After a wonderful cook up by Honor's Dad - eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, fried bread ... the fully monty - we set off down the A3 in convoy with the Hatfields to do another stretch of the South Downs Way.
We wiggled our way off the A3 after Hindhead to the Butser Hill car park. After the shock of paying for the car park, we had the nicer shock of the fantastic view right out until the sea
And so we set off in brilliant sunshine: Honor, Andrew, me, Charlotte, Holly and Lara.
Shortly after setting off you walk under the A3, and into Queen Elizabeth Country Park where the clouds started to gather and the rain came in. Lara and Holly were like a couple of skaters, with plenty of muddy mishaps, in their trainers. And by the end of the walk only a couple of us had managed to remain upright! Here we are at South Harting - very wet and getting hungry.
The final member of the party, Caroline, joined us having walked out from Elsted where we were due to have lunch at 2pm ... it was 2pm and quite a way to go. Finally, wet and bedraggled but on the dot of 3pm (when orders finished) we arrived at the Three Horseshoes Inn .. only to find it wasn't the pub I'd booked and their last orders finished at 2pm! The woman behind the bar was unmoved by Honor quite understandably having a tearful moment. We'd been walking for four hours.
Caroline to the rescue - she powered back to where she'd parked her car and ferried very tired and end of tether troops onto the fabulous Eldred Inn who very kindly kept their kitchen open. We cannot recommend this pub more highly: wonderfully kind staff who despite soaking wet muddy children and a dog welcomed us warmly, helped dry our clothes by the log fires and fed us with utterly delicious food.
I can't for the life of me find their website .. they need to do some SEO! But the number is 01730 813 662.
And you can email Steve to make a reservation steve@theelstedinn.com.
Another great part of our journey, shared with friends, to make it 28 miles down, and 72 to go!
