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Autumn Walk September 2016 Eastbourne and South Downs,
29/09/2016 - 3/10/2016
Thursday 29th September.
Travel day
Travel day. Dick took Paul, Ian and John Wooton to Alfriston. They had an uneventful journey, though the M25 was slow at times. At Alfriston they met Andy in the George Inn. Andy said he had driven through heavy rain all the way whereas the others only had showers. After lunch the rain had cleared away and a circular walk was planned out along The South Downs Way as far as Bopeep Chalk Pit then back along the ridge past Five Lords Burgh, Tumuli (BS), Cross Dyke and back into Alfriston. A good warm up walk, made better by it keeping dry.
Upon arrival back at the car Dick was most upset to find he had a parking ticket as he had purchased a ticket upon arrival. It turned out that when people were putting on their boots after lunch it had blown into the foot well face down so a ticket was issued for failure to display a valid ticket. (Upon return after the weekends walk Dick successfully appealed against the ticket). Then it was off to get supplies for breakfasts as Eastbourne Hostel was self catering. At the hostel we met Phil who had come down by train and Pete with his bike.
Once we had washed and changed we went to The Lamb for food and refreshment. After a good hearty meal we went on to The Star where we played pool on a free table. John demonstrated his misspent youth by hustling all at Bar Billiards and Pool. Pete went wild over Daisy (a draught cider)using a red ball as a cue ball whilst playing pool.
Friday 30th September.
We woke up to a fine sunny morning. Breakfast was cooked by Dick and Paul. Paul making porridge and Dick eggs, beans, toms and toast. The others set tables and washed up afterwards.
Steve drove down early, just in time to make breakfast.
The plan for today was to get the bus (which stopped by the hostel) to Exceat and walk back along the Seven Sisters. As we were about to leave the heavens opened so we delayed in the hostel as we had time before the bus came. After leaving the bus we took the South Downs Way along the Seven Sisters stopping at Birling Gap for a tea break and The Beachy Head Inn, where Pete met us, before returning to the hostel. All had walked apart from Pete who cycled setting a new speed record of 43MPH for himself, and Ian who had tooth ache and went in search of an emergency dentist. The weather was mostly fine though there were some sharp showers. During one Andy and Paul sheltered in an old Pill Box assuming a rather strange position! But they were still able to carry on walking.
After washing and changing we went to The Counting House for dinner but they did not do food on a Friday night so it was back to The Lamb but they did not have room for us so we went to an Indian. The food was very good but it took a long time. A nightcap was then taken at The Lamb before returning to the hostel.
Saturday 1st October.
We woke up to fine but cloudy weather which soon changed to heavy rain but then cleared before we set off walking. Breakfast was again another Dick and Paul special. After breakfast we all got the bus (apart from Pete) to Exceat, Ian had got some relief for his tooth so was also with us.
After getting off the bus we went inland along The South Downs Way via Westdean, Litlington to Alfriston. As we got to Alfriston the heavens opened so we dived into the nearest tea shop. Whilst we had tea and cake the rain went from torrential to persistent so we donned our wet weather gear to carry on. Again, along The South Downs Way to Jevington. This proved to be a long climb just what you need to start off again. We stopped at The Eight Bells in Jevington by which time the rain, which had been easing off since we started walking had stopped. The Eight Bells was very good with good food and Ales. Then it was back on the south Downs Way to the Hostel. The weather forecast had not been good so Pete went to Brighton on the bus but still got wet there, he might have had more rain than us. All went well apart from the last part across the golf course where we missed a path so had to walk up to the road instead of cutting the corner off.
Dinner was to be taken at a Weatherspoon’s The London County. It was decided to get a mini-bus as it would be cheaper than getting the bus. This proved to be a good decision as on the way down it started to rain, then became persistent, then torrential, finally ending up with hail and thunder getting wet just running from the mini-bus to the pub. Good food and Ales were taken but as it was a Lloyds it had music (DJ) and our tables were on the dance floor so after eating we moved on to The Dolphin then The Eagle which had a good live blues band. After suitable refreshment we went back to the station to get taxis back as the mini-bus was not available. Getting a taxi was no problem but one driver did not know his way so took rather longer to get back.
Sunday 2nd October.
We woke up to windy and overcast conditions though it brightened up through the day ending sunny but remained windy. After another Dick and Paul special we moved cars as we were going to start the walk on The South Downs Way where we had left it on Thursday and we were staying at a different hostel at Southease.
All met at the car park by Bopeep Chalk pit apart from Pete who was going to cycle from the other end and meet us en-route. Around the car park near Blackcap Farm there were several people paragliding and some model glider flyers. At the trig point by Red Lion pond Pete demonstrated his off road skills by falling off, only his pride took a hit. The walk along had been up high but when we got to Itford Hill it was downhill all the way to the hostel. The hostel had a cafe so the others had a coffee whilst the drivers sorted the cars out so they were all at the hostel and we did not have anything to do later.
Once all were back we walked along River Ouse (Sussex Ouse Valley Walk) to Newhaven. As we passed a water park a fisherman landed a 14.5 pound carp. In Newhaven we stopped at The Ark, a Spanish themed pub. Steve and Andy left us there as they were going home getting the train back to the hostel before driving home. As the food looked so good the rest of us decided to eat there, a wise move as it turned out not only was the food very good the pub we went to that night did not do food on a Sunday night. After food we caught the train back to the hostel before changing to take in the evening’s entertainment.
We walked to The Abbervagenny Arms at Rodwell. Very quiet there was only one other person there but good beer and service. On the way back to the hostel we stopped to stargaze and saw a shooting star.
Monday 3rd October.
We woke up to a fine day. There was a rest for Dick and Paul as this hostel did breakfasts, very good as well. We went for a walk up the River Ouse to Lewes. The river had been cut by man and was a bit sterile though we did see a Heron, several Egrets and a Toad during the walk. Lewis looked nice and after a coffee we got the train back to the hostel. The drive home was uneventful though much better than on the way down.
Another good walk
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