In my own footsteps

Sunday Aug 24, 2008: 10 miles, ascent approx 380m (Map: OS Explorer 122)

The promised rain arrived early in the morning as forecast, only it was heavy and not light as per the BBC, on top of that it took a while to clear, leaving a very grey and heavy sky. I procrastinated and caught up on various indoor chores, but by early afternoon things were looking up and I was going stir crazy. Not feeling like a drive and not sure how far I felt like walking, I chose a local walk up on the Downs with a few options for length and time - by the time I got going it was almost half past two.

I wandered down through Lewes to join the Ouse Valley Way on the South bank of the river Ouse opposite South Malling. After a mile-long riverside stroll, I turned west on a footpath that passes under the railway and then joins a byway between Offham and Landport. I headed N to Offham, where I crossed the A275 to join a bridleway going SW and up the side of Offham hill. This particular track has a tendency to be slippery, especially in wet weather, so I decided to try an alternative route.

A hundred yards or so along the track from the A275 there is a style tucked away on the north side that leads into some adjacent Access Land. I walked parallel to my intended track across the steep hillside, assuming that there would be another style or cut-through into the woods at the top, but there wasn't, so I gingerly negotiated the barbed wire fence to rejoin the track shortly before it entered the woodland (through a gate). The bridleway leaves the woods after about a quarter of a mile, but it is possible to keep on a path in the woods (more Acces Land) that winds its way roughly parallel to the bridleway before rejoining it. The bridleway then continues NW along the edge of woodland and then through more open gorse and scrub to Mount Harry.

By this time the sun was out and after a short sweetie stop I descended roughly E to a crossroads of bridleways. Looking up to Blackcap, I could see that it was apopular spot this afternoon, so gave it a miss, taking the track NW behind the hill. This track becomes a fairly narow path that passes through some lovely mossy old coppice on the steep hillside before emerging onto a broader chalk track at some old chalk workings. The broad track ascends to the SW and I followed it up to a junction with the South Downs Way - I don't know why but this bit of track always takes longer and feels steeper than I expect.

At the junction I headed S for Ashcombe Bottom and followed the bridleway SW down through this lovely hidden place. At the bottom of the wood, which was an awful lot squelchier under foot than last week, I hesiated at the path junction, considering whether or not to head NE and for home. That took about 5 seconds (it was about 5 o'clock so I had ages yet) before I turned W and up, stoppng on my favourite local hillside for a banana, before heading further W towards the SDW about half a mile away.

On reaching the acorn waymark I decided it was time to turn for home, so I joined the SDW going first NW and then NE back towards Blackcap, stopping to look out for the first signs of spindle berries and noticing the abundance of haws already ripening. Sticking to the bridlepath below the top of Blackcap, I made for Mount Harry again and retraced my steps towards Offham, stopping to look at the vast quantities of berries here as well (does this mean a hard winter?). It had turned into a beautiful early evening, I could see for miles and the sun was casting low shadows across the hillsides and through the beech trees.

From Offham took the byway S towards Landport farm and home. What had started as a crappy almost autumnal day had ended with a beautiful late summer evening, although autumn appears to be very much on its way.

Sunday Aug 17, 2008: 9.25 miles, ascent approx 400m (Map: OS Explorer 122)

Emma liked the last walk that we did from Plumpton (see January 08, A Cracking Walk for a Blustery Day), but I didn't want to include the lower loop this time, as this wasn't the most exciting bit of the walk last time and is probably best kept for stormy days when too much walking higher up isn't a good idea (and very rare that is).

So here we were again - another outing (so to speak) for the Sussex Womens' Walking group. Six of us met at the Half Moon pub at Plumpton (on the B2116 about 2.5 miles east of Ditchling). It was a fair but breezy late morning and we set off across the B road from the pub and headed SW up Plumpton Bostal (bridleway), crossing the South Downs Way at the top of the hill and continuing SW to Streathill farm.

Passing the farm we took the footpath (not the bridleway) heading just W of S and then SW across fields to a junction with 3 bridleways. Turning SE, we took the path to St Mary's farm and continued on the bridleway (metalled driveway) to Moon's Corner, where we turned back on ourselves on the bridleway going N and the NE to Waterpit Hill, where the first outbreak of blackberry picking occurred in the party.

At the fork in the track, we took the northernmost option, heading down hill to the NW (more blackberrying) and then up again bearing N. About half a mile from the fork we stopped on the hillside for lunch (various qualities and quantities). Although it was breezy, the sun was warm and we'd chosen a lovely quiet spot in a hiiden-away valley. Posh vegetable crisps (Lori's) won hands down over Tesco's Value Cheesy Puffs (Tina's).

After our break we continued N to join the SDW, following it east to the crossroads of paths just W of Blackcap. Then followed one of my favourite bits in this area as we took the path S and then SW through Ashcombe Bottom, stopping for more blackberries and to show Emma the hazlenuts (still green and tasty). Making our way through the usual mud at the bottom of the wood, we turned W, stopping briefly at my usual place on the hillside (also more blackberry picking going on) before continuing on to cross the SDW.

We continued W and then curved SW to skirt the edge of an ancient field system, before joining the track (bridleway) going roughly N at Buckland Bank, after about a third of a mile, the SDW joins this track and we continued onwards (NE) back again to the crossroads W of Blackcap.

At the crossroads we took the track going roughly NE and down, and after a couple of hundred yards, the footpath NW and down, winding through ancient beech trees and then through wheat and barley fields, to arrive back at the B road a short distance E of the pub.

We were of course obliged to stop for refreshment having used the pub car park . Also, as the pub is now under new ownership and has been completely refurbished I was curious. Sadly they'd run out of Hophead, but a pint of Harvey's best was welcome and the menu looked yummy. One more for the pub food research programme, I think.

Thanks to the ladies for joining me on this lovely walk and to Emma of course for her photos.

Sunday Aug 10, 2008: 9.75 miles, ascent approx 400m (Map: OS Explorer 123)

Something challenging was needed as I hadn't been doing enough walking of late and also my weekend visitor is something of a mountain whippet (i.e. like a mountain goat only faster). Mary & Jayne recommended a walk from Alfriston from the excellent book Walk the South Downs (Martin Simons; Discovery Walking Guides), which they described as being "A very big 10 miles". We consulted the book and the OS map and decided to do something based on this route, but backwards, mainly because between us we'd done a lot of the route in the other direction and also because I thought it looked nicer the other way round.

It was a sunny/cloudy morning, but with a stiff SW wind blowing off the sea yet again (very much a feature of this summer). We followed the book's advice and saved 4 quid by parking on a side street away from the twee hell of downtown Alfriston. Booted up we made our way along the main drag going south. About a quarter mile from the village centre we took a footpath bearing west-ish and signposted for France Bottom.

The footpath skirts a farm and a caravan site and then follows a sweeping curve along field edges towards France Bottom. About a mie and a quarter from the road, we took the hairpin fork in the path that heads up hill and roughly E, to join a bridleway above, which we followed SW and then NW for about a mile.

As we reached the top of the hill (where it says Cross Dyke on the map) the SW breeze was strong but welcome and we turned into it and down along field edges to reach a wooded area below the next ridge. After a brief stop to put on/take off layers, have a drink, etc, we took the bridlepath NW up the steep face of the ridge to join a broad track (The Comp) at the top.

Crossing the track we both thought about lunch, but decided to do a bit more first. Our next leg took us SW again (into the wind) down into the marvllously-named Devilsrest Bottom towards the hamlet of Norton. As we neared Norton (one of us on the high track and one on the lower track), we looked out for a sheltered spot and eventually found a suitable niche on the hillside. Lunch was a picnic with a sort of Mediterranean theme (hummus, anchovies, etc) and  very welcome.

We continued to Norton and rather than take the footpath route from the book (done before - bit boring I think), we stuck with the single-track road S to Bishopstone. The breeze was salty and warm as we walked between the hedgerows, a bit like being in Cornwall I thought. After ascending through Bishopstone, we picked up a track (bridleway) going E and upwards, and where this forked (above East Blatchingdon), we took the footpath roughly NE and continuing up, above New Barn and then alongside the golf course (fortunately well hidden by hedges), inhaling the fresh sea-laden air as we went.

A mile and a half from Bishopstone we joined a bridleway N and recrossed our route on The Comp, taking the bridleway NE and down towards Blackstone Bottom. After another brief stop for layers/hydration, we started our last ascent of the day, following the Green Way Track (bridleway) up and NE above Greenway Bottom and Jerry's Bottom, to join the South Downs Way.

Turnng SE on the SDW we made our highest point for the day and continued on towards Alfriston, leaving the SDW as we arrived back in the village and making for the tea shop. Unfortunately, there was no room at the inn (or for tea) and not being able to bear the thought of an inferior establishment, we returned to the car and went back to Lewes for tea at mine instead.

A lovely day, fine walking weather (wndy though), good company, and a really great walk. This one could be a close runner up for Best Walk in Sussex.

Monday Aug 4, 2008: 6 miles, ascent approx 220m (Map: OS Explorer 122)

A few fluffy clouds and a bit of a breeze promised a lovely afternoon walk from home in the company of Jayne and Mary.

Leaving my place in Lewes, we headed for the Ouse, crossing by the footbridge towards South Malling. On the north bank of the river we followed the Ouse Valley Way (signposted) southeast, passing under the A227 and next to Harvey's brewery. We wended our way to Cliffe High Street, crossed South Street and continued southwest up Chapel Hill on the road (byway) to Lewes golf club, stopping a bit on the way to admire the view back across Lewes.

From the golf club we followed the footpath that goes east-ish and the southeast down into Oxendale Bottom. The bank on the way down was covered in wild flowers and grasses nodding in the breeze. On the way down we talked about stopping to eat lunch, but the breeze was seemed to pick up as we crossed the bottom. We passed the dew pond here and stopped about a quarter of a mile later on the hillside near the style into the next field.

A leisurely long lunch break followed (rolls from Bona Foodie in Brighton - thanks M&J), during in which we watched an intrepid solitary walker making her way up the steep slope of Caburn Bottom towards Ranscomb Camp and along the ridge towards Mount Caburn. I'd originally thought of doing a simple out and back to Mount Caburn by footpath, but after lunch, inspired by what we'd seen, we turned southwest and the south, following a similar route over the access land, keeping the boundary fence on our right. There were traces of a path that we shadowed on the way up, and this became clearer when we reached the ridge.

Turning southeast, we kept the fence on our right still as we headed for Mount Caburn, where we stopped briefly (the breeze was turning into a stiff wind) to admire the sweeping views of the Downs and the river Ouse below.

For the return journey, we left the earthworks on the Mount along the footpath going northeast (ish), before turning northwest and down along the other side of Caburn Bottom to rejoin our route back via Oxendale Bottom, the golf club, and Chapel Hill back into town, heading home via the cake shop.

This had only been a short walk but a lovely if windy afternoon, plus it's always nice to try out a new bit of local route, all in excellent company. Also, thanks to the mystery walker who we had watched over lunch.

Not much walking lately for various reasons, and what with general summer activities and not feeling like sitting in front of the laptop, the old blog has got a bit behind. Anyway, I'm off for a walk tomorrow and as it's raining again, I thought I should get back in the saddle and write up some walks.

Saturday 12 July, 2008: 10.75 miles, approx 340m ascent (Map: OS Explorer 123)

The weather forecast was not that promising, so just two of us (Hi Caroline!) met for a circular walk starting and finishing at Berwick station (on the line between Eastbourne and Lewes).

It was perfect walking weather as we joined the Vangard Way, just south of the station, going west. Where the VW turns south, we kept west towards Green House and then turned southwest heading for Alciston by footpaths via New Barn Farm.

After crossing the A27, the footpath crosses a field before emerging on the road in the village. We followed the road through Alciston, passing the pub, the church, the monastic ruins, and the vast tithe barn, to meet Comp Lane (byway). After a very short dogleg west-ish, we picked up a footpath heading southwest and ascending gradually at first and then steeply up to join the South Downs Way atop the ridge.

Half a mile of SDW northwest over Bostal Hill bought us to Bopeep car park where we turned southwest and then south on the bridleway that runs above Bostal Bottom, Jerry's Bottom, and Blackstone Bottom. At the next junction of path there's a bench where we stopped for a well-earned lunch break.

After a restful lunch watching butterflies and listening to the birds, we took the bridleway that forks southeast and steeply down, where we turned northeast gradually ascending again between open fields.

The path turns southeast at the top of the hill (says "cross dyke" on the map, but we were in good spirits), and we followed it as it curved east-ish to join a footpath heading down hill and west for 2-3 hundred yards into France Bottom. Here we turned north-ish and up hill on a footpath that runs along the field edge for about half a mile before joining a track northeast to join the SDW again.

After heading northwest for just under half a mile on the SDW, we took the bridleway that starts off running northeast before wending its way down the steep slope of the Downs and then continues northeast back to Comp Lane. After a short dogleg on the byway, we continued northeast, then east-ish to join the VW north emerging in Berwick opposite the Cricketers Arms (how convenient).

The pub has a lovely garden (at the front) where we stopped for fine ales, before returning to Berwick station by road. Perfect walking weather, despite the forecast (yet again), and yet more lovely wild flowers - definitely a good year for botany.