11 off the train in Lewes plus a dog in her full winter coat which she needed in the cold wind with intermittent sun and clouds drifting over it. We took the high road to Glynde and the front group disappeared from sight, omitting to turn right and carrying on for a while before realising they'd gone too far. The rearguard stayed on track and were not far from the Firle when the fast group caught up. Two people lunched in the Ram and waited a long time for their food to arrive. A third joined them to have chips which arrived very quickly.The picnickers moved on and most stopped at the café in Charleston. Three or four had sped ahead to catch the 16.07 train from Southease. Others set off as they finished their coffees. Two lingered over tea and cake, had a quick look around the garden and set off apace to catch the 17.05 which they did with just minutes to spare along with the two pub lunchers who caught up right at the end and some earlier arrivals who had visited the YHA cafe. It was an enjoyable walk despite the cold wind. The steep ascents at the start and after lunch kept us warm and we had nice views of the sea in the afternoon reflecting patches of blue and raising prospects of summer.

My directions from Charleston were not completely accurate though nobody went astray. It should have read 'Leaving Charleston farmhouse,follow the driveway east for 200 meters. Just before a field gate, take the paved lane to your right, follow it past Tilton farm buildings on your left. Continue up to a T-junction and go straight across to follow an earth track through an initially wooded area up onto to the South Downs Way. The path winds left offering a gentler gradient to the top where you turn right on the SDW.

6 , hot sunny with a breeze . Three started from Lewes and three from Glynde one a bit earlier than the other two. The Ram was rammed at least in the car park but we found a free table in the garden and were served promptly with a sea bass coming twice. After lunch it seemed even hotter, two of us stopped at the Charleston Farmhouse Cafe for tea. Three had gone on and the remainder took a shortcut via Selmeston to leave one wilting sole at the Barley Mow reaching Berwick in time for the 15:58.

I was a late starter partly because of a cancelled replacement bus to Clapham - I know! So I didn't think I would stop at Charleston but in the end the "front group" decided we had no chance of catching the 1558 (I didn't know about a short cut) and found we had time to sample the Cricketers (one soft drink, an accidental low-alcohol beer and one proper beer purchased) and the Berwick Inn (beer pronounced "harmless") before the 1658. Standing room only on the train back from Lewes.

PS I'm happy to report the hollyhocks were out

13 and a dog off the train in Lewes, 1 car driver with a dog and 1 who started from Glynde made a total of 15 on today's walk on a bright and breezy day. 3 had lunch at the Ram Inn while the rest picnicked on the cricket pitch. After lunch, 4 headed directly for Southease and 11 carried on to Charleston farmhouse where we stopped for tea and cake and a look at the garden which was at its colourful best. From there, two walked on to Berwick and nine walked up the downs to Firle Beacon and followed the South Downs Way to Southease - a very enjoyable stretch over even, grassy ground, no mud to contend with, the wind behind us, gleaming sea on our left and a panoramic if hazy expanse of East Sussex to our right. We reached Southease with time to visit the YHA cafe (now open until 10pm) before heading to the station for the 17.07 train. It was cancelled and having no certainty that the 18.05 would run, we all walked to Lewes making for a very long day out. 7 caught the 18.25 and two the 18.55 from Lewes. The Berwick and earlier Southease finishers were homeward bound a couple of hours ahead of us. A very enjoyable day - the Sussex lanes lined with blossom, sheep with luxurious coats and healthy lambs, skylarks calling, a line of cows capering along the riverside full of the joys of spring. Most of the walk was mud free.

You'll be sharing the train (Southern Willing) with the cloggies who are walking from Lewes to Brighton. Great minds ... eh?

Just 4 at Lewes station.

We were soon off climbing not one but two hills in quick succession on what must be the sunniest day of the year - so far. Mr Tiger struggled a bit up mount Caburn but was spurred on by the thought of the glass of perry awaiting him in the Ram.

In Glynde there was a brief discussion about whether to stop at the teashop or press on. Readers, we pressed on. (Only, of course, because we were eager to see how many ‘lightweights’ were waiting there). No lightweights. So 4 it was.

At the bar Mr Tiger nervously enquired after the perry. "What's perry?" came the response. An aghast Mr Tiger was very nearly given some Peroni. It wasn't all bad news, though. They did have ice-cold Orchard Pig, two pints of which, had soon disappeared down an unprotesting gullet.

The Ram has had a makeover. No longer the endearingly chaotic service. No more queuing for drinks. No sooner had your bottom hit the seat than the attentive staff were over. Lightning service, and from what I could hear above the glugging of cider, the food was good.

After a pleasant sojourn in their garden, we were off, past the first of the hollyhocks. A suitably anaesthetised Mr Tiger leading the way to Charlstone House.

Guess what. Its had a makeover too - or at least the tearoom has. The garden's still the same. Stuffed with hollyhocks, cardoons and the like. Waterlilies on the pond, fish in the water. And, indeed, free.The tearoom, though, has moved into a barn. We sat in the courtyard with Fela Kuti's music wafting out from the barn. Another pleasant sojourn.

Then Mr Tiger led them on, ever onwards, past horses dressed as a clown and a zebra, to Berwick Church where we nearly stepped on a slowworm. Impressive hollyhocks. We looked at the paintings ans stuff.

Mr Tiger cast a wistful eye at the Cricketers as we sped past. No Cricketers today ‘sigh’.

We took the shorter route to the station noting there is now a cycleway all the way from the junction to the station. (We debated taking the longer way and heard later from another walker that it was difficult to navigate with ploughed fields and the like). Well done us!

We got to the station with a bit too much time to spare. What to do, what to do?

There was only one thing TO do. We reluctantly entered the Berwick Arms where Mr Tiger reluctantly finished off another cider.

And so ended a wonderful sunny summer walk, the only downside being that so few turned up to enjoy it.

The train home was packed (as was the train out) .

The River Ouse ending is rather industrial - may be better to either extend via Kingston or catch a train from Southease.

Rich

...only the last bit into town, before that it's quite nice. TG

No cafe open in Lewes station at the moment.

The outbound train was 30 minutes delayed due to a trespasser near East Croydon, and the service at The Ram Inn was a bit slow for everyone's liking, but else this was a great day out:

The group quickly dispersed into small units and - from what I could observe - most did the out-and-back to the Mount Caburn hillfort site, took the shortcut in Glynde by following the road and crossing the A road rather than diverting through fields and through the underpass. A good handful also turned left uphill in Glynde to have a look at the interesting church and at Glynde Place (having not paid notice to the written-up left turn on the Downs to get there with less effort). 6 lunched at The Ram and all of us then walked the full route to Lewes along the Ouse, incl. an off-script out-and-back to the Firle Beacon. All this is glorious sunshine but with a strong wind (not just on the tops). 5 of us arrived just in time for the 18.21 train, 1 other took the next one along. 13 sunny with a cold wind

1 travelled independently to Glynde, arriving about 12:30, but saw no familiar faces there or at Firle (I know why now.) Continuing up to the top I found that, truly, it's an ill (northeasterly) wind that blows no-one any good, as it was was keeping the skies clear of aircraft landing at Gatwick - they were forced to take a path over West Sussex, leaving those over East Sussex crystal clear with views for miles in all directions. The Courtyard cafe at Southease was closed, but that didn't detract from a glorious ridgetop walk in brilliant sunshine under blue skies, with, yes, a bit of wind.

14

Six picknickers walked to Southease without visiting Firle Beacon; four then caught the train (1610? can't remember exactly but we got to the closed cafe before 4) while two walked on to Lewes. Beautiful day despite the NE wind. Incidentally we did discuss the left fork over the downs that would have led to Glynde church but I didn't realise that was a good alternative (it looks further than it really is, I suspect) - I don't think it's mentioned in the route description.

10 out of Lewes and 1 from Glynde makes 11 on a warm cloudy muggy sort of day. Wild flowers in profusion up on the downs. Plenty butterflies too. And don’t get me started about the hollyhocks.

The Trevor Arms is still closed. The Ram lived up to its reputation as an officially designated Mr Tiger favourite but, being busy, was not particularly fast with the food. And so on to Charleston, where some were intending to visit. The subgroup I was with didn’t but sped past to Alciston and an encounter with an overfriendly horse. In Berwick we were waylaid by a local who practically dragged us to the church (we were going anyway) where there was an open day to promote the forthcoming restoration of the paintings and show off recent archaeological finds. I never found the finds table so I can’t tell you what they found. There hadn’t been much interest - most people preferring to watch celebrities bat a ball over a net (yawn). Anyway, here, we were plied with FREE tea and homemade cakes. And the hollyhocks on the way in were magnificent, probably the best hollyhocks I have ever seen. (Don’t get me started). The downside of the free tea was that it diminished any desire to visit the Cricketers. However, having arrived at Berwick station a little early, enough desire had been rekindled to justify a visit to the Berwick Arms which was pleasant. Almost pleasant enough to be officially designated. Some commented that the directions on the last bit could do with a little more clarity and that bit also still overgown in places. Good day out.

And don't get me started about the 'Per' perry in the Ram either.Cloudy, still, chilled.

Think I will take a later train and join the walk at the Glynde station. The 10.46 from London Victoria arrives at Glynde station at 12:21. It usually takes the group an hour to get over the hill.The Lunch Monitor.

I will be joining you at CJ 10.43 and finish ar Southease for tea.

SorryI meant 10.53

10 off the train, 1 already waiting on the platform (up from Sevenoaks via Warrior Squ.), 1 other outside (over from Brighton). 1 of us had to frequent the local WHSmith and PO to send an urgent card. For the rest, the sky was blue and there was hardly a breeze, so the first bits of Downs' ascent were easily negotiated. Most of the troopers walked the out-and-back to the hillfort site on Mount Caburn for the sensational views from it. We saw plenty of just-born cattle and lambs in the pastures.

At The Ram Inn we met 2 late starters, who had both intended to start at Glynde station together, but 1 of them had invented a quite sensational new way of missing a train (and I know a LOT about missing trains from personal experience!): she stood on the platform at CJ when the train arrived, but let it go as she was not realising it was the one going to Lewes... Cue - later on - a taxi ride from Lewes to The Ram Inn.

The group set off from the pub in spurts, as food arrived in a sequential manner, wearing out the picnickers and early finishers. So I can only report on the tail-enders (someone bought coffees as well). The sky was now overcast (and temps certainly were NOT what my forecast had predicted, a "feels like 14°"). [Only late on the sun was making some appearance again, through a few holes in the clouds, lighting up the walls of the chalk pits near Lewes quite beautifully.]

Skylarks were larking, the paragliders were packing up, and hardly a soul about on the paths.

Several - if not the majority - took the train from Southease, giving up on the easy/tranquil/meditative/boring (delete as appropriate) end along The Ouse towards Lewes. I had bad memories of it myself from years ago, but on second look today, liked it (apart from the last 10 minutes, right into Lewes): it was High Tide, the water wasn't moving hither or thither, in fact The Ouse seemed more a canal than a river. There were Egrets, and then one tiny bird flying out of the bank, with blue-ish feathers, not light blue not dark blue, but glistening. Not a Kingfisher, surely?

Downs on the left, Downs and Chalk Pits on the right, the Kingston Windmill on the hills to the left, Lewes Castle ahead. Not a bad finish actually, I thought.

And then I saw the 17.21 pull out as I walked down to the platform. Off to the café...

sunny then overcast 14

Three impatient picnickers left West Firle at about 1.35 and got to the Courtyard Cafe in plenty time for a very pleasant tea and cake in the cafe garden before catching the 1605 from Southease and the very busy 1621 from Lewes, along with the majority of the rest of the group. Thanks for a most enjoyable day out.

Hello lovely people!

Is there anyone coming this Sunday? I am very keen on joining this walk or similar but I am new to this site so I don't know if there is anyone else coming?

Chris L. > which of the Sunday walks will you be attending? Cheers!

Hello Marta

There will most likely be people on this walk tomorrow. Generally it is only in very bad (I.e. wet) weather that results in no one going. Saturdays are busier than Sundays, usually, so at a guess there’ll likely be 10ish people. People meet up at the starting train station, which here will be Lewes. But if you look around for people in walking gear on the train you may find you fellow walkers sooner.

Six people came off the train at Lewes, and another came on the next; one missed the train and started in Glynde and two came for lunch and a short walk. So all in all, 10 on a sunny and clear and very hot day. It was a hard start climbing up to the ridge, but 4 of the main group had a little siesta whilst 2 went to the Iron Age hill fort Mount Caburn which had a fantastic 360 view of the area. Many butterflies were seen, especially the Chalk Downs Blue.

Most people picnicked at the cricket pitch, and three members had lunch at the very nice pub. Here the group fragmented (as per usual), with two taking off soon after and two waiting for the one who missed the train. The two who left lunch meet the Glynde starter in Firle Park. Once on the South Downs Way, the walk was easy, offering fine views. Many took an early tea at the Youth Hostel in Southease (which may be added the directions as a tea option?), and most took the train back from there. Only a hearty four did the complete circuit, running into some troublesome cows blocking both gates on the path along the River Ouse during the final stretch.

All in all, a very fine, if not hot, day out.

~Karen

12 on this walk 3 of whom drove to the pub and then supposedly did some walking in the afternoon. Weather was hot sunny all day . He Ram in West Firle was busy but the food did not disappoint. Walkers need to know that there is a pub garden that is excellent but easy to miss. After lunch though we tired we shopped at a produce stall and tea was taken at the Cricketers who also did not disappoint by serving glorious knickerbocker glories though this caused them to miss their train.

Sarah H

If you are thinking of doing one of the sea swimming options for this walk, note that it will be LOW TIDE when you get to Saltdean (5.17pm), which means you can't swim at Saltdean (rocks): but there is a beach at Rottingdean, about 1 mile to the west along the seafront promenade, which is swimmable even at low tide. Or you can get the bus into Brighton and swim there.

Seaford is swimmable at any state of the tide

At Lewes we saw a fair few set off walking whilst 6 of us chose the Glynde to Berwick option which is still 15.5K according to the sat nav, so not to be sniffed at.

Glynde was easily reached after extra coffee and pastries at Lewes whilst we waited 15 minutes for the connecting train

Upon walking out of Glynde ( The Trevor Arms is well shut ) we wandered along to The Ram in West Firle where we had a very pleasant lunch and watched as a fast male walker with two female companions whizzed by with ner a nod to us early lunchers.

All in all it was a very gentle day on the lowlands and the

conversation in lowered voices with a smattering of laughter every so often made it all very relaxed. I don’t think that Trump or MPs or Brexit were mentioned even once.

The afternoon walk was punctured / punctuated by occasional showers ( we felt a little sad ( only a little ) for those walking over the top ) during which time we headed in for tea and cake or tea and dessert at firstly the Charleston cafe and secondly at The Cricketeers. Both of them delightful in their own ways - the home made plum cake and the lemon and poppy seed cake at the first one come cafe

highly recommended. That reminds me, there was a little foraging for wild plums which were delish but the blackberries have a way to go - say another three or four weeks yet.

The day finished with us catching the 17.17 out of Berwick with a change at Lewes which gave another opportunity for cake and further refreshment

Ho hum

One our group suggested that we all go on a 5/2 diet and make Saturday one of the 2 days - this was met with hoots of derision.

We did our best to support the local economy by making the most of each and every shopping opportunity - chicken eggs, duck

eggs, plants, jams, marmalade and almost some 8 day old chicks - the amount of support we dished out made us feel very virtuous.

The only real hiccup of the day was the lightning strike at East Croydon that took out the train signals resulting in a somewhat delayed arrival at Victoria but no matter - Marks and Sparks was still open so we could buy some evening meal supplies.

I Replete

As told on today's Shoreham walk.... all in, about 15 walkers, no leadership and people dispursing in various directions quickly. Some frustration with the plethora of route options, complicating following the text in the dire conditions.

Not sure what the mud factor is on this walk but huge thunderstorms down this way last night so some 'goo' might be expected in parts.

As the “Berwick One” who only met the others for about 20 minutes in a popular hostelry, I am probably the least qualified to comment. But seeing as no-one else has, here goes.

They tell me 15 got off the train at Lewes plus 1 free spirit starting at Glynde (that’s me) so 16

Weather was changeable cloudy some sun ominous rumbles from the sky on occasion but no rain to speak of

Not boggy underfoot on the Berwick section. The Ram was friendly and seemed to please. Seem more organised than in the old days.

I can’t tell you how many finished at Southease cos I wasn’t there.

Meanwhile, the Berwick One got followed by a herd of baby bulls. (Turn round and they stop, continue walking they start again. We’ve all played that game). Thankfully, they gave up after a couple of fields. Alciston church was open – a first for me- but (sorry) not all that interesting inside. A quick "half" in the Cricketers then took the longer finish to Berwick. Got there just as the rain started.

11 on this walk. 8 from Lewes, 2 who accidentally stayed on till Glynde but worthily backtracked up Mount Caburn to meet the others, and 1 lazy so and so off the later train to Glynde. A Mr Tiger, I think his name was.

starting cloudy overcast a bit damp but hot and sunny later . A dismal rainy unpromising start in London turned dry for the morning with blue skies and hot sun from 2.

Most had brought lunch but some ate at the Ram – the Trevor, apparently was packed.

No-one stopped at Charleston as far as I know.

The Cricketers‘ tea disappointed – one teabag in a pot for two, I’m told. But I can vouch for the beer. And the garden is still nice.

16:41 home.