Length: About 17.5km (11 miles), Toughness: 4 out of 10 (Less if you cheat).
Hollyhocks seem to thrive in the pretty flintstone village of West Firle and there’s more on the approach to Berwick church. Hollyhocks apart, this is one of Mr Tiger's favourite walks, visiting two of his favourite pubs. The morning takes you over the downs, through Glynde, and on to lunch in the Ram Inn in West Firle.
The afternoon takes you past Charleston Farmhouse (01323 811 265) and Berwick Church, both lavishly decorated by members of the Bloomsbury Group.
Charleston Farmhouse costs £12:80 to visit (that’s with 15% reduction for 'green travellers' - show your rail ticket). There used to be a charge for the garden but it looks like it's free on Sundays.
The church, reached later, is free and open at most times. Due to ongoing restoration work, you may have to enter round the back.
Trains: Get the 09:46 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:53), arriving Lewes at 10:50.
Lightweights and slackers could dodge the morning’s climbs by starting at Glynde.They would need to get the 9:51 from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:05) to Brighton (arrives 10:54 plat 5). Then the 11:05 (platform 7) to Eastbourne arriving at Glynde 11:26. Try to look a bit tired when the others catch you up at the Ram.
Trains back from Berwick are at xx:55, changing at Lewes.
Get a day return to Berwick (Sussex). The "Sussex" bit is important.
Lunch: the Ram West Firle 01273 858222
Tea:
Charleston Farmhouse tea shop is accessible without entry fee.
The Cricketers Arms (01323 870 469), 4½ km after Charleston House does tea and they have a nice garden. Depending on the route you take, you still have a 2 or 3 km. walk from there to Berwick station - about 35 or 50 minutes. (If taking the shorter (roadside) route, look out for the quieter cycle-way on the left).
There’s another pub, the Berwick Inn 01323 870018, near the station, which has a pleasant garden.
Directions: You need two sets of directions:
- The main Lewes via West Firle walk (on the "Download Walk" button)
plus
-the Berwick ending (on the “Lewes to Berwick option” button)
T=2.25.variant
2 comments:
You'll be sharing the train (Southern Willing) with the cloggies who are walking from Lewes to Brighton. Great minds ... eh?
Just 4 at Lewes station.
We were soon off climbing not one but two hills in quick succession on what must be the sunniest day of the year - so far. Mr Tiger struggled a bit up mount Caburn but was spurred on by the thought of the glass of perry awaiting him in the Ram.
In Glynde there was a brief discussion about whether to stop at the teashop or press on. Readers, we pressed on. (Only, of course, because we were eager to see how many ‘lightweights’ were waiting there). No lightweights. So n=4 it was.
At the bar Mr Tiger nervously enquired after the perry. "What's perry?" came the response. An aghast Mr Tiger was very nearly given some Peroni. It wasn't all bad news, though. They did have ice-cold Orchard Pig, two pints of which, had soon disappeared down an unprotesting gullet.
The Ram has had a makeover. No longer the endearingly chaotic service. No more queuing for drinks. No sooner had your bottom hit the seat than the attentive staff were over. Lightning service, and from what I could hear above the glugging of cider, the food was good.
After a pleasant sojourn in their garden, we were off, past the first of the hollyhocks. A suitably anaesthetised Mr Tiger leading the way to Charlstone House.
Guess what. Its had a makeover too - or at least the tearoom has. The garden's still the same. Stuffed with hollyhocks, cardoons and the like. Waterlilies on the pond, fish in the water. And, indeed, free.The tearoom, though, has moved into a barn. We sat in the courtyard with Fela Kuti's music wafting out from the barn. Another pleasant sojourn.
Then Mr Tiger led them on, ever onwards, past horses dressed as a clown and a zebra, to Berwick Church where we nearly stepped on a slowworm. Impressive hollyhocks. We looked at the paintings ans stuff.
Mr Tiger cast a wistful eye at the Cricketers as we sped past. No Cricketers today ‘sigh’.
We took the shorter route to the station noting there is now a cycleway all the way from the junction to the station. (We debated taking the longer way and heard later from another walker that it was difficult to navigate with ploughed fields and the like). Well done us!
We got to the station with a bit too much time to spare. What to do, what to do?
There was only one thing TO do. We reluctantly entered the Berwick Arms where Mr Tiger reluctantly finished off another cider.
And so ended a wonderful w=sunny summer walk, the only downside being that so few turned up to enjoy it.
The train home was packed (as was the train out) .
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