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Autumn Walk October 2024 Eastbourne and Southdowns,
3/10/2024 - 7/10/2024
Thursday 3rd October.
Travel day, all had uneventful journeys to the meeting point. The Long Man Inn at Wilmington, despite an original wrong postcode picked up by Andy. The food and beers on tap were all good. We were served by a woman who looked like Hot Lips from Mash. Once refreshments had been taken we split into two groups for our warm up walk.
Group 1 Dick, Ian, John S, Steve and Pete took a lower route with less climbing. Along the road from the pub across The Links to Folkington then on to the Weald Way back to The Holt returning back down the road to the pub.
Group 2 Paul, Dave, Andy, John W, Mick, Ben and Graham took the Weald Way to The Holt under The Long Man (hillside chalk carving) up Windover Hill and back round to The Holt and down the road to the pub. Andy realised that he had lost his hat so went back to get it, once back he went to put on his sunglasses and realised they were missing as well so off he went again, luckily he found them.
After the walk we went on to our accommodation, a Travelodge at Hampden Park Eastbourne. Again problems with postcode as it went to a Premier Inn rather than the Travelodge. Phil had travelled by train and met us at the Travelodge. There was a Toby carvery next to the lodge so we arranged to meet for dinner. The food was ok but no ales on tap. After dinner some went on to The Farm in search of ales the rest stayed in the Toby inn for a drink. Ray and Will had also travelled by train and would meet us for breakfast next morning.
Friday 4th October.
We woke to another fine morning, some went for breakfast at Morrison's others to the Toby (we were led to believe that it did not open until 09:00 but found out too late for all that it opened at 08:00). Neither breakfast was that good with items being luke warm. After food we split into two groups again.
Group 1 Dick, Steve, Ian, Pete and Phil walked along the Cuckoo Trail to Polegate until they reached the B2247, where they saw a fox. They then started to work their way through the houses towards Wannock, passing a windmill in the middle of an estate. By a cemetery, they picked up the 1066 Way for a short while before turning towards Willingdon and The Red Lion for a lunch time stop. After a leisurely lunch (very good food and drinks) they walked back through Hampden Park back to the Travelodge.
Group 2 the rest again took the Cuckoo Trail towards Polegate until they reached a disused railway where they picked up the 1066 Way which they followed to Jevington to go to The Eight Bells for lunch (good food and drinks). After lunch they headed back to Willingdon via The South Downs Way and Weald Way to call in at the Red Lion. Both groups would have met up there but group 2 route was longer so were later getting there, then back as per group 1.
In the evening some went into Eastbourne by train eating at the Dolphin and trying a couple of other establishments. Whilst in Wetherspoons Ben fell into a dyke managing to escape unscathed. Others went to a Hungry Horse by the Premier Inn, though it did have some ales it was nothing to write home about.
Saturday 5th October.
We woke up to another fine morning, staying fine all day though some clouds appeared later. Breakfast was taken in the Toby as we had found out it was open at 08:00. Much better when the food was freshly prepared having not sat for ages. Paul went to do a park run around Shinewater Lake before we all made our way to the South Downs Hostel at Itford Farm. Again we split into two groups arranging to meet at lunchtime.
Group 1 Dick, Steve, Pete, Phil and Ian set off to walk to Newhaven from the hostel on the Sussex Ouse Valley Way a straight forward river walk with a small inland diversion around Piddinghoe. Just after Piddinghoe there was a boating lake with some people fishing, as with the last time we walked passed someone had caught a 19 pound Mirror Carp, what were the chances of that happening? After that it was down into the town across the river and up to Denton to meet the others, the walk through the estates was a challenge but completed ok.
Group 2 again set off from the Hostel but on the South Downs Way via Itford Hill, Red Lion Pond, White Lion Pond, Radio Station, Males Burgh to a path by a car park which took them to Stump Bottom then into Denton arriving just before the other group.
We all met at The Flying Fish reputed to have good write ups but the ales were off, food orders were slow and limited as they started to run out of menu items. Worst of all John S had a sandwich with mouldy bread. Those who had gotten food earlier left to go into town for decent ale sitting outside in the sunshine at The Ark on the riverside and got a train back (the Hostel was by Southease Station). Others who had to wait a long time for food walked back along the river on the other side to the way out once they had found the path, Dick, Steve and Ian saw a Kingfisher on the way back.
Once all were back washed and changed etc some ate in the Hostel before getting a train to Lewes for refreshment as there was nothing close by, those who took a bit longer caught a later train all meeting up later in the Gardeners. Ben had had an encounter in The Snowdrop Inn though it was more of a Bluebell!! Why does it always happen to him?
Sunday 6th October.
We woke up to a cooler cloudy morning with the threat of rain, also windy but stayed fine until late afternoon. Breakfast was taken in the hostel before we again set off in two groups.
Group 1 Dick, Steve, Pete, Phil and Ian set off to walk along The Sussex Ouse Valley Way to Lewes seeing Cormorants, Egrets and a vole along the way arriving in Lewes in time for lunch at the John Harvey Tavern. After refreshment Steve decided to walk back, the others got the train. It started to rain a bit as Steve set off but stayed light. He had some difficulty finding the path to start with once found though it was plain sailing.
Group 2 got the train to Seaford then along the coast path to Cuckmere Haven up the river to Exceat and the Country Park Cafe for a tea break, then on to The Plough at Litlington via the South Downs Way for lunch then back down the river to Cuckmere Haven to get a bus back to Seaford station and train back to the hostel (Graham had to run for the bus)
Once all were washed etc most got the train to Lewes for dinner. They went to a Turkish restaurant and had a good meal though some got a better deal as the order got confused. After their meal it was back on the town before getting a train back. Ian had made such an impression to the staff at Lewes Station he got a special announcement over the tannoy.
Monday 7th October.
It had rained very heavily during the night so we decided to go straight home after breakfast which was taken at the Hostel. Most had uneventful but wet at times journey home. Dick and Mick were stationary by a junction on the A27 and heard there was an accident ahead so managed to divert around it. Another great weekend
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