southcotswoldramblers.org.uk South Downs 2012 Day 2 - Medium HF walk from Fittleworth back to Abingworth House

Holiday Photos Day 1 The Trundle >> Day 2 Medium walk << Day 2 Harder walk Day 3 Medium walk Day 3 Harder walk Day 4 Harder walk Day 5 South Downs Way
	After a short coach ride to Fittleworth, the group get going on a sunny morning
	The South Down hills in the background
	And in the foreground...
	Free ranging pigs
	Still some bluebells
	Peter our leader checks we are all keeping up
	And it's just a short way
	To Stopham church
	Where Peter explains its history
	And all about the old Stopham Bridge
	Quite a history
	Not much traffic now
	We note the arch that was raised to take boats
	Old and new
	The sun re-emerges
	Rhododendrons
	and Azaleas grow by the pathside
	We pass lots of mature trees
	A well marked path
	A haze of red fescue?
	Some large houses
	At Pulborough we are invited into the church
	Where we are given a quick tour after the morning service
	We continue through the town
And head down towards the water meadows
Passing this amazing wisteria
And following the river bank on a causeway
Across very marshy land
With grazing animals of many types
To provide varied habitats for wild birds
An amazingly loud nightingale sings in the hedgerow
A herd of deer graze
We continue on the public footpath after our lunch stop
And visit Wiggonholt church
An amazing building
With oil lamps
A timber ceiling
An unusual stained glass window
In a really peaceful location
We are pleased to have a break at the RSPB visitor centre
And join up with the harder walk group
Passing the Sussex fencing which we see everywhere
Heading eastwards
Some paths extremely mean in width
The downs still in view
Pat, the other leader, sees us across the road back into the grounds of Abingworth Hall.
Photos and captions from Mike