Sunday Apr 5, 2009: 11.75 miles, ascent approx 400m (Map: OS Explorer 123)
The single from Berwick to Lewes was purchased from a friendly human at Lewes station on Sunday morning, so that after the long walk from Lewes I wouldn't have to argue with the ticket machine at Berwick station.
It was s lovely, lovely day for a lovely, lovely, long walk, and, miracle of miracles, there were no engineering works affecting our return train plans.
From Lewes station we made our way towards the river at Cliffe. Heading down Cliffe High Street (roughly E), we crossed South Street and headed up Chapel Hill (SE) to the golf club. Sticking to the footpath, we passed along the edge of the golf club car park to the gate onto open ground and followed the footpath roughly ENE and then down (SE) towards Oxteddle Bottom. This lovely open Downland bottom was made even better by the skylarks above us.
Continuing SE past the dew pond we came into Caburn Bottom. Here we headed off across access land, steeply up (rougly S) towards Ranscombe Camp. There were violets aplenty in the tussocky grass and cowslips coming up too. Reaching the top ofthe ridge, we stayed inside (N of) the fence line on the access land, following a rough path (SE) towards Mount Caburn and passed through an open gate in the fence to reach the hill fort.
The view was superb and we could clearly see second next hill in the distance. After a quick late elevenses break, we took the path roughly N (out through the earthworks) for a few hundred yards and then picked up the footpath ESE down across he fields to Glynde - about 3/4 a mile away. The path emerges onto the road opposite Glynde post office. Turning left (NE) briefly we joined the main road through Glynde (roughly S), past the pub (Trevor Arms) to the A27 about 3/4 a mile away.
After braving the A27, we continued S on a small lane for about 1/2 a mile. The lane becomes a byway that is still roughly metalled and soon begins to ascend up Beddingham Hill. As it continues up, it curves SW o a fairly steady climb, giving us all plenty of exercise. Eventually we reached the top of the hill where there is a South Downs Way marker post (and some huge radio masts). We found a comfy spot protected by gorse bushes and stopped for a well-earned lunch break.
There was a slight breeze, but it was still a beautiful day as we took the SDW E along the top of the Downs. There we quite a few people around as we stepped out for about 3 1/2 miles along the SDW above Firle and Alciston. With Berwick to our NE, we left the SDW (turning roughly NE), had a short break on the hillside, and then took the bridleway that curves down the scarp slope passing some old earthworks and then turns NE again towards Berwick. A little dogleg across the old coach road (Comp Lane - byway) put us on a bridleway again, still NE towards Berwick. We turned ESE (bridleway) and then N on the Vanguard Way to pass the chruch.
As a few in our party hadn't seen the murals in the church, we nipped in for a quick look - I bought one of the lovely local nature cards often for sale here. We rejoined the Vanguard Way as it wiggled roughly N to emerge by the Cricketers Arms pub. Unfortunately as time was against us with our train due at Berwick station in about 1/2 an hour, we didn't tarry for refreshment and decided the safest bet was to head for the station by road rather than via the Vanguard Way.
Crossing the A27 (N), we followed Pound Lane NE. At the T junction at the end of Pound Lane, we headed N hugging the verge as much as possible. A few hundred yards from the junction a foot/cycle way has been built by the road and this made for a safer and speedy march for the last mile to the station and a short hop and skip back to Lewes by train.
Having missed out on the pub on our walk a few of us made off for a well-earned pint at the Dorset. This is a cracking walk and we couldn't have had better walking weather!
Thanks to Emma for the photos.