Monday Mar 31, 2008: 7.75 miles, ascent approx 440m (Map: OS Explorer 122)
Hoorah! The clocks went forward this weekend and, as I am usually at this time of year, I was looking forward to being able to get some nice walks in without having to get going too early in the morning. Now, as much as I like the mornings, sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day and it's great to be able get stuff done and then start a walk in the afternoon and not fret about when it's going to get dark!
During my break up t'north I realised that I needed to get my act together and get used to walking up hils a bit more before my trip to Scotland in a couple of months. So, with a long afternoon to spare, I planned a shortish route with a couple of good ups - or at least as good as you get in these parts.
The route was cobbled together from bits of various walks I've done over the years, including one I enjoyed as an after-work jaunt a couple of time last year with a big fat hill in it. I parked the Vauxhall Broomstick in the Jack and Jill windmills car park on the Downs above Clayton, which about a mile or so from Hassocks in West Sussex.
Heading roughly southeast, I passed New Barn Farm and crossed the South Downs Way by the golf course. Zig-zagging along in the same overall direction, about three quarters of a mile further on I turned northeast onto the Sussex Border Path. I followed this all the way up to the SDW again and then down the north side of the Downs via Burnhouse Bostal to Underhill Lane.
About a half mile of the lane (going east) brought me to the car park (not on map) at the foot of Ditchling Beacon by the Beacon road. I took the footpath south and nice and steeply up. After seeing my first wood anenomes of the year, I forked southeast through the nature reserve. After a stop for a breather and a drink on a conveniently positioned bench, I slogged on up to the SDW at 230m or so.
After a tiny dogleg (a puppyleg?) across the SDW (again), I headed south and then southeast on the bridleway to Heathy Brow and North Bottom. Continuing towards Lower Standean Farm, I piked up the track to pass to the north of the farm buildings, after which I turned north onto a footpath, climbing gradually (and feeling it) back towards the SDW (again).
Crossing my earlier tracks near Keymer Post (not on map) at the SDW, I continued down hill (north) on a bridleway, forking westwards to rejoin Underhill lane, this time going west towards Clayton. After about two-thirds of a mile of lane, I turned onto a footpath rising steeply from the road (southwest/west) to begin my climb back up to Jack and Jill. Taking the footpath that curves around the top of a chalk pit, and then the bridleway going southeast, Jack and Jill appeared above me, and after a short stop to admire the view and eat more junk food, I was back at the start of my walk.
Note to self: Do more walks with big hills in - you need the exercise!
לאחר מחשבה מעמיקה ולאחר תכנונים ארוכים הגעתי למסקנה שמוצרי הצללה כגון סוככים יהיו הפתרון הטוב ביותר עבור הגינה שלי