Length: 18 km (11.2 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10 The ascent up onto the South Downs is steady rather than excessively steep - although it should remove the cobwebs
London Victoria: 10-15 hrs Southern service to Littlehampton CJ 10-22 hrs, EC 10-33 hrs
Arrive Hassocks: 11-12 hrs
Return
Lewes to Victoria: direct trains at 15-57, 16-27, 16-57, 17-57, 18-27 and 18-57 hrs, and 17-14 hrs via Brighton
Rail ticket: buy a day return to Lewes
Covid-19 Compliance: [until 19 July 2021] please note the current guidance on this website and observe social distancing. You should all come prepared to exchange contact details for track and trace purpose. You can either pre-register for this walk (not essential ) by e-mailing me at swc-marcus@walkingclub.org.uk or, if you prefer, please write your name, e-mail address and contact 'phone number on a small piece of paper for handing to me on the train or when we assemble at walk start. Thank you.
After a few adventures north and west of the Thames in recent weeks I thought SWC mid-week walkers might like a sojourn south of the river - so lets give this walk between West and East Sussex a spin - up onto the South Downs Way, to enjoy some fabulous views (weather permitting). And as an added bonus, our Webmaster has just added an interesting detour towards walk-end - to Old Hamsey Church, which I am looking forward to taking.
Leaving Hassocks you walk towards the base of the South Downs and then head steadily uphill, passing Jack and Jill windmills on the way. Once on top, if you wish you can stay on the South Downs Way ridge walk for most of today's walk, picnicking on top. But some of us will drop down to Plumpton to the walker-friendly pub, The Half Moon, for lunch. The price for this detour - we have to climb back on top to continue the walk !
Having enjoyed an extensive ridge walk you drop down to the village of Offham before continuing beside the River Ouse into Lewes, with its Castle and visitor attractions, plus some half decent refreshment stops - but before reaching Lewes the detour to Old Hamsey Church has been recommended to us.
T=1.29
Walk Directions are here: L=1.29
2 comments:
N=12 at the station. It w=started-cloudy-got-sunny-later The others soon shook me off on the hill up to rhe windmills. What’s the hurry? 5 descended to Plumpton for lunch.It was good (so I am told). I wouldn’t say I was going fast but they didn’t catch me up till Lewes. As we were between trains we visited the White Hart. Empty and only serving drink in bottles. 2 had tea, 2 imbibed. We sat out back in the sun. Then come home.I find the stretch up top a little monotonous. But there was plantlife to be seen, ladies bedstraw, catchfly, hawk something or other, to name a few. And some white stuff that defied identification.
Forgot to mention the orchids. There were some.
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