Walk Report

Robertsbridge to the Sea, Saturday 29th August 2009
15 walkers, 23 miles - leader Jerome Ripp
With engineering works on the line, I wondered if anyone would show up but London group are a hardy lot and by various methods 15 lined up at Robertsbridge to be shepherded to the sea. Weather was good all day with some warm sunny spells as well as some strong winds which buffeted us but some of the female members seemed to enjoy this. Due to the late start, the morning was short but lively as we met a frisky filly (or was it a charging stallion) and after 7 miles we were having lunch in the centre of Battle and admiring the diverse architecture. Then we followed the 1066 Country Walk through a lovely reverie of woodland and fields with the odd detour but we were rescued by the good sense of other group members and once by a local aged resident when the leader decided to follow a young redhead rather than the path! We slowly circled round Hastings and were rewarded with some glorious views including a Victorian folly, a wind farm and a stretch of coast from Dungeness to Beachy Head. The glens of Hastings cliff tops provided a rousing finish, then into the old town where the lure of live football removed two of the group but the rest charged on to the station led by a demure young lady who said she was "good on concrete". It seemed to be 23 miles in total and for a few of us the adventures continued with a tortuous train journey back, the leader did not return home till 10pm. A just reward some might feel!

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