Walk Report

Brighton Rock, Saturday 5th June 2010
29 walkers, 23 miles - leader Jerome Ripp
This was my 50th walk as leader of an LDWA social walk (22 with London group) and as if to celebrate this event a record crowd of 29 turned up on a hot and rather sticky day. The walk had promised a long day with many hills and this was certainly the case. An early start through the suburbs and parks of Brighton and Hove and the first long slow climb up to the Devil's Dyke for a first break. An unusual descent right through the middle and then a climb up into woods before the descent to Poynings. A flat section led to the base of Newtimber Hill and the steepest climb of the day. Several people found this to be quite a challenge and mobile phones were very useful to slowly gather up straying sheep. Lunch was in 2 parts, a picnic on the ridge and then snacks below at Saddlescombe where a caravan in a barn was delighted to serve such a crowd. More climbing followed over Cow Down and into Pyecombe and then up to the iron age fort on Wolstonbury Hill. There was lots of activity in the hills in such fine weather and we saw hang gliders, exhibition bikers and large balls for people to roll down the hills. We carried on up to the Jack and Jill windmills and now on the South Downs Way to Ditchling Beacon. Brighton was always to our far right and now we finally turned south and descended through some lovely green valleys via Standean and then a final ridge passing the Indian war memorial and so into the urban jungle. The group was by now well stretched out but I trust we all made it back to the station either on foot, by bus or taxi; the leader saying goodbye to most of his flock at a bus stop. An eventful 23 miles.

---