Isfield - Monday 7 May 2012
The weather forecast wasn’t very good for Bank Holiday Monday, but we were pleasantly surprised when the day dawned dry, if a little cloudy. A group of 24 of us set off from the Laughing Fish Pub in the village of Isfield. The walk took us across very marshy fields initially but then into woods where the ground underfoot wasn’t so wet. The bluebells were spectacular in places but there were no wood anemones to be seen. We crossed the busy A26 and walked alongside Plashett Park Estate and its several large lakes. This land once belonged to the Prior of Lewes in the 13th century where he had a hunting lodge. After a long stretch of woodland, we were once again in open fields which were thankfully not so muddy underfoot. There were good views of Horsted Place but the East Sussex Golf Course was hidden by the trees with their fresh green foliage. We then crossed the railway bridge over the Lavender Line and were very excited when a steam locomotive passed beneath us. As we got back to the pub, it started to rain and we felt very lucky to have had a dry morning and such a lovely walk.

Pevensey Castle & Rickney - Tuesday 1 May 2012
Escaping the showers, 9 members, led by Robert, took the train to Pevensey to have a 5 mile walk on Hankham Level which proved to be extremely wet and muddy underfoot. Starting from the railway station the walk took the party through the grounds of Pevensey Castle where they picked up the 1066 Way and made their way to Rickney and a coffee stop. The return walk was beside Pevensey Haven to reach Castle Farm and through Westham to the station once more.

Hadlow Down - Sunday 22 April 2012
Wolfgang led a lovely walk around Hadlow Down, through woods carpeted with Spring flowers including wood anenomes, milkmaids, primroses and bluebells which were still struggling to come into bloom due to the cold, dull weather.

Upper Dicker - Wednesday 18 April 2012
Not to be put off by the wet, windy, and cold weather our walk at Upper Dicker went ahead as planned. Despite the conditions it turned out to be a most enjoyable and memorable event. Our walk started at the Plough public house in Upper Dicker and followed a 4½-mile circular route passing many places of interest. We crossed the Cuckmere River near Arlington, passed the entrance to the Arlington Bluebell Walk at Bates Green Farm, came close to the Arlington Stock Car racing Stadium, saw the deer at Knockhatch Adventure Park, came close to Michelham Priory, walked though the playing fields of St Bede’s school arriving back at the village centre near the Upper Dicker village shop and café. A well-earned break and refreshments were taken at The Plough.

Horndean to East or West Meon - Sunday 15 April 2012
We enjoyed the first of our three annual coach trips which enable us to explore and walk in new areas. 20 members took part in a coach trip to East Hampshire where they had a walk in the rolling Downs of that area. Starting at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park the walkers climbed Butser Hill and then took a route through some ancient byways. Some members opted for a longer walk on part of the South Downs Way and the former Meon valley railway line to West Meon whilst others went up Park Hill to look down at East Meon where their walk finished. They then had time to explore this beautiful village where a number of gardens were open and cream teas available in the village hall. Whilst a cold wind blew for most of the day the visibility and views were excellent and the party enjoyed going to a part of the South Downs which, for many, was new to them.

Wivelsfield Green - Monday 9 April 2012
Our Bank Holiday walk turned out to be a rather damp affair but 14 of us still enjoyed our walk in the Wivelsfield area. It was good to see all the Spring flowers although, because of the dull and damp conditions, all the delicate white wood anemones remained tightly closed. Keith led the walk.

Falmer to Rottingdean - Tuesday 3 April 2012
Our Falmer to Rottingdean walk started from Falmer station and took us round the new football stadium behind which we found the path onto the Downs and the first hill, one of several on the way to Rottingdean. We crossed Jugg’s Road and descended into Falmer Bottom, through the nature reserve and then climbed again to Balsdean Reservoir. In Rottingdean half the party retired to the pub for a drink and sustenance and half picnicked in the peaceful, manicured surroundings of Kipling Garden. We returned to Lewes by bus via Brighton. Graham Heap led the way and supplied the photos.
 

Vines Cross - Sunday 25 March 2012
Wolfgang took us on another lovely walk which started at Vines Cross near Horam. We passed through a variety of terrains including woodland where there was great excitement when we saw our first bluebell of the year. Primroses, Lady’s Smock or Milkmaids, as we say in Sussex, and violets adorned the hedgerows as we made our way to Rushlake Green where we had our coffee stop. We returned to Vines Cross through Warbleton where, in the Churchyard we noticed the grave of Richard Woodman, one of the Lewes martyrs.

Crowborough to Eridge Station - Wednesday 21 March 2012
We took the bus to Uckfield and then the train to Crowborough and then walked to Eridge station through spectacular countryside. Our picnic stop en-route was a sunny spot overlooking Bowles Outdoor Pursuits Centre. We joined the train at Eridge and then returned via Uckfield again.

Berwick Figure of Eight - Sunday 11 March 2012
In a change to the advertised programme, the figure of eight walk on Sunday 11th March was centred on Berwick, not Glynde. Twenty-two of us left the village in warm spring weather. When the sun came out, off came the sweaters and fleeces. It was perfect walking weather. As we crossed the open fields to Alciston, the noise of the already busy A27 obtruded on our right, but skylarks could be heard in stereo above us. In Alciston, we passed a very large old barn, which we learned, is not an old Tithe Barn (which is how it is marked on the OS map) but simply a very large old barn built to store the produce from the fertile land around the village, which was owned and worked by the monks from Battle Abbey. A stiff climb took us onto the South Downs Way and our obligatory coffee stop, on this day taken whilst sitting on an ancient tumulus, with all round views. North of Alfriston, we joined the Vanguard Way which took us back to Berwick where some of us lunched at The Cricketers Arms before a very much reduced party set off for a leisurely post-prandial four mile circular walk via Selmeston and Alciston (again). There were no hills in the afternoon but the ground was quite soggy in places. The whole enterprise was led by Hilda and Graham who also supplied the pictures.

Alfriston - Tuesday 6 March 2012
This walk was very much a walk of two parts. We started by walking along River Lane in Alfriston to join the towpath of the delightful meandering River Cuckmere passing the Parish Church, ‘the Cathedral of the Downs’, and continuing on for a further mile and a half where a short break was enjoyed in the lee of High and Over. We then partly ascended the hill to cross the Alfriston Road, taking a contoured path via Cradle Hill to Camp Hill. Turning north we descended into a valley with a long climb out to the top where the walkers took lunch in glorious sunshine with many fine views, including Seaford Head, to appreciate. Returning to Alfriston, we emerged opposite Deans Place then passing through the western side of the village to complete the walk in North Road.

Hellingly - Sunday 26 February 2012
It was a warm spring day when 36 of us set off from Lealands just north of Hellingly on the A267 recently. We started by walking along part of the Wealdway, a well signed and maintained long-distance route. After crossing several fields we left the Wealdway to take a footpath that ran parallel to the golf course. The views across the Weald were spectacular and the day grew warmer as the early morning mist burnt off. After crossing more fields full of sheep, we joined the Cuckoo Trail on the track bed of the old railway which was up and running between 1849 and 1968 linking Polegate and Eridge. We left the Cuckoo Trail at Hellingly and walked along the quiet lanes back to the car park. Some of us then enjoyed an excellent lunch at The Golden Cross Inn.

Newhaven to Peacehaven to Piddinghoe to Newhaven - Wednesday 22 February 2012
This walk was a walk of three halves. The first was along the cliffs between Newhaven and Peacehaven. The wind from the south-west was exceedingly strong. Kite flying would have been fun but nobody had thought to bring one along! The sea was grey and suitably choppy and any cobwebs were well and truly blown away. At Peacehaven we turned inland, walked through a building site and on to The Downs where a late coffee stop was taken in the lee of some brambles. Some of our party heard their first skylark of the year. Out of the wind and in the sun the second half of the walk traversed the typical down land scenery we know and love so well. At Piddinghoe we turned south along the river and found the wind again, the incinerator looming large, in front of us. This final half of the walk finished back at the bus-station in Newhaven where we had set off from. With exquisite timing, the bus back to Lewes arrived five minutes after we did. Seventeen people thoroughly enjoyed the walk that was led by Hilda and Graham. Pictures by Vivien.

Horam - Sunday 12 February 2012
Our Horam walk was led by Wolfgang who was surprised when 12 people joined him on a walk at Horam when bitterly cold and icy conditions prevailed. For the first two miles we followed the Cuckoo Line along the old railway track which was very icy and slippery. Just before reaching the outskirts of Heathfield, we left the track and headed across snowy fields in an Easterly direction. Here we had to negotiate many precarious and icy stiles but there were no mishaps thank goodness. The sun came out as we turned South and heading back to Horam we passed through the lovely Sapperton Wood. We eventually reached the Hidden Spring Vineyard before turning right into the Vines Cross road and back to Horam car park. An exhilarating 5 mile walk .

Crosspost/Bolney - Tuesday 7 February 2012
We recently had a very pleasant mid-week winter walk between Bolney and Cowfold. The 5-mile route was mainly on the level following little-used footpaths that meandered through farmland and woodland and passed by quiet isolated houses. We started the walk at the hamlet of Crosspost, which lies south of the A272 near Bolney. Initially we followed various footpaths heading in a westerly direction towards the outskirts of Cowfold. At the walk’s midway point we turned, headed north for a few hundred yards, then turned again to follow different footpaths in an easterly direction back to Crosspost.

The weather was excellent for walking, sunny with clear blue skies and little wind. The temperature was near freezing but we soon warmed up thanks to the efforts of our walking and an extra layer of clothing. We were concerned about the snow and ice all round us when we left Lewes but there was hardly any snow on our walk. Thanks to the ground underfoot being frozen hard we had little mud on our boots at the end of the walk.

We were interested to walk close to a very large electricity sub station where the electricity from the proposed offshore wind farm near Brighton will be fed into the National Grid.

We also saw horses, cows, sheep, dogs and pigs en-route but none showed any interested in us, as they seemed to know we had nothing for them.

A fine walk published in the Argus some years ago. Dave led the walk.

Balsdean (Walk 4) - Sunday 29 January 2012
Our walk, led by Janet, started at Woodingdean with 28 walkers taking part. We set off in the mist but later the sun broke through. This walk takes you very quickly away from sight and sound of traffic or houses and has a very peaceful, secret feel. We followed the lovely path winding gently down into Standean Bottom and then followed the level tree lined path to old farm buildings where we took our coffee break, pausing on the way to look at the stone plaque marking the site of the old Norman church. Suitably refreshed we set off again through Balsdean Bottom before tackling the steep climb up to meet the South Downs way with its fantastic views over Kingston and beyond. We followed the South Downs Way for a mile or so, gaining a different view of the new Amex stadium down below us, before continuing the slow descent down Newmarket Hill and so back to our starting point.

North of Plumpton Parish - Wednesday 25 January 2012
Twelve members boarded a bus to the Fountain Inn, Plumpton Green to commence their walk that encompassed the Northern End of Plumpton Parish and parts of Wivelsfield Parish.

It was a varied walk through fields, tracks and woods which is one of twelve walks in the booklet ‘Walks Around Plumpton’ produced by the Plumpton & District Footpath Society, and it is interesting to note the first few words in the booklet. ‘Why Walk?’
‘What is this life, if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.’

This varied and interesting landscape provided us with a real winter style walk with the trees all bare of foliage thus enabling us to stand and stare a number of times at the impressive North Scarp Face of the South Downs, also to appreciate the undulating landscape around us in what one tends to think is rather flat countryside.

Although this was a winter walk, because of the high temperature one almost felt it was early spring, and especially when one looked on the ground and observed the spring flowers already growing above the soil, in particular the Bluebells. A number of interesting buildings and farms were passed including The St. Peter and St. James Hospice.

As we crossed the last field to join Station Road to end our walk the bus was seen to pass, thus it was over another hour before the next bus was due. Not to be dismayed the party repaired to the Fountain Inn to enjoy a very sociable lunch. The walk was led by Bertram Sharp

Horstead Keynes - Sunday 15 January 2012
30 members took part in this excellent winter's walk. The sun was shining and although it was windy in exposed places the low temperature was soon forgotten as a result of the undulating walk. Starting from Horsted Keynes station the party went north beside the railway line almost to Horsted House Farm to then turn westwards to first drop and then climb to Highbrook. A coffee stop was taken in the churchyard before continuing south west to Brook House Farm and through the cricket ground of Brook House School. After crossing Hammingdean Lane and going through Orchard Wood the road back to the station was reached and some were glad by then that the last stile had been crossed.

Around Ditchling Beacon - Sunday 1 January 2012
We started the year with a walk around Ditchling Beacon on New Year’s Day. We faced mist and then driving rain so are hoping for better weather for our other walks in 2012.