T=1.29
Length: 18 km (11.2 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
This
is an exhilarating walk along the South Downs Way with panoramic views inland and out to the sea.
Trains: Take the 10.05 train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10.19) arriving Hassocks 11.02.
Alternaively, take the 9.54 train from London Victoria (Clapham Junction 10.01) changing at East Croydon 10.10 to connect with the above train at 10.19 (this should be from Platform 3 but check when you get there in case of any alterations).
Return trains from Lewes are at xx.25 and xx.55
Buy a return ticket to Lewes
Lunch: The suggested lunchtime pub is the Half Moon (tel 01273 890 253)
in Plumpton, some 9.3 km into the walk. Picnickers can shorten their
walk slightly by staying up on the downs instead of going down to
Plumpton.
Tea: Various options in Lewes, some of which are mentioned in the directions L=1.29.
3 comments:
N=19 and a dog set off from Hassocks on a rare w=sunny day, ideal for this walk. Nobody expressed interest in a pub lunch and those without sandwiches dashed off to buy some. We waded through some very wet mud on the first stretch but the ground was drier as we ascended the downs and firm on the top. The group stretched out during the morning.
Four stopped for lunch at picnic tables on the verge of the narrow lane leading down to Falmer. There is sometimes a van selling tea and snacks at this spot though not today. We lingered there for a while enjoying the sunshine and realised we were at the back of the group as nobody else passed by. The afternoon stretch had good views, the sun casting large cloud shadows inland while still shining on us. We reached Lewes shortly before 4pm. Two joined an earlier arrival in the pub near the station, one went in search of coffee and cake. Six caught the 4.25pm train.
Picnic tables would have been nice! I didn’t notice those. Around half the group lunched perched on tree stumps at about the point where the route from the pub comes up. We then got strung out on the descent, but I certainly got to Lewes just too late for the 4.25, so you must have overtaken us at some point, Wanderer.
There were at least five of us on the 4.55, and I know some were still in the pub at that point. Some had been to a cafe called Coco something.
A great day out. The sunshine and lovely downs views were a tonic!
The cafe some of us visited was the Carafe Coffee House on Station Street.
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