swcwalks, swcwalk177, Chipstead to Kingswood, 16/2/24

After a 3 month hiatus, due mainly to poor weather and the continuing train strikes, this was a decent return to the Great Outdoors. Today's 9.5 mile walk is in the Surrey Hills, but still within TFL's Zone 6. It was a mild, mainly overcast day, with a westerly breeze. Overnight rain meant some muddy paths, though nothing too bad.
The initial terrain was the ancient woodlands of Banstead Woods, with its oak 'compass timber' history and more recent 'Narnia' sculptures. Then, it's across parkland to the recommended lunch-time pub stop in Mugswell, though this walker, in the absence of a church on this walk, chose a woodland setting.
This walker also chose to reverse the country lane section thereafter (possibly to the walk author's original plan?) to avoid any fast cars, and that worked!
There's some further woodland walking through the 'Long Plantation', the crossing of some farmland and tracks before arriving at a large, abandoned office block. The station is reached shortly after.
A good walk at any time of the time of the year, though school-holidays might be busy. Potential for Bluebells in places.
(First video utilising the new Panasonic HC-VX1 camcorder).

[@ButterCupMMXXIII]

Fantastic to hear your voice! Thanks for your video! 🍻

[@amib]

Pleasure! Now into my 15th year and had the same camcorder for most of that. Let's see how long it goes with the new one🤞 Thanks for watching again😉👍

[@dcan48]

Great to see you back

[@amib]

Thanks for that, and for watching again. Hopefully, both the train situation and weather will improve henceforth🤔🤞Global Warming has definitely had an impact over the last year; worst I've known!😉👍

[@LizSmith292]

Good to see you back. Enjoyed this walk and video with the new equipment. Am a great fan; keep up the good work.

[@amib]

Thanks Liz. Yes, early days with the new kit/editing, so still working on that. Unsure I'll be able to do that this week as the weather is looking pretty poor across the SE region. Hopefully, the Met will be wrong again🤞 Thanks for watching again😉👍

[@LizSmith292]

Same here in East Anglia but heading to start the English Coastal Path starting in Brighton next week. Fingers crossed re rain and rail strikes.

[@amib]

@@LizSmith292 Enjoy that and good luck with the both the weather and trains🤞 That's a very long walk, bits of which I've done on these videos. Definitely one to do in stages👍

[@whufcjay73]

Good to see you back , I’ve been checking every Monday morning to see if you have uploaded a new vid then finally last Monday 🎉😂

[@amib]

Thanks! It's still a bit hit and miss currently, I'm afraid, what with the incredible amount of water about and the ongoing train strikes. I wasn't able to get out this week due to the former☹️Fingers crossed things improve🤞 Thanks for watching again, and I won't mention the footie😉👍

[@gillianbridge-tj9bm]

So lovely to see another video amib. Cheered me up immensely on a miserable day up here in the Pennines ; incessant rain here today ! Some lovely views captured perfectly, though am not convinced by the " woodland sculpture " ; how can this improve on the natural state of things ? Anyway, thank you as always and am already looking forward to bluebell season !

[@amib]

Thanks for watching again Gillian. Yes, as I've mentioned, and as evidenced by my recent absence, I've never known a year like the last one for rain/wind. Our climate is definitely altering. Thus, it's hit and miss I'll be out this week, unless the Met have got it wrong again☹️Fingers crossed though🤞

[@maxthecat14]

I live near there, and personally, I like the sculptures. They are carved from wood, so it's a natural material. The kids like to see them too.

[@amib]

@@maxthecat14 Everyone will have their opinion and yours is different to mine. The sculptures are indeed Oak, but that doesn't justify the human influence in a natural environment. Thanks for watching😉👍

[@maxthecat14]

@@amib Sometimes the Natural world needs or is complimented by human influence. Bluebell season is lovely I agree.

[@TheFairway8]

Nice n Sleazy Stranglers reference Something Better Change. Hopefully Reform can change something. Interesting walk

[@amib]

Well spotted!😏 Yes, a revolution is needed🧨 nothing will change with a vote for the usual 3 suspects. Thanks for watching😉👍