9 and a dog set off from Lewes in cold, still air under a cloudy sky with the sun struggling to break through. A long, gradual climb up onto the downs warmed us up and we enjoyed good views along the top before 3 descended to Rodmell to the Abergavenny Arms and 4 went on to the YHA in Southease to picnic outside and buy hot drinks (and one a 595 calorie snack) from the cafe. Two more joined the cafe group having failed to locate the three in the pub. The morning clouds gave way to blue sky and sunshine keeping us warm over lunch until we tackled our second ascent of the downs where we saw the three pub people slightly ahead of us. The group mingled and stretched into six faster walkers and three slower ones. Afternoon sun lit up Mount Caburn and the surrounding landscape. The slower three reached Glynde in good time for the 16.03 train to Lewes. Two of the faster walkers also got this train and four caught the 16.26 from Lewes back to London. of

Four had continued the walk from Glynde to Lewes. The following report is from one of them:

The other 4 stayed together to Lewes, passing the golf club at 17.00 hours, just before darkness.

1 woman and a dog then proceeded to her car, while the 3 guys let the (delayed) 17.27 go and instead settled into the Lansdown Arms for a couple of beers. 18.27 train for us (also delayed).

The hoped for grand super duper sunset from the ridge experience didn't quite materialise, as a band of clouds was drifting in from the west at the time, so we did not see fluffy pink clouds, but we had a bright orange horizon all the time that we were on the ridge to the golf club. As sunsets go, a 6 out of 10.

Fantastic day.

Is anyone planning to eat at The Ram Inn, West Firle tomorrow?

I understand from discussions on the great Bermondsy mile, 9 breweries stacked in a row. We watched the England match with the sound 20 seconds ahead of the vision. Didnt change the result.

That no plans to go to West Firle, so I'll aim for the Abergavenny Arms.

My trains are cancelled, so homeworld today.

I was going to catch a slightly later train.

Indeed, the next two Lewes trains following the posted train were cancelled, so no one joined the group at Glynde. This left the original 6 (5 off the train, awaited by a 6th) ploughing along. The weather was mildly overcast at first, then overcast but dry, always with a strong-ish wind.

Nothing much to report about the walk itself: we got to the Abergavenny Arms a few minutes after 1 and left half past 2. That's after 1 walker had bailed out at Southease Station to link up with a friend in Brighton. 4 lunchers plus 1 picnicker, plenty of conversation, cafetieres of coffee... Views were quite ok for the leaden skies , especially out to sea.

Arriving in Lewes, we saw the 16.27 pull out and therefore had about 25 minutes to spend in the Lansdown Arms before the 16.57 (the next one along being cancelled). A very fine day out.

Special events/sights: a very large choir acting out songs in that pedestrianised main drag in Lewes (rockchoir.com), a large shooting party descending into Caburn Bottom (11 Land Rovers plus one tractor-with-charabanc for the 'guns'. Another smaller shooting party going up the track up Beddingham Hill (6 rovers with a handful of 'guns' and loads of kids acting as 'beaters'), all going for what's left of the pheasants. A swimmer about to jump into the Ouse at Southease for his daily 15 minutes swim. A mountain biker going up and down the same stretch of the SDW. A large-ish group of young walkers on a 'fast hike' (something between fast walking and slow jogging), they were the 1,000ft Club (their policy: no leaders, no liability, which sounds a bit familiar; and a minimum of 1000 ft of ascent within a minimum of 12 miles walking = not THAT ambitious). Today they were doing Hassocks to Lewes, which apparently is 27 km. And on the ridge we took the time to (finally) scan the QR Code on one of those South Downs National Park signposts, which leads you to a 'Meet the Farmer' video. Nice one.

Hi, Anyone know if Southease YHA is open for drinks etc now? Planning to get train back from Southease and unable to get this info from Google. Thank you.

Please see above. Thank you.

Yes, the Courtyard Cafe in the Southease YHA is open for refreshments. We were there a couple of weeks ago. Very nice cakes. We were told by staff that it is open till 10pm.

Thank you, branchline.

The weather forecast for today had steadily worsened over the last few days, and it (the weather) lived up to the forecast: drizzly at first, then rainy, then with some hard rain, then plenty low cloud, so much so that one could hardly make out The Ouse in the valley below, then clouds breaking, some sunny spells, followed by a thin layer of grey clouds with sunny breaks. 9 walkers today, incl. 1 first-timer, all walking clockwise. 3 of those we 'lost' at about the same time in three different directions: where the long walk turns left to West Firle, one paced ahead uphill w/o rain gear, while the rest stopped to put some rain gear on (we never saw him again); one turned back as he was sodden and planned to train it back from Glynde (but - after refreshments at the Tea Room in Glynde - walked back to Lewes); 1 (lagging behind the others) erroneously assumed we had turned left to West Firle and did the same. He had lunch there, took a taxi to Rodmell and had his dessert there, to then finish the walk with the other 4. If you have counted: that leaves 2 others, they finished at Southease (Courtyard Cafe then train).

From inside the pub in Rodmell, we had noticed that the sky was brightening up, and indeed the post lunch route was entirely dry and at times fairly sunny. The contrast between not seeing much from the Downs pre-lunch, and now having grand views, was quite something. All in: pleasant company, good chat and an improving weather during the day.

16.27 train for the dasher, the 17.27 missed by a few minutes by the pub lunchers. Some retired to The Depot, the new-ish place in the former brewery depot by the station (Long Man brewery beers, just outside Harvey's brewery, how do they get away with that?). 9 wet to lunch then dry

Bloomin lovely walk

Thanks Bridie 2

My apologies if I'm treading on anyone's toes by giving feedback on Clare's posted walk, not being a regular Saturday walker myself, but the late posting of this additional walk went down very well with the 18 of us who opted to test their stamina by venturing out onto the South Downs on a windy day with sunshine and showers , some heavy and accompanied by hail.

We set out in the anti-clockwise direction, soon encountering an early shower. We enjoyed fine views as we crossed the vast grassy field after Kingston, now in a strong breeze. After the climb up onto the Downs we were blown along the way, mostly by cross-winds. Most of us were caught by a heavier shower, with hail, as we descended towards Rodmell, to take shelter in the Abergavenny Arms. 6 of us dined there, with others coming in for drinks. The food was up to this pub's usual high standard. We had a hiccup with the bill, which the pub later corrected to their credit.

After lunch my small group set off in sunshine, to enjoy glorious views back up on the Downs between Southease and Glynde.

A fair number called it a day at Glynde and caught the hourly train service to Lewes. I missed a train by three minutes, so opted to continue alone over Mount Caburn. This leg proved to be the windiest - blowing a veritable gale on top - but fortunately the threatening skies held off from drenching me out in the open, and I made it to Lewes station in good time to catch the 17-57 hrs service back to London. At the station I was reunited with a number of SWC walkers who had found the station's cafe still open for a welcoming cuppa.

On a very breezy day I found this walk hard work - but rewarding and most enjoyable for its delightful views.

Thinking about doing the longer version - anyone fancy an earlier start?

Rich

Half an hour earlier?

Plenty of walkers got off at Lewes Station off the crowded train (Tennis at Eastbourne apparently, and only the standard 4 car-train), with several groups assembling on Platform 1, so we moved our group huddle to outside the station. There I counted 14, with (to my knowledge) 4 others still using facilities at platform level, although someone later said there were 5 of them. 1 of us had arrived 30 mins earlier and seen 2 others disembarking and starting early (who were both met or caught by the group), and 1 other took a train to Southease (I believe) and walked up to the Rodmell pub from there to meet the pub lunchers. And then there was SWC stalward MG, who some of us bumped into at the YHA Courtyard Cafe at Southease. She had taken a train 60 mins earlier. So, all in 22 (or 23) in warm weather with a welcoming breeze .

There were 2 first-timers apparently, but I had overlooked their fingers when I had asked for just that at the group huddle, so apologies for not being especially welcoming to them.

2 dashed off at speed, several others kind of followed, and 3 of those regrouped after the pub or the courtyard cafe for the stretch to West Firle (in all, at least 7 walked the long version). We bumped into one of the early starters who had walked the long walk clockwise, and then paused at The Ram for a drink. 6 of us (by then) continued together for the last leg to Lewes, although only a few walked the out-and-back to the Hillfort on Mount Caburn. Those few then reached Lewes after the Beer Festival had already shut, so went for a convivial meal at The Rights of Man pub (recommended).

The views were stunning, as the air was very clear and the breeze helped enormously in the temperatures. There was a good showing of buttercups (especially in one field by Kingston Windmill, where there were tight clumps of them) and plenty of poppies (especially along a stretch on Front Hill in a large rapeoil seed field), some trefoil and some viper suchandsuch.

Dr. Botanicus also saw three types of orchids and went down Caburn Bottom to find a fourth, but all he collected were plenty of ticks (there were warning signs aplenty). Cue some diligent tick-removal action...

Plenty of skylarks and other songbirds about and one Red Kite was spotted.

A splendid day.

7 at the start on this lovely walk. A damp drizzle leaving Lewis stopped giving a dry walk to Rodmel . Prompt service in the Abergavenny Arms, luckily not too busy when we arrived at one, but it quickly filled up. We lost one walker early on, one at Southese, one at Glynde when the rain started, with 4 completing the whole walk. w=2 hours of light rain. two of us enjoyed the excellent beer in the Landsdown Arms.

For more detailed and up to date directions than those provided on the introduction page, see the pdf

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/lewes-circular-via-glynde-and-southease/SWC_Walk_47_Lewes_Circular_via_Glynde_and_Southease.pdf

If you want to have lunch at the Abergavenny Arms the ANTI-clockwise direction is recommended - 6 miles to lunch versus 8 miles + the other way. Anticlockwise also gives you the nicest finish into Lewes.

Going clockwise you have two long climbs - one after Glynde and the other after lunch - slow, dull climbs with the view behind you, whereas anticlockwise both of these are lovelyt long descents with the view in front of you

Can we agree which way we are going? Let's not split what will already be a small contingent, thus detracting from the whole experience.

Sorry, it was not my intention to be splittist. The walk poster has indicated a preference for clockwise, so I guess that should be the default. Note that there is no longer an early pub option in Glynde in this direction, however

Could Marcus confirm if he himself will be on the walk, please. Thank you.

I hope to be on the walk - if my back is better come tomorrow: I'm struggling to move today.

Thank you to Walker for his advice on the best way round. Given the chalky ascent onto the Downs from Lewes is not clever after rain when done as a descent (clockwise route), I suggest we adhere to Walker's advice and go anti-clockwise.

We should have much better weather than our colleagues in Oxfordshire will experience today.

10 off the train at Lewes, plus 4 others who were not aware of the procedure of assembling on the platform, so they set off ahead of us: we met up, initially at Southease, then again at Glynde: so let's make that 14 , not bad for a Thursday outing (numbers probably enhanced by refugees from the wet Wednesday walk).

We set out in the anti-clockwise direction, with the lovely opening leg up onto the Downs via Kingston, to enjoy delightful views with only a modicum of effort. Arriving on top the overcast and windy conditions morphed into wind and light drizzle until lunchtime then turning sunny and warm later .

Lunch was enjoyed by 5 of us in the Abergavenny Arms, whose staff were attentive and friendly, and food and drink excellent.

The sun was coming out as we climbed back onto the Downs for leg 2, again with panoramic views. When we reached Glynde my efforts to keep going with my dodgy back caught up with me, and I was forced to bale out and make a graceful retreat to the railway station: it was nice that I had the company of one other who wanted to return to London early. And I must thank her and all today for showing concern over my incapacity - a few days of waddling around like a pregnant duck and I hope to be back upright......or whatever.

I hope the 8 plus 4 enjoyed the ascent and descent of Caborn Hill, from Glynde to Lewes - one of you might like to add a supplementary report to my drivel here.

A lovely walk, best of company and super views.

Frankie

From Glynde the rest of us enjoyed a fairly easy climb through the colourful nature reserve to the top of Caburn Hill. In the late afternoon sunshine the views were beautiful. With little time to linger the front three descended into Lewes in time to catch the 17.17 train back to London and, for one, the beer festival at Kensington Olympia.

Oh, what a perfect day..Thank you Marcus for your cheerful stoicism and a delightful walk.

3 of us just missed the 17.15 train so went into the Lewes station tearoom which is excellent. For future reference the tearoom has phonecharger for the public.

20 overcast to misty then rainy and windy then very windy

20 off the train (and also a similarly large group of younger walkers, which did the same walk, but thankfully in the opposite direction, so we didn't clash at the lunch pub). Good pace throughout, although inevitably the group disintegrated a little bit over the hours. Strong winds on the Downs, initially from the side. Lunch at Rodmell was tasty and reasonably fast in delivery, although the pub was heaving with lunchers. After Southease the rain started and the wind increased to gales(from the back now), so a tea stop at the Glynde pub was gladly taken by most of the faster walkers. Only a few then continued on to Lewes though, i.e. now into the wind and the ceasing rain. One - lightweight - walker got blown off a stile and kissed the mud on this stretch.

16.54 train, on which most of the Glynde-contingent were found.

All in all, a lovely, challenging walk, w/o many/any views due to the conditions. The "should be mud free" statement proved to be true on the top of the Downs, but far less so on the chalky approach paths and the slithery ascent from Glynde to Cabourn Castle (Wealden-type gooey stuff there). Combined with the - at times - horizontal rain and driving wind, this might sound like a perfect pre-pre-warm up walk for the Scotland trip in May, and it was.

As this is what I was looking for, I am: one happy customer.

8 of us followed you in doing the Glynde to Lewes finish, Thomas. A tough climb, firstly up a slippery mudfield with the wind blowing us backwards, then struggling like Polar explorers uphill on grass into the teeth of the gale. Intense winds on the top of the ridge, a tricky stile crossing (thankfully without being blown off), but we then kept straight on into the dip (departing from the walk route) where the winds eased a bit. Still just about light when we approached Lewes at 5.20pm. One of the more challenging SWC walks I have ever done, but exhilarating. Five of us stayed for an Italian meal.

Good idea. It might be helpful to have some agreement in advance as to which parades to watch, and which if any bonfire society to get tickets for?

Last year a few of us ladies decided to watch the parade which started at the War Memorial in the centre of Lewes 20 mins earlier than advertised (5.40pm instead of 6pm) which caused considerable confusion and a major crush on the pavements. The police community support officers had no information on directions as most had been bussed in from other divisions and had never been to Lewes before!

We had a £10 a head carvery dinner afterwards at the White Hart hotel opposite Pizza Express as everywhere else was booked for dinner. We then went home. Tickets for the Bonfire societies are usually sold well in advance to the locals but I seem to remember there were some tickets being sold at Tesco at around 4.30pm. The fireworks are not usually lit until 10pm at the adult bonfires but the children's parade and family bonfires start earlier. Trains run after midnight sometimes till 1am or later to Brighton but not to London so so if you want to spend the evening here its a long night and you really should stay overnight.

Every shop and cafe closes after 4pm and boards up its windows so the town looks like a war zone until the parades starts around 5.30pm and the crowds are really challenging.

Maybe Robin can help with further advice but I've found it impossible to keep together as a group especially after a strenuous walk its too crowded and too long an evening for most people.

I would recommend the walk and the early fancy dress parade then eat and return home. Otherwise buy a ticket for the Bonfire society fireworks in advance have a meal then stay overnight as it won't finish til after the last train to London has departed at 10.40pm. Later trains go to Brighton ONLY and once there you might get a later train to Gatwick then change to the Gatwick Express-Not recommended!

I've done both options but won't be going this year as my knees are not up to hilly walks.

Was it last year the Abergavenny Arms closed for "Deep Clean" as it was their quietest day? I am sure they will feed SWC if they are given advanced notice.

Very keen to do this walk. Anyone else?

You will not be alone. I know several people planning to do this walk. I am sure the fine weather will bring out more.

Saturday 6 June: SWC walk 47 - Lewes Circular via Southease and Glynde: 18 on this walk, including two taking the late start option from Southease. sunny but windy , a really stiff and somewhat chilly breeze on the tops of the downs, but at least the clouds that gathered to the north never came our way.

What can be said,except that this was a perfect day out - gorgeous views, a gorgeous time of year and gorgeous territory, easy underfoot. A bit of climbing to get the blood pumping but lots of easy walking along the tops or down the other side. Lunch at the Abergavenny Arms came fairly quickly despite it being busy: tea was split between the Trevor Inn (which apparently now offers good cakes) and the Cottage Tea Room in Glynde. At least ten of us - in three groups - completed the whole circuit to Lewes - and had drinks/eats to celebrate. One or two got the train from Glynde.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the swifts, which were frequently seen swooping low over the downs. Usually they fly up high and it was amazing to see them close up. How big they are!