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.