Welcome to Clapham Woods
The quiet country village of Clapham is nestled in the rolling downs. Almost the archetypal English village, Clapham consists of a single street, named, appropriately enough, ‘The Street', a few dozen homes, a post office and a village shop. Its only significant landmark is the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Behind this lies Clapham Wood – a stretch of woodland criss-crossed by public footpaths and very popular with dog-walkers and ramblers.
Historically, the village would appear to have existed in some form or other since at least Saxon times, although its exact site has probably moved on more than one occasion. For some 300 years, the manor of Clapham was held by the Shelley’s – the family of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Clapham is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, where it is spelled Clopeham. The trees around the area made it an ideal location for the gathering of wood for timber and firewood, and led to the first Saxon settlements in the area.
There is a lot of folklore associated with the woods, It has long been known as an abode for supernatural forces, ancient rituals, haunting stories and legends. It's believed that the Druids and ancient peoples used the land for ancestral worship to honour their Pagan gods and goddesses, and to commune with the spirits that are said to reside in the many trees found there. There are also the usual tales of UFO sightings etc!
This is a circular walk of approximately 3 miles and another of my favourite dog walks. The footpaths are well frequented but can become muddy in winter in places. The terrain is quite even and flat. These woods are host to an abundance of wild flowers and birds. There is something to see at all times of the year especially on a sunny day. The containers are mainly 60ml screw top micro's with one larger one for coins and trackables. There are a couple of extra caches to pick up on the way round if you haven't already, and of course what series is complete without a church micro?
If you have not done the church micro, I strongly recommend you pick up the numbers first or do the series in reverse!
If you use the church car park, please bear in mind that the gate is locked at sunset!
Have fun and good luck.