South Downs.

Quoted message said:

All in all I've seen another side to the Downs, not that bad at all.

Yes, it's all too easy to dismiss your local countryside. Living in
Kent, I always used to think I'd have to endure a 5hour slog to hills,
but actually there are some brilliant and interesting walks on and
around the Weald. In particular there's a bit of the Greensand Way
near me that's perfect for an afternoon stroll.

Dave

This sounds like we're getting into singing the praises of the
disregarded landscapes of south-east England. If so, I'd like to get
in early and cast a vote for:

1) The Marlborough Downs, and in particular Cherhill and the
astonishing I-didn't-expect-that combe of Ranscombe Bottom (try
entering Ranscombe from the top end when the orchids are out).

2) The last few (or maybe first few?) miles of the Ridgeway, up to
Ivinghoe Beacon - go out of season or early in the day to dodge the
tourists.

3) I've got a huge fondness for the Capital Ring and London LOOP, and
I can't really explain why...

There's no need to run for the hills, they're right here...

Cheers

Anth

Please link to: http://www.wheresthepath.com/index.htm

In message <[email hidden]>, toad
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've always viewed the South Downs (which are local to me) as an
inferior alternative to the Welsh hills to be visited only when
there's no time for the slog up the M4.

snip

Quoted message said:

I did a bit of investigation to find a quiet
basic campsite that allowed campfires near the south downs.

I'd love to know the campsite as I too am looking for such a site. Email
me if you don't want all the world and his cousin to know.

Quoted message said:

I'd assumed this would simply not be possible. However, although the
web wasn't much use, I easily found a basic farm site via word of
mouth. It allowed campfires and was in a completely remote location.
Easily as good as any I've stayed on in Wales.

Snip interesting bit about the South Downs.
--
Paul reply-to is valid

Quoted message said:

I've always viewed the South Downs (which are local to me) as an
inferior alternative to the Welsh hills to be visited only when
there's no time for the slog up the M4.

I spend just about every weekend walking on the South Downs - being local to
me near Portsmouth - and they have their own kind of magic as the mountain
areas of UK have. I love the Lakes and other mountain regions, but an early
start on the Downs can be really stunning. And I have done some early 12
mile walks and not seen one other walker! Another area favorite to me,
although further to travel, is the Dorset coastline from Swanage to
Weymouth. Stunning cliff walks, though can be busy in the 'nicer' weather,
with sometimes a surprisingly 3 plus thousands feet of ascent! No, every
walking area in this green and pleasant land can be exciting ......... you
don't need big snowy points .....

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills, summiting
still brings the same excitement!'

On 17 Apr, 08:15, "sandy saunders" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've always viewed the South Downs (which are local to me) as an
inferior alternative to the Welsh hills to be visited only when
there's no time for the slog up the M4.

I spend just about every weekend walking on the South Downs - being local to
me near Portsmouth - and they have their own kind of magic as the mountain
areas of UK have.

For me the big suprise was finding a 'proper' remote basic campsite
that we had to ourselves and allowed campfires. It never occured to me
that could exist nearer than Wales.

urlwww.wheresthepath.co.uk/url said:

This sounds like we're getting into singing the praises of the
disregarded landscapes of south-east England.

I lived in Southampton for just over a year and to be honest, I didn't
notice much there that appealed to me. In fact, checking my diary, I seem to
have made quite a few trips back to Wales during that time! Even though the
Isle of Wight was on my doorstep I never bothered to go over and take a
look.

Quoted message said:

There's no need to run for the hills, they're right here...

I noticed one or two bumps in the generally flat landscape, but never
bothered to walk up them. I never bothered to explore the South Downs. I'm
not saying these are bad places, just pointing out that I didn't bother to
visit them.

I did visit the New Forest a few times, not that many, but I did some long
cycle rides around the area so I got to know the general layout quite well.
I even went backpacking there in the snow once. Yet my photo record of the
place is virtually non-existent, partly because I was at a low point in my
photo "career" (I was more interested in playing around with video at the
time), but mainly because I just didn't see much worth photographing, just a
load of trees and flattish open areas. At that time, if it wasn't high and
steep I wasn't interested.

Pity, because I'm sure I missed some good opportunies there. I noticed a
beautiful autumn photo taken in the New Forest a few days ago and wondered
"why didn't I ever try to take photos like that?" I guess my eyes just
weren't open to the different kind of beauty that was available to me. With
the right kind of light, the right times of day and the right times of year,
I'm sure there must have been loads of potential for moody, atmospheric and
arty photographs, but I just didn't go looking for them. If I'd put just a
tenth of the effort that I've put into photographing mountains I'm sure I
could have come away with a nice little photo collection of images to remind
me of the area, but sadly that didn't happen.

An opportunity wasted...

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk

toad said:

For me the big suprise was finding a 'proper' remote basic campsite
that we had to ourselves and allowed campfires. It never occured to me
that could exist nearer than Wales.

I see you are intent on keeping it to yourself. :-)
--
Phil Cook, last hill: Heron Pike via Nab Scar.

Phil Cook said:

toad said:

For me the big suprise was finding a 'proper' remote basic campsite
that we had to ourselves and allowed campfires. It never occured to me
that could exist nearer than Wales.

I see you are intent on keeping it to yourself. :-)

I suspect even if I gave full details the chances of enough UKRWers
going there to spoil it are remote.

toad said:

Quoted message said:

I see you are intent on keeping it to yourself. :-)

I suspect even if I gave full details the chances of enough UKRWers
going there to spoil it are remote.

I agree. Is it my imagination or aren't there many people here anymore? It
doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was.

I guess newsgroups are old hat now and many people are moving to more modern
ways of communicating on the net, like blogging and the explosion of social
networking sites.

In fact, I'll be starting a blog of my own soon. I notice a few other
urw'ers have already done so.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk

Paul said:

In message <[email hidden]>, toad
<[email hidden]> writes>I've always viewed the South Downs (which are local to me) as an

Quoted message said:

inferior alternative to the Welsh hills to be visited only when
there's no time for the slog up the M4.

snip

Quoted message said:

I did a bit of investigation to find a quiet
basic campsite that allowed campfires near the south downs.

I'd love to know the campsite as I too am looking for such a site. Email
me if you don't want all the world and his cousin to know

Hi Paul, drop me a mail and I'll give you the details!

Another area favorite to me,

Quoted message said:

although further to travel, is the Dorset coastline from Swanage to
Weymouth.

Good one! How did I forget the incredible SWCP? The Isle of Portland
bit is pretty amazing too, but Harland Point to Bude is probably my
favourite bit now - astonishing amount of ascent there I reckon!

Cheers

Anth

toad said:

I've always viewed theSouthDowns(which are local to me) as an
inferior alternative to the Welsh hills to be visited only when
there's no time for the slog up the M4.

However this weekend I was late packing mycampingkit and getting
myself sorted out so I did a bit of investigation to find a quiet
basic campsite that allowed campfires near thesouthdowns.

I'd assumed this would simply not be possible. However, although the
web wasn't much use, I easily found a basic farm site via word of
mouth. It allowed campfires and was in a completely remote location.
Easily asgoodas any I've stayed on in Wales.

When walking I clicked the 'biased against because it's local' switch
to 'off' and assesed the scenery I was walking through a bit mor
eimpartially and it didn't come up wanting. Ok, it's not wilderness
but being able to see the sea on one side and the Weald on the other
is pretty special also there are more man made features of interest to
ponder on than many Welsh Walks. (Looking down on Newhaven harbour
from thedownsis pretty special - certainly the further away you are
the better it looks!)

All in all I've seen another side to theDowns, not that bad at all.

toad, I'm looking for a wild/wooded place to stop on the South Downs
and wondered where you stayed, sounds good.