Lewes Circular via Swanborough and Black Cap walk
Lewes Priory, Swanborough, the South Downs Way, Black Cap (hilltop) and Lewes Old Racecourse. Undulating.
History
This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.
Date | Option | Post | # | Weather |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sat, | Saturday Walk - Lewes Priory, Swanborough, the South Downs Way, Black Cap (hilltop) and Lewes Old Racecourse: a new Lewes Circular [New Walk] | 4 | sunny and hot with some breeze on the tops at times |
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04-Sep-23
Note that there was a path closure in July (see paragraph 4). If this is still the case you need to follow the sports fields as briefly explained in the directions. I believe that the closure order is still in place, but work may have finished.
Mike
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09-Sep-23
The great minds at Thameslink had a brainwave and put on an extra Fast Train to Brighton just before the 09.15 from LBG, which despite that was still rammed, mostly with folk going to Brighton (do they have a beach there or something?), but the Eastbourne train from Victoria was as normal: some seats available.
There were the usual plethora of walking groups on the train: Capital doing Hassocks to Lewes, Outdooraholics doing the 7 Sisters in good size and some genteel LDWA folk warbling on about their 30 milers and 50 milers, while staying on to Eastbourne seemingly.
Compared to those large numbers of walkers, a diminutive 3 SWC-cies emerged from the train, being met by a 4th one outside (not the walk author). We set off in very warm weather, soon getting hot, put in the odd stop for drinking some water and made good use of the shade provided by trees, hedges and buildings. There was more shade than one would have thought, actually...
Through the Priory and on up the Downs, where the hoped-for breeze materialised, not strong, not continuous but there often enough to make a difference.
Stupendous views as one would expect including a few sights other SWC walks don't really offer: the AMEX Stadium, a few high rises in Brighton plus that silly spiralling viewing thingie they have down there. We eventually got to the turnoff for the Plumpton pub around 14.00 hours, where 2 turned right towards Lewes and 2 left to the pub. This is a nice loop even if involves a steep and steady re-ascent (mostly in woods though). The pub is Ok to good, I'd say. Food was average, service was trying hard and the drinks were good.
By the time I reached Lewes I had 'lost' walker 4, no doubt distracted by butterflies again (he spotted 13 different types, so probably had a good day?). 17.25 train
A very fine route. Encountered on the Downs: plenty of cyclists, some walkers (mostly SDW completists by the looks of them), and 1 jogger going uphill in the midday heat.
sunny and hot with some breeze on the tops at times 4