Length: 14 miles/22.5km T=swc.50
A short option is to end walk in Falmer after 8.5 miles and either catch the bus or train to Brighton from there.
Toughness 7/10 or 6/10 for short walk
Travel: 9.46 from Victoria; 9.53 Clapham Junction, 10.04 from East Croydon. Arrives Hassocks 10.43
Ticket: return to Brighton
Walk directions, GPX and map here.
This is a pleasant walk over the heart of the South Downs, starting with a saunter over the fields to the village of Ditchling, then a stiff climb up onto the downs.
Lunch is at the Stanmer Tea Rooms in Falmer Park - outdoor seating and hot and cold food - or at the Swan Inn (basic menu) in Falmer.
After a further downland section and a walk along Kemp Town Racecourse, you descend to Brighton Beach with sea swimming opportunities.
There are many refreshment opportunities in Brighton and very regular trains back to London (just turn up and go basically).
2 comments:
Given the late start, and the option of starting at London Bridge, I am likely to take one of the earlier three direct trains from that station, 08.35, 09.05 or 09.35.
W=Breezy-sunshine made perfect weather for the n=9 on this walk. The only time it felt a bit too hot was on the climb up to Ditchling Beacon, when a blistering pace was set. Those who did a less blistering pace saw five butterfly species in 100 metres…. Unfortunately the same person managed to bang his leg into a protruding metal latch on a gate soon after and was suffering for the rest of the walk. Not that that matters to anyone else …. (“Do people really want to hear about your pain?” my companion has just said, reading this…)
We lost two walkers quite early on, not sure how, so seven remained to descend on what one walker called the Starmer Cafe. Despite it being a day after a major reshuffle (this will make no sense to future readers) this was very efficient and the five of us who ate there were pleased with their food. (My baked potato with vegan chilli was super tasty). Two sandwichistas joined us later.
After lunch we lost another to the bus at Falmer and did a “creative” route which bypassed the football stadium, where an international women’s rugby match was about to take place. Then up over the downs again, through suburban Bevendean, along Kemp Town racecourse and down to the sea!!!
Five of us finally found a way onto to the beach. The sea did not look too wavy - until you got into it, when the waves looked monstrous. One beat a hasty retreat and another three of us… frolicked. Fortunately it was near low tide and shallow enough to stand on the sandy bottom and jump the waves. It was …. refreshing.
Four of us then went to find tea. We eventually went to a cafe on the promenade near the pier. We sat there a good time in the golden light, one of us eyeing the now much calmer sea and wondering about a second dip… (but I decided the moment had passed….)
We then walked up through the North Laines (sic) and happened upon the Blue Man, an Algerian street food cafe, where we sat at an outside table and had Algerian street food. All was very convivial and tranquil, until we walked to the station and found several thousand international rugby fans, disgorging from their match. Luckily only about two thousand of them were getting the train to London. We walked ten carriages to get the last few seats in the eleventh, where I pen these lines. Still, it is a good natured crowd: no chanting or drunken behaviour, lots of kiddies… And we are already at Gatwick….
Post a Comment