With showers in the air and a strong breeze from the south, 3 intrepid walkers joined by 2 canine friends set off from Bo Peep car park heading west on the South Downs Way. The aim of the walk was to reach Southease station and return along the same route whilst taming Itford Hill en route.
After leaving the car park in good spirits and a sense of pending achievement we soon reached the long barrow of Firle Beacon where to the south you could make out the shape of Seaford Head in the mist created by the intermittent showers, and to the north, views towards Glynde and Mt Caburn.
The route was mostly along the ridge which meant that we were exposed to the strengthening breeze from the south which made for difficult communication at times. After descending from the walks highest point of Firle Beacon at 217 metres we glimpsed the twin radio masts on Beddingham Hill in the near distance. There were only half a dozen other walkers encountered on the whole trip but a wide variety of cattle with their calves and sheep grazing freely with their lambs.
We reached the radio masts in good time and wondered as to their use and the part they may have played in the last war.
From here we could see the villages of Southease and Rodmell ahead of us and a rare appearance from the sun reflected off of the fine architectural lines that are the Newhaven Incinerator, small sailboats were doing there best to navigate a course around Piddinghoe pond.
We reached the radio masts in good time and wondered as to their use and the part they may have played in the last war.
From here we could see the villages of Southease and Rodmell ahead of us and a rare appearance from the sun reflected off of the fine architectural lines that are the Newhaven Incinerator, small sailboats were doing there best to navigate a course around Piddinghoe pond.
We soon reached the brow of Itford Hill and could seethe station that was Southease Halt And our half way point, in the distance. The station opened in 1906 and has two platforms, it is unmanned and passengers are required to purchase a 'permit to travel' in lieu of a formal ticket. In 2012/13 there were over 11,000 journeys started from this station.
We opted for the shortest possible descent from Itford Hill temporarily departing from the SDW. After crossing the footbridge we found the YHA equivalent of glamping small 2 person wooded pods, before turning left and reaching the barrier to the platforms. A quick sustinance break and we were already starting to trace our steps but took the prescribed route up Itford Hill which took around 15 minutes to gently ascend the contours. On reaching the summit the wind had picked up speed and blasted our right sides all the way back to the start and finish point. We noted that the cattle were now lying down, was that rain imminent?
We opted for the shortest possible descent from Itford Hill temporarily departing from the SDW. After crossing the footbridge we found the YHA equivalent of glamping small 2 person wooded pods, before turning left and reaching the barrier to the platforms. A quick sustinance break and we were already starting to trace our steps but took the prescribed route up Itford Hill which took around 15 minutes to gently ascend the contours. On reaching the summit the wind had picked up speed and blasted our right sides all the way back to the start and finish point. We noted that the cattle were now lying down, was that rain imminent?
To the north we could clearly make out the route of The Cuckmere River and Lewes in the background
The dogs amused us along the route showing their affection for each other repeatedly, thirsty work and a cattle trough brought a welcome drink. Although the route was quite thin on the flora front we did manage to find some cowslips which were feeling the full force of the wind.
Returning past the twin masts which were now whistling in the wind and physically rocking to the beat of the breeze, we headed east back to Bo Peep car park, the walk had been challenging having tamed Itford Hill and completed our 10 mile route
Returning past the twin masts which were now whistling in the wind and physically rocking to the beat of the breeze, we headed east back to Bo Peep car park, the walk had been challenging having tamed Itford Hill and completed our 10 mile route
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