Residential visit to Abingworth

16 – 19 May 2012

The HF house at Abingworth (West Sussex) is a really luxurious hotel in 8 acres of grounds. The facilities were first class, en-suite rooms, lovely food and a comfortable sitting area. There was also an excellent boot and drying room. Everything was included in the cost, the only extras were bar and newspaper bills.

We met on the journey down at a canal car park close to the Onslow Arms in Loxwood for a 4½ mile walk which Sue Crisp and [name removed at their request] has sorted out at the same time as they had tried the house out a while ago. It proved to be a very interesting walk across pastureland and along the Wey and Arun Junction Canal. Sue mentioned that a local group of enthusiasts became interested in the canal, and having carried out some research into its history formed the Wey and Arun Canal Society in 1970 with a view to reopening it.

On our arrival at Abingworth we were allocated our rooms and afternoon tea/coffee and cakes were served in the lounge, followed by a welcome talk and tour around the grounds by the walks leaders. Every evening we all met at 7pm for a briefing about the three walks on offer for the next day. This was followed by our evening meal.

Looking down into Cuckmere Haven Looking down into Cuckmere Haven Photo: Alison Broadbridge

The next day (Thursday) we left the house at 9.20am by coach towards Eastbourne where the three walking groups were dropped off at the appropriate starting points for the coastal walks in the vicinity of Beachy Head and Birling Gap. The easier walk of 4¾ miles with 625 feet of ascent, the medium: 8 miles and 850 feet of ascent and the hard: 10½ miles with 1375 feet of ascent.

After the seventh 'sister' it was down into Cuckmere Haven and a welcoming cup of tea at the visitor centre tea shop before the coach picked us up to return to Abingworth. We were lucky as the weather was great and the wind behind us!

The three HF leaders had arranged another interesting evening which included trying to figure out what strange old items we were given has been used for in the past.

The Chanctonbury Ring The Chanctonbury Ring Photo: Liz Adams

Friday morning we were out again driven by coach to our respective dropping off point for the walks to Cissbury and Chanctonbury Rings, the spectacular Iron Age Forts, walking along the South Downs Way and the Monarch's Way and finishing in Steyning. The easier walk of 6¾ miles, medium 8½ and the harder one 12 miles with increasing amounts of ascent. By the time we reached Steyning the rain had closed in but there was time for tea and to visit the wonderful church. On our last evening we had a Ceilidh at which guests were encouraged to show their hidden talents, firstly by a group of ukulele improvers (a special interest group on a course running adjacent to ours). The six of them were amazing on their ukuleles, singing along as they played. Several other people entertained us including Peter Ewart from our group, and the whole evening was interspersed with some country dancing.

On the way home to Oxford John and June Henville had organised a walk around the Polseden Lacey National Trust Estate. Thanks to Sue Crisp for organising such a great short break.

Clive and Ann Jones