Horsham Hike through field and forest - CANCELLED
Sorry, this event has been cancelled.
DUE TO FORECAST ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO CANCEL THIS EVENT.
Join the Outdoorlads for a varied 14 mile hike across the enticing landscapes of the western end of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with an option for a shorter walk of 9.5 miles and a bus to return to the walk start.
The walk will start from the station and take us out of the town and into St Leonards Forest, where St. Leonard the Dragon Slayer who lived in the forest is reputed to have slain the last dragon in England.We then follow the High Weald Landscape Trail, eventually heading south, passing the Wheatsheaf Pub (whether we have a brief pit stop there will depend on progress made).
At the 9.5 mile point there will be an opportunity for the wearier amongst us to take a bus back to the walk start or the town with its many pubs and restaurants (half hour journey time, half hour frequency). The rest of us will continue for another 5 miles or so, passing through fields and woodland and skirting along the border of the famed St Leonardslee Gardens. For the thirsty amongst us, we will end with a pint at one of the town's fine pubs and from there a short walk back to the station.
Photo credits: pub image (c) David Molyneux (cc-by-sa/2.0); bus image (c) Evelyn Simak (cc-by-sa/2.0); town image (c) Acabashi, Creative Commons (cc-by-sa/4.0); dragon bench image (c) N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0)
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water and snacks, and some money for the pub stop.