This is smugglers' territory and you can see why. Hidden away in the Cuckmere Valley, Alfriston could be miles from anywhere. The sort of place to go if you don't want to be spotted. As we drive through the village at 12 o'clock it's clear the village is no longer a secret. The main street throngs with walkers and cyclists who've arrived in the village from a morning spent on the Downs, just in time for lunch. We'll be back in the village...but much later. Our walk starts at the far side of the village, high up on the Downs overlooking the Cuckmere at High and Over (Hindover).
South Downs walks
Telscombe
Walking on the Downs is an altogether 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 more exposed. There's nowhere to hide.
Clayton Windmills
8th October Weekends are busy and we're squeezing walking around everything else. Today we are in Brighton catching up with both Hannah & David so we leave early, hoping to complete a walk on the Downs before lunch. Yet another outing for our National Trust Membership as we park up on Ditchling Beacon (£6 saved … Continue reading Clayton Windmills
Ditchling Beacon from Bevendean
25th August Today Fitbit declared one of us to be an 'Overachiever' (30,000 steps, in case you're interested). When I suggested the same might be said of their marriage it didn't end well! This was our longest walk for a while. All the decorating and building work is finished and we had a walk planned … Continue reading Ditchling Beacon from Bevendean
Glynde, East Sussex
23rd August Now our walks are dictated by Fitbit! A day of inactivity yesterday suggested that we should be out enjoying the weather today. This was the walk when one of us achieved their Serengeti badge. No, means nothing to me either...but apparently one of us has walked 500 miles since May! This was a … Continue reading Glynde, East Sussex
Firle Beacon, East Sussex
21st August Getting old! Back and knees hurt from decorating for a week and now I'm forgetting things. It's a prerequisite of going on a walk without an OS map to take the handheld GPS instead...much harder when you try the walk without either! The annoying thing was I'd spent 10 mins locating the stupid … Continue reading Firle Beacon, East Sussex
Woodingdean, East Sussex
17th August Well, this is more a walk 'around Woodingdean' than a walk to Woodingdean. The 10.3 miles of this walk skirt the village, which from inspection of its Wikipedia page is no bad thing since it's about as uninteresting a place as Markyate! The weather promises to be good for the day so we … Continue reading Woodingdean, East Sussex
Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex
14th August We were not walking last weekend while we decanted the contents of the garage into Norwich Drive. We brought back just as much furniture so the garage looks no different! We're back in Brighton, this week to decorate and tidy up after the builders but take a break for the first day of … Continue reading Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex
Devil’s Dyke, West Sussex
It's check out day. We're in Brighton to say goodbye to Sam and Kirsty and prepare the house for the builders on Monday. Boxes are piled high everywhere and the house is chaos but Sam assures me the builders will be able to get to the utility room to put in the shower. They've been … Continue reading Devil’s Dyke, West Sussex
From Falmer to Kingston…and back
29th May May Bank Holiday and a chance to catch up with Hannah. We arrive in Brighton early and raise Hannah from her bed with the promise of lunch. Our walk is a 4 mile stroll across the South Downs from Falmer to Kingston, lunch at The Juggs in Kingston and home with a slight … Continue reading From Falmer to Kingston…and back
Where Angells Tread! 