Seven Sisters and South Downs (Sussex, UK) Tuesday 28th June
to Friday 1st July 2016
Participants: Tony and
Gillian Adams, Mike and Verena Petzold and visiting friend Toria, Peter and
Antonia Tolhurst, Mike and Judy Ireson.
(Led by Tony and Gillian as they live nearer to the area than Mike and Verena
who had suggested the meet several years ago – METHS 94).
Accommodation: White Lion Hotel and Wellington
Hotel, both in Seaford.
Map: both walks are on OS Explorer OL25 (1:25'000)
Wednesday 29th June: Seven Sisters walk. The Seven Sisters are the hills and cliffs between
Birling Gap and the River Cuckmere. They
are apparently often used in films as a substitute for the White Cliffs of
Dover as they are a lot whiter! The meet
got off to a lively start when Verena tipped a mummified
mouse of uncertain origin out of her walking boot (Malawian, Swiss, French, New
Zealandish? It couldn't tell us!) We parked in the National Trust car park at
Birling Gap, followed the cliff-top path to the River Cuckmere, then north up
the river (waders, ducks and cormorants) to cross the A259 by the Country Park
visitor centre. Mike’s feet were killing
him so he took a bus to East Dean and the Tiger Inn where we found him
enthusiastically consuming chowder and beer.
The rest of us wended our way through Friston Forest to the 11th
century church and then down to East Dean where we also had a drink. Thence via the Downs through wind and rain
back to the car park. In all about 13 km.
Thursday 30th June: Firle Beacon and Southease. Walked from the town centre up
Firle Road nearly to Seaford Golf Club.
Here the track crossed the first fairway so we rang a bell and made a
lot of noise to discourage golfers from using us as target practice. Soon emerged onto open downs and continued
upwards to reach the South Downs Way on the ridge running to Firle Beacon (217 m,
not much of a beacon but wonderful views).
Then via the South Downs Way, Trig Point at radio beacons (177 m) and
Trig Point 53988 (164 m) to Southease Station (in all about 13.5 km). Those with spare energy could have continued
the walk by following the Sussex Ouse Valley Way to Newhaven (5 km). However, at this point a train unexpectedly
turned up so we travelled back to Seaford on it.
After dinner at the White Lion Mike discovered
his harmonica and we found that four of our number sing in choirs in their
spare time. We enjoyed the resulting
combination but those on neighbouring tables quickly moved to another room
complaining that they could not hear themselves talk!
A congenial two days of pleasant walking with
sea views for most of the time.
©
WDYFO, 2016