extra pairing with ‘cheese’ entirely optional!

Date: Friday 12 June
Walk: approx 6 miles
Terrain: undulating/flat
See website/link in bio for details

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Petersfield

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