Fields of Gold

‘You’ll remember me, when the west wind moves, upon the fields of barley’ -  Sting (1993)

Thursday 26th June 2014, the three hikers set off from Upper Dicker to trace a route provided by Wealden walks entitled water water everywhere. However, not being inclined to adhere to convention our intrepid three made many of their own tracks in completing this circuitous route.

With the sun on our backs and just the threat of an occasional shower (Carol had said we would be unlucky to find one) we set off in the opposite direction to that advised by Wealden walks, from Bedes school at 09.30hrs. Bedes school used to be known at St Bedes, however, to have a greater international appeal to people of all faiths it lost its saint and became just Bedes. Walking past the day scholars resplendent in their green and black uniforms we made our way West along the public footpath past Clifton Farm and soon found ourselves at the most northerly point of our walk at Marnhull Farm to pick up the Vanguard Way heading towards Chalvington.

En route we discussed the decline of English football and listened intently as the salty sea dog of the group recounted tales of his latest sea expedition and fortunately for us he omitted all of the cornish sea shanties although later took to demonstrate some sharp moves on the dance floor and his methods for attracting people of both sexes to be his dancing partner!

We made our way south westward for a couple of miles along a seldom used ‘c’ road whereupon we arrived at bungalow farm where a small industrial unit was renovating classic and prestige motors.

We continued on the Vanguard way towards Berwick, passing by a small mansion house that we remarked was quite a few bricks short of Mountfield Court that we had visited in recent weeks, however, set in its own grounds and overlooking the Cuckmere valley  one could be forgiven for expecting to see the farm hand and the scullery maid cavorting in the corn fields after their duties were fulfilled for the day!

We had yet to see any water until a badly sited marker led us through the back garden of a comely house and grounds ensuring we maintained both our footing and a respectful distance from both

house and ornamental pond. After exiting the garden it became clearer as to the path we should have trodden and would of course have seen the appropriate marker had we not been completing our circuit ‘the wrong way round!’ Continuing on the Vanguard way we arrived at Arlington Reservoir and stopped for brief refreshment, a quick lesson in fly fishing and listening in to others very loud conversation. The reservoir of 120 acres was created in 1970 and supplies 5 million gallons of water each day to the Eastbourne area, it is fed by the Cuckmere river and has become a wildlife sanctuary with over 170 species of birds calling it home and 10,000 additional seasonal feathered visitors.

With spirits lifted we headed off around the perimeter of the reservoir  for about a mile before departing in search of the Weald Way that would take us back towards Upper Dicker and our journey’s end, however due to an incompatibility glitch between the 1874 map we were using and the siting of the Weald Way we ended up creating our own new routes taking in both fields, tracks and very busy main roads back towards our vehicle. (ed. hi-vis vest?)

When in site of the local pub the Plough we found the officially re-sited route of the Weald way and to celebrate both this discovery and the end of our thirsty walk we felt obliged to calm our nerves by taking refreshing alms from the array of fine beers on offer and quenched our thirst before the final 1/2 mile back to the start/end point. 8 miles completed, some new pathways cut and the promise of a lie down in the back garden with a good book to further aid the digestion.

Bewl Water - (Revisited)

It was March 2012 when some of us ventured to walk from Ticehurst and go around part of the Bewl Water... at that time it was looking like an arid tundra in which there's normally some 31,300 million litres of water stored for use by the local water authorities. However it had been a particularly dry spring and the threat of hosepipe bans came true later in the year.

March 2012

June 2014

But this was 2 years on and nearing the mid-year summer solstice and thought it was time to revisit our tracks and see what condition the lake was in.
With due respect of the threatening heat of the day, we made an early start and were in Ticehurst by 8.30am ready to stride our way through gathering school children waiting for their transport and cut into a footpath between a house and a shop which model railway enthusiasts would have found difficult to pass without going in.... but it was closed and did little more than window shop the dusty display that was afforded onlookers.

We needed to thrash our way through the first section of the path which was looking neglected after which we dropped down into a small wooded copse then up towards Tinkers Lane. The footpath continued opposite, however the instructions guided us along the lane where locals exchanged morning greetings with us, whilst drivers had more intent on getting to work and we had to take cover in a couple of strategically positioned driveways. One of which was Washington Villas.

We were soon off the lane and walking down a concreted driveway towards a farm. Again, dog walkers appeared to be pleased to exchange greeting, whilst their dog cleverly barked at us whilst carrying a stick in his mouth. Canine talent was clearly in evidence around these parts.

A few corners more and having turned onto the 'Round Bewl Water walk' the site of the large watery reservoir confirmed our expectations in that having experienced one of the wettest springs in many many years, the levels were adequately high enough to assure locals that perhaps there wouldn't be a hosepipe ban.
We saw a lone fisherman taking mid morning opportunity to conduct his fly fishing technique as we walked pass and more dog walkers came in the opposite direction to ensure our approach was a peaceful friendly trespass.

Although the sun was hot after an hour or so of walking, we took opportunity of some clouded respite and sat a while to observe the length of the reservoir and in doing so, disturb a flock of Canadian geese. They looked unperturbed by our presence and after 10 minutes we continued around the track recalling the route we had taken previously.
We crossed Rosemary Lane and left the water behind us and navigated our way along a dedicated pathway, firstly through open land, which then led into Ketley Wood. We made a steady ascent through the shaded glade and eventually came out at the other side, arriving on the main road. We crossed it and found the footpath to Quidley which was directly opposite.

The sun was out again as we took chance to view the Weald which provided an ideal backdrop to a very well maintained Dale Hill golf course. We obligingly followed the markers across the fairways as we had before, but not before one of the group managed to strike a perfect 7 iron shot he just happened to be carrying... (not).

It was time to drop down through a very neglected looking wood in which we saw deer prints and spent cartridges where no doubt the seasonal quarry had been tracked.
We were heading for the final 'high risk' section of the walk along 500yds of Pashley Road. To reduce risk of incident, a high vis vest was donned to ward off any potential events which wasn't written in our instructions. It seemed to work, as during the brief yet intrepid walk toward the next stile, we didn't encounter any threat of car, lorry, white van or bus. What could be described as a result in some respects and will consider using it again the next time we have to walk along roads with no grass verge.

We clambered over a few more stiles, exchanged some worried looks with sheep then through a wooded section and were soon heading along the final path and into the centre of Ticehurst where we rested in the central shelter to watch the locals purchase their early lunch from a mobile Fish & Chip van.
The walk had everything you might have expected in 3 hours... 7 miles of waterside, wood, fields, golf course,  paths of varying terrain and some amazing views... surprising what you can do when you put your mind to it!!

Sherlock Stalker found in Brewery?

The day started in bright sunshine as the intrepid explorers met in Birling Gap car park. The breeze was slight whilst we took a brief view out to the sea in the knowledge that on the other side of the channel the war veterans were celebrating the 70th year when the D Day landings on the Normandy coast line. We looked down to see a group of 30 or more German students examining the shoreline.
The warmth of the sun on our backs was felt as we walked steadily west along the South Downs Way and entered the main footpath which led along the top of the Seven Sisters cliff formation.

We entered through a gate marked "Malcolm's Gate" with some musical notations, the origins of which we perhaps needed to explore further.
The 5 of us were accompanied by Oscar and Floyd, the infamous dogs from last week's walk. They were keen to explore at their own more speedier pace, whilst the remainder of the groupd felt the need to pace ourselves in the increasing heat.
We reached the seat after achieving 3 sisters and had a brief rest before heading inland toward Crowlink. We entered a field of sheep with their growing young lambs. The dogs went off to negotiate access to drink from the galvanized watering trough. The surrounding sheep obliging moved aside as Oscar felt compelled to jump in for a dip.
He surfaced, looking liberated and refreshed, as we moved quickly to avoid his shaking excess water onto us.

We continued through the remainder of the field and looked down on the small group of houses at Crowlink. A small hamlet with a single track road that leads down from the car park through which we were about to enter across the cattle grid. A couple of late starting walkers were just about to leave their car and set off in the car park and we navigated our way down the lane toward the church.

The dogs needed to be on a lead at this point and we respectfully walked through the graves and then onto the adjacent meadow which had been left uncut with a carpet of buttercups leading down the hill.

The pace was unforgivingly slowing, even though gravity was having an effect at this point. We were setting our timing to rendezvous at around 11.30 at the local Beachy Head Brewery, so a chance opportunity to sit on the East Dean Village green to have a short snack was timely to say the least.
We observed a group of some 20 or so hikers standing menacingly between the 'Hikers Rest' and the Tiger Inn. Had they been banned from entering because of some dispute over the change received after purchasing a cup of earl grey tea and a flapjack or were they just protesting about the potential threat of fracking under the sub-structure of this ancient village? We weren't to find out.

 However what we did find out about was that another smaller group with an expensive looking camera on a tripod were filming on the bench we had hoped to sit on. They were engrossed in the process of taking several random shots and interviewing several people whilst we set up on the green nearby and continued to munch away at our snacks. We later discovered a short piece had been shown on both the local BBC lunchtime and teatime news and referred to a writer who had written a novel featuring Sherlock Holmes who had, according to a blue plaque on a nearby house, retired to the village and was a beekeeper. It was interesting to see that we featured in some of the shots, lazing on the grass in the piece, added a little more interest to the day.

But our day wasn't over yet. The visit to the brewery was awaiting, and we took to the path towards the sheep centre behind which stood a less than impressive barn which contained a small micro-brewery business set up a few years ago and now producing some award winning real ale brews for the local pubs.

The hospitality was warm and welcoming and a few sample glasses of the Lighthouse brew was offered as we unstrapped our back-packs, whilst a brief explanation of the brewing process was provided by the Master Brewer. The day was warming up nicely and the quenching qualities of the beer enabled the remaining half hour walk back to the car park all the more bearable as we encountered the wrath of cars, buses and motorcycles on our roadside amble. The cattle in the field were looking protectively at us and were not going to engage in negotiating the the dogs to have access to their water trough as much as the sheep were earlier. We felt compelled to continue walking.
It was all but a 4.5 miles walk this week, but perhaps it was as much as was needed on a warm summer blue sky day.