We plan to organise car shares in advance, so will not meet at West Town Car Park.
Park in the public car park at Hampshire Farm Meadows in Westbourne (free, no toilets), postcode PO10 7GE, grid reference SU752074 for walk start at 10 a.m.
The walk goes northwards through a housing estate then into Hollybank Woods and continues into Stansted Park. There is the possibility of a stop for coffee and toilets at the garden centre (approx. 3 miles into the walk). We turn eastwards, crossing into West Sussex, and continue, climbing very gradually, to Racton Monument.
We the drop to the B road up to West Marden and Compton - after a little way we pick up a side road to Aldsworth. Here we take a footpath which leads us to the edge of Westbourne, and we rejoin the cars after a short walk through the Farm Meadows.
Virtually the whole route is on hardcore tracks or tarmac road, the exceptions being 2 short paths towards the end of the walk, one in Aldsworth and the other in Westbourne. Neither of these showed signs of being difficult to negotiate in winter, but they could be bypassed without much effort if they did.
The total distance will be 7.1 miles, with around 400 feet of ascent.
We can drive into the centre of Westbourne or the centre of Emsworth for lunch, with several pub and cafe options available.
Note - this walk may be brought forward to Friday 9th January if there is no walk on the first Friday of the month.