Walk Report

Wivelsfield Circular, Saturday 6th February 2010
21 walkers, 20 miles - leader Clare Kirkbride
20 walkers met Clare at 0911 at Wivelsfield station from starting points as far afield as Eastbourne and north London. A fast pace was sustained all day, 3.8 miles/hour in the first part of the morning on the flat plains of Wivelsfield and Ditchling, modified to 3.4 miles/hour uphill to Ditchling Beacon for 11.30am; over the latter part of the morning and during the afternoon's return to Wivelsfield, 3.6 miles/hour, the overall day's average speed. The mileage was 20 miles, despite modifications to the route in order to avoid the submerged parts experienced a fortnight ago. The going underfoot was soft, rarely disastrously so, but equally rarely were the footpaths free from moist mud. The weather was kind, an early chill giving way to a mild and sunny day with superb views over the Weald almost to the North Downs and, southward, to the sea, Brighton racecourse, and the Seaford golf course [can't be sure - got home without my map!]. Fauna was not much in evidence: neither lambs, birds nor even the three fields alpacas passed in the autumn; we did meet any number of horse riders in the neighbourhood of Ditchling. Breaks were taken at the foot of the South Downs before the 130m ascent to the Beacon, lunch at the Half Moon, and tea at the Cock Inn in Wivelsfield Green. We were back in the vicinity of Wivelsfield station at 1630 and most walkers took the 1653 train back to London.

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