30th July
By the time we’ve driven to Brighton, gone to church, had lunch, inspected the inside of the house and cut the grass it’s mid-afternoon and the walk we had planned is looking increasingly ambitious. Our goal is a 7 mile loop from Telscombe across The South Downs, including a stretch along The Ouse. Added to which, we discover there’s a music festival in full swing at Cricketing Bottom (lovely name!) and all the passing places are marked with angry ‘tow-away zone’ signs. We spot a place in a lay-by and slip in.
We decide to truncate the walk a bit.
Walking on the Downs is an very different experience to the Chilterns. The views are long, the skies big and today, candy floss clouds race in from the Channel. Back home walking is an altogether more immersive experience. This is exposed. There’s nowhere to hide.
Perhaps it’s because the walk is short or we’re just enjoying the views or we have so much to talk about but we’re back at the car in no time. On the way we’ve stumbled upon the vineyard hidden away at Breaky Bottom Farm, sampled the atmosphere at the music festival in Cricketing Bottom and put to world to rights.
We’re on the road home by 5-30pm. Ironically, the thing we spend most time doing this Sunday is sitting in traffic. Nose-to-tail traffic on the M23 and M25. A reminder, if one were needed, of why living in Sussex and Kent is great…until you want to go anywhere!
Telscombe picture gallery (more pictures on Flickr):
Distance: 5.8 miles ; Difficulty: Easy
Coordinates for Satnav: N50° 49.352′ E0° 00.393′
Telscombe walk profile
Where Angells Tread! 