Butts Brow to East Dean circuit

It was one of those mornings as the quick thawing frost under the blue sky sunshine, tempted our plan to tread boots from the car park at Butts Brow. Only 4 in the group this morning and there was no time to waste as the idea of pasty sales in hot demand at the Ugly Baking Company market stand in East Dean was high priority. Well at least one of our group!!

The sun swaddled us in a good spirit to march across the top of the hill, passing the trig point and beyond. Lambing season was in full swing, and there was clear evidence of the growing stock during this walk. The ground was relatively dry, despite some recent rainfall. At least our boots would not require too much cleaning, we hoped, providing we avoided such hazards as previous walkers had done.

The sky remained blue and the sunshine was bright. The first time sunglasses had been used for some considerable time. We turned through the third gate and Belle Tout lighthouse came into clear view on the coastline horizon.

The pace was steady across the next field where sheep had eaten well and left a carpet of faded green pile. The residents of East Dean houses came into view and were soon descending down one of the main arteries where smartly manicured gardens were showing the effects of the winter month's. One resident was having a new retaining wall built. The two unlikely but perhaps aptly named "unique" builders were firing up the cement mixer in order to attach a pile of flint to a breezeblock and brick wall.

Conversation distracted us for limited periods as cars weaved their way up and down the hill around us. We were soon on the main road and dodging the traffic in order to cross and make the final few steps toward the 'squeeze gate' and on to the Market.
There were only a few stalls... thankfully the Ugly Baking Company were in position alongside the fish van and the Fruit & Veg stall.
Precious few other stands were attracting little customers, despite the car park being very active.
We paraded to the village green seat to rest a while and open our flasks. The scene looked particularly fitting as every time we reach this point in our walks through East Dean to sit down and watch village life, the sun is shining and reminded how quintessential this view is.

The clouds were gathering by the time we headed off in the direction of Birling Gap. The daffodils were in full bloom as we walked along the road and eventually reached the shhep farm where all the Easter holiday tourists would be 'flocking' to see the variety of sheep and lambs.

The footpath went alongside one of the barns as people were looking into the pens and watching the tractor providing rides across the fields for pre-school children and their parents (or maybe grandparents?).

The next few well made gates were opened and closed with ease as we headed closer to the lighthouse.

But our route soon headed us in the direction of Beachy Head before we reached the road which led to the lighthouse. The old farmhouse looked tired and almost uninhabited. The last time we passed this way, there had been a dead cow laying in the corner of the field. This time there were a herd of young cattle looking healthy and eating well. They gave us curious examination as we walked close by to some of them, but never gave threat to our need to walk through the field.
There was a long and at times relentless ascent along the next part of the path until we reached the main road leading up from Old Town toward Beachy Head. There was no traffic, so we quickly crossed over and viewed the vista toward Hastings.

The weather had significantly changed in thr last hour, and the sight of clouds were growing darker toward the north east.
Traversing the next part of the South Downs Way path we encountered the Golf Course, where groups of golfers were about their rounds with the only handicap evident, a large trolley full of golf clubs and the inability to hit the ball straight, as shortly after, we heard the cry of FORE!!
Heads shrunk into our shoulders and hoped that their aim was safe.

With no injuries, we continued along the final familiar phase of our walk. But not before the threat of rain or even hail was presenting itself as we dropped towards the final dew pond upon which ripples from drops of white hail could be seen spreading across the surface.
We didn't stop to observe, but instead hastened the pace as we wanted to complete the walk without having to stop and put on raincoats.
We completed the almost 10 mile walk, some with accompanying blisters having not tackled this distance for some time.

Three Cups, Dallington Wood, but not Batemans circuit hike

Usually the initial task on new walks is to identify where to walk, but this was taken a step further when a local Three Cups resident had to provide instructions on how to park in the provided lay-by. We duly re-parked our 2 vehicles looking less abandoned and headed down the first section toward Dallington wood.

The track was wet and muddy and only careful positioning at the side of the path enabled us to avoid getting our boots completely covered in mud with minutes of leaving the road.

A protected path that ran alongside fields, both sides of the path turned into an avenue of freshly yellow blossomed gorse bushes. More avoiding the sharp thorns we came to the first junction of paths.

There were adequate signs and landmarks for us to identify which way to continue. Unfortunate that we couldn't remain on the concrete track but instead started to head off onto another muddy track. 

A short detour to avoid the more prolific wet mud caused us to walk amongst the trees and step across the spongy carpet of dropped pine needles that lay beneath darkened trunks.

More signposts and another protected path that dropped down toward a collection of farm buildings. We walked through the centre of civilisation and upwards towards the next wood. The track headed upward, but the signpost directed up an even steeper footpath and eventually reached the top of the incline into Sugarloaf Wood.

The clouds remained heavy with little chance of seeing sunshine throughout the morning. We were about to approach another set of farm buildings. In fact, as we opened the gate a small dog was stirred from his usual Friday morning routine and greeted us with a frenzy of excitement. The large converted barn to our left loomed large over a greenhouse in which the lady of the house exchanged a few pleasantries whilst attempted to bring order and sense to her dog, who by now was just making fervent attempts to trip our group up. Yes, he was a small terrier that wouldn't take no for an answer.

A little further up the concrete drive a BT van was parked up with another resident of another nearby house. Once again we politely said our greetings as we felt guilty of trespassing through their private life. But perhaps people who have public footpaths get used to this phenomenon of passing foot traffic.

After moving out of the way from a large pickup truck and 3 horses riders (not of the apocalypse) we thought it timely to take our flasks from our backpacks and recharge our feeding needs.

After a 15 minute break we continued towards the main road with one of Mad Jack Fullers folly - the needle/obelisk stood proudly on the hill in the adjacent field over the left.

Also known as the Brightling Needle, this obelisk stands atop a hill, variously known as Brightling Down and Brightling Beacon, that is 646 feet (197 m) above sea level. The obelisk itself is 65 feet (20 m) high.  It is constructed of coursed stone, built in four sections with a stringcourse above each section. 

The fields beside the track were filling up with lambs with their mothers in close attendance.

Now out on the main road, we reach a junction and turn right. There are a group of horse boxes maneuvering around and driving off.
We reach another of Mad Jack's folly on the road towards our next footpath turning.  The Observatory completed in 1818 and designed by Sir Robert Smirke, looked out southwards towards the South Weald. It was, for the purpose of this hike referred to as Batemans... (its a long story).
We climbed another stile and headed downhill, through more muddy patches and eventually came to junction of paths that although signposted as either bridlepath or footpath gave little other indication of the destinations. Further consultation of the OS map identified the correct way... the muddiest, of course. Then crossing over a small roadway we continued downhill. The map had Foord on it, and eventually we found the location and carefully crossed the small stream that was deep in parts.
This section of the path however was showing clear signs of Spring with early primroses in full bloom. One of those micro-climate areas that escaped notice maybe.
There was another steady incline to walk up and  were on a tarmac driveway that was leading to several large houses with substantial gardens with small ponds with geese and a boat to travel across.
There were both natural and artificial waterfalls along this stretch of track. So much water continued to find its rightful level.
Eventually the drive came to a junction, onto a lane (B2096) and we went straight across and took the advice of the sign pinned to a nearby tree which suggested there was 'shooting progress - keep to the footpath'. So we walked up a steep incline on the edge of Alms wood where the highest step up stile tested some of the groups agility.
Regardless of the test set us, we were on the home straight and walking through the final set of farm buildings and out onto the next lane, where we needed to walk back into Three Cups. The Hi-Vis vests gave safe passage, even though we hardly saw any traffic. More amazing houses lined this lane in sporadic intervals and we eventually saw the Three Cups Inn come into view and around the next corner the cars were waiting.
Our 6.4 miles walk through muddy wooded tracks was completed.

Glorious Spring walk - Berwick to Firle Beacon

Assembling ourselves outside the Berwick Church which was for the 5 of us, the first port of call. The spring air and colour was vibrant and was the main signature for the the start of our walk. The suspended plastic wise owl outside the entrance to the church looked strangely pensive as our canine escorts stayed politely outside. The snowdrops carpeted areas of the grass nearby.

But we were soon heading down across the fields at the back of the church through the many crooked gravestones. The strong aroma of decomposing straw and manure was a reminder of the rural setting into which we were walking. For most of the first 3+ miles we would be walking along the old coach road which ran at the foot of the South Downs.

The gravel track was peppered with occasional puddles. The first impressive sight was that of a converted barn which was in the final phase of renovation and what appeared to be holiday lets in a single storey extension. The flint stoned walls sparkled in the sun and enviously looked across the idyllic building.
We had to herd the dogs to our side as a tractor trundled past. The driver acknowledged our efforts to allow him through, despite there being no arguing the size of his machine. To our right several large prey birds (possibly red kites) soared around nearby hedgerows and trees.

The newly sown fields were starting to show signs of growth with stripes of green shoots holding sharp perspective and with a gentle breeze, it was looking like we'd chosen the perfect day for walking.

Conversation continued between us, and our pace was only disrupted by the needs of securing the dogs safety at strategic points along the way. We were closing in on a house that we recalled had some guardian dogs who tried to dissuade us from proceeding further, the last time we were there. But just as we were about to capture our dogs to heel we noticed a peacock strut pass the entrance to the house. Thankfully the dogs had not seen them and we managed to walk without hindrance as we heard the dogs barking from within the house.

The pace was testing us as we had to detour into a field as the track was virtually impassable due to the amount of water/chalk mud swamp that would have meant we may have been up to our ankles.
We were about to start the steep ascent to join the South Downs Way path on the top of the Downs.
But before, we thought it about time to crack the seal on our flasks and snack containers so that our energy was primed.

The muddy track upwards and the higher we climbed the windier it became as we met the south westerly wind hitting our faces. The group broke up as we all coped with the climb at different paces.
The views once we were at the high point near Firle Beacon were magnificent. We looked down upon the new Solar Farm near Arlington Reservoir which appeared to be a second watery mass.

Other walkers were striding along the same path, mostly in the opposite direction, heading into the wind which remained relentless across our path. The clouds over the sea were looking a little threatening at times as if they could have given a shower of rain. Thankfully no rain appeared and just as well as none of us were particularly equipped with rainwear.

Heads down, we endured the next 15 minutes trudge as the dogs seemed to be relishing the freedom.
We considered options of which route and decided it would be useful to drop back down at Bo-Peep car park toward the Old Coach road and take shelter from the wind. The dogs required shepherding carefully down the road as a few other cars and the same tractor passed by again.

We were now back down to the relative calm of the old track again and retracing our steps towards Berwick church. The spire could be seen as we turned the corner where the 3 way junction seat directed us in either direct Firle, Alciston or Berwick.

A few clouds were starting to form, bu the sunshine remained as we completed the final few corners of the track and headed back to our respective cars and released the laces on our boots after completing almost 8 miles walk.