Took the boys out for a trip to Chanctonbury Ring today, and boy was it cold, when we arrived at the little car park at the base of the hill, OAT on the car read -3.5C.
We were heading to the ring of trees on the old hill fort at the top right of this picture
We didnt arrive until 10:30 but everywhere was still white with frost from the previous night
The walk in
anyone who has visited Chantonbury will know that at the base of the hill is a small group of beech trees and these have always been festooned with swinging ropes, i used to come here when i was i kid and play on the ropes and the "tradition" has thankfully continued, more on the ropes later
the boys had a bit of a mess around in amongst the beeches before we headed up the hill
Play time over time to head on up
View over the Downs from about half way up the hill, although it looks like snow in the background, it's a heavy frost
Nearly at the top, littleun challenged me to run the last 100 yards, so i took him up on the challenge,
wished i hadn't by the time we got to the top, i was knackered, but there again so was littleun
having reached the top of the path we headed towards the Ring itself
we stopped halfway along the ridge, from where we could see the car parked in the little car park 700ft or so below us
Got to the ring and walked part of the way round it
before heading off to the Dew pond on the Western end of the ridge
we didn't hang around at the pond for long though, as the wind was adding to the chill, dont know what the temp was up here but it was seriously cold, headed to the trig point, out highest point today at 780ft above sea level
the views to the north were amazing, the North Downs being visable in the distance
headed back to the sanctuary of the ring to get out of the biting cold wind
where the boys had a bit of a play around
and then back towards the wooded slopes to the East of the ring
time for a spot of lunch and hot drink
eldest wanted to cook his own lunch today with his crusader cooker unit
filling our faces
lunch over it was time to head back down to the swinging ropes, the boys mum told them, you can only go, if you go down the steep side of the hill on your backsides and i want photographic proof, so here it is
having gotten back down, we headed back to the ropes where the boys had fun, not only swing on the ropes, but exploring the maze of roots on these old trees
eldest enjoying a root cave, only wants his hobo stove and he'd be away
Cracking day out with the boys, best bit is they want to do it again next weekend
We were heading to the ring of trees on the old hill fort at the top right of this picture
We didnt arrive until 10:30 but everywhere was still white with frost from the previous night
The walk in
anyone who has visited Chantonbury will know that at the base of the hill is a small group of beech trees and these have always been festooned with swinging ropes, i used to come here when i was i kid and play on the ropes and the "tradition" has thankfully continued, more on the ropes later
the boys had a bit of a mess around in amongst the beeches before we headed up the hill
Play time over time to head on up
View over the Downs from about half way up the hill, although it looks like snow in the background, it's a heavy frost
Nearly at the top, littleun challenged me to run the last 100 yards, so i took him up on the challenge,
wished i hadn't by the time we got to the top, i was knackered, but there again so was littleun
having reached the top of the path we headed towards the Ring itself
we stopped halfway along the ridge, from where we could see the car parked in the little car park 700ft or so below us
Got to the ring and walked part of the way round it
before heading off to the Dew pond on the Western end of the ridge
we didn't hang around at the pond for long though, as the wind was adding to the chill, dont know what the temp was up here but it was seriously cold, headed to the trig point, out highest point today at 780ft above sea level
the views to the north were amazing, the North Downs being visable in the distance
headed back to the sanctuary of the ring to get out of the biting cold wind
where the boys had a bit of a play around
and then back towards the wooded slopes to the East of the ring
time for a spot of lunch and hot drink
eldest wanted to cook his own lunch today with his crusader cooker unit
filling our faces
lunch over it was time to head back down to the swinging ropes, the boys mum told them, you can only go, if you go down the steep side of the hill on your backsides and i want photographic proof, so here it is
having gotten back down, we headed back to the ropes where the boys had fun, not only swing on the ropes, but exploring the maze of roots on these old trees
eldest enjoying a root cave, only wants his hobo stove and he'd be away
Cracking day out with the boys, best bit is they want to do it again next weekend
