WINTER WALK

Took place on Sunday, 8th February 2026

 

Well we got the weather we had booked for the day. Dry, fine mild.

33 enthusiastic walkers gathered at the carpark at Rockland St Mary, and whilst some of us had perhaps met up during the cold damp winter there were several who had not seen each other since the end of the 2025 sailing season.

There was much overheard conversations in the carpark prior to setting off about winter sailing in the BVI, campervan touring in New Zealand, and other winter holidays in the sunshine.

We set off, lead by CJ (Carolyn) on this ‘EACC standard 3-mile walk’, a walk which had been planned some 3 years ago and we kept on hoping the New Inn would re-open so as to use that as the base, but sadly to date it still remains closed.

 

The walk took us off in a southerly direction across the fields, via Burton’s farm, round a meadow (unless you took the short cut) past Sumps Plantation to St. Andrews Church Claxton, where we had a chance for a re-group, view the church, short prayer, and for those who brought a coffee flask to have a coffee.

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Following the stop, we set off in a north westerly direction following the public footpath to Low Common and across the Hellington and Rockland St Mary Community Reserve, where it was a little muddy in places!

As we came out of the reserve, we turned eastwards to take us on some of the permissive paths that allowed us to return to New Inn Hill just a few yards up the hill from the car park start point.

Having established all had safely completed the walk the anticipated ‘Le Mans’ start to The Ferry House was a little subdued with crews changing footwear and setting off at a relaxed EACC pace.

Sonia and her team at The ferry House looked after us well, all were fed, and although we all knew that they would not be able to feed us all simultaneously at 1.0pm I can say the food was worth waiting for (my table was last to be fed). The time waiting for our food was used productively in catching up with fellow EACC chums, (and drinking beer).

Everybody found the start point, everybody who walked found their way back to the cars, everybody found their way to The Ferry House for lunch, everybody, who was dining, had their meal!

Job done till next year, thank you all for attending.

Jimmy

 

On behalf of all participants we extend a big thank you to Jimmy and Carolyn for organising it again and thanks also to them, Roger, Jane and Paul for their photographic contributions.