In my own footsteps

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.