Previous Walks
The FIRST HanD U3A walk took place on a very windy but albeit warm and sunny March day in 2015. Twenty people turned out for a lovely and varied 4.5 mile walk along the Cuckoo Trail from Hellingly and then turned west across Wellshurst Golf Club to join the Wealdway back to Hellingly. It was a great opportunity to get to know fellow members of the group and I am sure firm friendships will be formed over the coming months and years.
In April John and Joyce Gant took us on a most interesting walk leaving from Burwash. With spectacular views, very little mud, really splendid wildflowers including orchids, an ancient orchard and an Airman's memorial we had a memorable morning with plenty of time to chat and to get to know one another.
In May Sue Cook and Hilary Elphick led us on a lovely walk on Monday around Heathfield, taking in part of the Millennium Green and the northern extension of the Cuckoo Trail before branching out to take in amazing views of Mayfield across the fields. Plenty of Wild flowers, including bluebells and a very pretty 'lousewort', and lots of thrushes singing their heads off in the woods. About 4.5 miles taken at an easy pace.
There was no walk in June.
In July the group had a really lovely walk leaving from the Gun PH at Gun Hill. We dropped down to Chiddingly where we had a look at the interesting memorials in the Church and discussed one version of the purported origins of the term 'Big Cheese', checked out the interesting Millennium Green memorial before recceeing the pub as a possible location for future post walk lunches. We then headed north for our return to the Gun. En route we passed through a copse which was redolent with the sounds of nightingales, fought our way along overgrown footpaths, and clambered over a couple of anti-social stiles! The weather was perfect so we adjourned to the pub for a drink in the garden. Being only a group of three, it was a good way to get to know each other and we had some lively and interesting conversations en route.
In August Ernest led ten of us on a lovely walk from East Dean to Birling Gap and back, almost painlessly! We were lucky with the weather, and were able to take coffee and scones outside at the tearooms at Birling Gap before gradually climbing back to East Dean. En route we looked at medieval graffiti in Friston Church, where we also looked at the graves of un-named WWII merchant seamen washed up nearby, and the tomb of an Excise man lured to his death by smugglers. A little further on we stopped to admire a beautiful 'Insect Hotel' in someone's garden. We also saw in the distance a white tent on the cliff edge at Bailey's Hill where they are carrying on an excavation of a neolithic barrow before it is destroyed by cliff falls.
More information on the project: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birling-gap-and-seven-sisters/our-work/seven-sisters-archaeology-project/
And of course we had stunning views of the Downs, the sea and lots of wildflowers. My iPhone App tells us we walked a total of 4.6 miles, climbed 578 feet and took 10,024 steps!
September's walk was led by Joyce and Brenda. Once more leaving from the Gun PH, 8 brave souls turned up in very unsettled weather. We were very lucky as the rain held off for quite a long time, and then decided to drench us all. However it cleared and we had a very good walk, about 5 or so miles. As we had only done the walk once and it was about 3 months ago we had a little difficulty in remembering the route and it had changed somewhat in that time, so it has taught us a lesson that we must do the walk at least twice and nearer the walk date to be sure we know where we are going. Apart from one little detour we managed very well, and everyone seemed to enjoy the walk, and a lot of chat took place.
In October we had a lovely walk, a good group of us met at Litlington Tearooms and took a rather 'lumpy' South Downs Way route to Exceat. En route we met up with a group of horses, one of whom would have accompanied us all the way if he had been able to manoeuvre a Kissing Gate, we saw the Victorian Chalk horse just beneath High and Over and we climbed interminable steps through Friston Forest before dropping down to West Dean, where we took time to have a quick look around the lovely downland church. Then more interminable steps took us up to the viewpoint over the whole of the Cuckmere Valley, where we had a little rest before dropping down to the Saltmarsh tearooms for coffee. It was then a very
flat walk back along the river bank to Litlington. Altogether a varied and interesting morning.
There was no walk in November
In December, Sue and Hilary led us on a most pleasant and interesting walk.Starting at Berwick Church, we were lucky with the weather which was mild and not very windy, and we had good views of both the sea to the south and across the plains to the Weald to the north from our vantage point on the top of the Downs near BoPeep. We saw a lot of history, finishing at the Church at Berwick, with its interesting murals, walked along the Old Coach Road (formerly the road from Eastbourne to Lewes), and at Alciston walked past the massive medieval barn, the ancient Stew Pond and Dove Cotes, where we were ‘warned off’ by four exceptionally noisy Guinea Fowl! In total 5.75 miles.
In January 2016 we started the New Year with a circular walk from the Ram Inn at Firle. Wendy led us through Firle Village to climb gently up the Bostal, and then along to the Beacon where we were Lords and Ladies of all we could survey, across the plains to Cross in Hand to the north, and Newhaven and the sea to the south. We then descended to the old coach road, which was still icy in parts and we had fun walking through water up to our ankles, a good test for our boots, before we set off across the park with a lovely view of Firle Place to the pub where quite a few stayed for lunch.
In total 5.82 miles, 692 feet of ascent, 768 feet of descent ( don’t quite understand that), and burned off 405 calories (is that all?!).
And the walk took us precisely 3 hours.
We were lucky that Wendy chose that date, most of the ice had gone and the sun was shining. A really good start to our walking programme for this year.
Ten of us had a good walk in February, the weather was kind to us and we enjoyed exploring Birling Gap, the Belle Tout Lighthouse, East Dean and Friston Churchyard. We have now completed our first year as a group, and still going strong
In March, we revisited the route of our first ever walk but this time walking in the other direction, a circular walk from Hellingly via Wellshurst Golf Club and across the fields back to the Cuckoo Trail where we turned South for Hellingly. This was lambing time and we were lucky enough to see some very young lambs leaping around.
Eleven of us turned out for our April walk, and we were as ever most fortunate with the weather. Starting from Wilmington we enjoyed bright and sunny skies, we managed to avoid the rain showers and we had a good walk, just under 6 miles in total. As promised we saw cowslips, bluebells, ramsoms (wild garlic), wild violets and many other lovely flowers, lots of lambs, amazing views and we even watched a sheep dog herding a group of sheep. Amazing views, once on the South Downs Way we could see Newhaven and Eastbourne to the South, and as ever the Cross in Hand masts, Arlington Reservoir and much much more.
In May 11 of us arrived promptly at the carpark on Ditchling Common and set off through fields and woods covered in wonderful bluebells and other wild flowers. We passed ponds with Swans and Ducks and other wild life enjoying the sunshine. Almost at the end of our walk Wendy regaled us with the gruesome tale of the murders at the local pub, and the subsequent hanging of the culprit. We then reached St. George's and were given a brief history of the place. At the farm we came across a wonderful big brown bull. Time for a photo shoot. The farmer came over and had a nice friendly chat with us. He had worked the farm for 40 years and told us about the 3 new born calves in the field we were just about to cross. They were adorable. Another photo shoot.
Back at the carpark we again boarded our cars and made for Ditchling village where all eleven of us stopped and had a lovely lunch at the Green Wellies (or Wellingtons can't remember) Lovely food and a really happy ending to a great morning in the fresh air with good companions.
Thanks go to Sue and Hilary for organising a lovely walk in June, taking us from Heathfield to Mayfield with very gentle gradients. Fourteen of us turned out, and the weather improved as the morning went on. The highlight for me was walking alongside a lovely unmown meadow full of purple orchids. Then a very rapid bus ride back to Heathfield!
In July John and Joyce led a circular walk from Lamberhurst to Kildown, about 4 miles in lovely Kent countryside with Scotney Castle in the distance. It was a glorious morning and we walked for just over five miles amongst wheat fields, through woodland and the beautiful Kent countryside of the National Trust estate around Scotney Castle and back to Lamberhurst for an excellent lunch at The Chequers.
The walk in August was led by Sue and Hilary. Starting at the Fire Station in Heathfield the five mile walk took us through fields and woods and along country lanes. A lovely warm day, we were nine in total.
In September Ray and Moira took us to the Ashdown Forest, on a circular walk from Duddleswell Tea Rooms. The weather was amazingly warm and there was a really good turn out - 20 in all. At one stage there was an option to avoid the worst of the climb, and that sub group were fortunate enough to pass the Airman's Grave, a memorial to six young men, the crew of a Wellington bomber who were all killed when it crashed there on 31 July 1941. They were part of a 100 plane bombing mission to Cologne but were forced to turn back in atrocious weather with engine trouble. Annual remembrance services are still held
there. With views far and wide this was our first walk in the Forest, and it is to be hoped that we repeat our visits. A few of the group finished the morning with Lunch outside at the Tea Rooms.
Five of us turned out for our October walk, we had a most interesting time crossing the fields from Old Heathfield almost to Warbleton and back. About 5.25 miles in total. The sun shone and with the wind at our back, we managed the numerous and at times wobbly stiles and in essence had a good time. Because the group was small there was enough time to take a look at the interior of All Saints Church and especially to note the memorial window to the Reverend Robert Hunt, the vicar of Heathfield before he left England in 1606 to become Chaplain to the expedition to Jamestown, Virginia. More information on Robert Hunt:http://www.allsaintsoldheathfield.org/reverend-robert-hunt/
We also noted the interesting terracotta memorials in the Churchyard created by Jonathan Harmer in the early 19th Century, peculiar to just a few local churchyards. Many thanks to Sue and Hilary.
The date chosen for November’s walk turned out to be in the tail of Storm Angus, so with wet ground underfoot and gusts of 45mph winds forecast it was decided to postpone the planned walk and instead to take a stroll along the Cuckoo Trail from Horam en route to Heathfield and back. Despite grey skies seven people turned out and the weather improved, the sun shone and we enjoyed a four mile stroll and had a good chat. As you do.