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.