Plods 2008

Next (and probably final plod of 2008)
Date: 1st October 2008
Time: 5:15pm for a 5:30 start
Diatance: 7.5km
Parking: On the road outside the Pub
Pub: Red Lion

Report 

Amost all arrived early and we left promply at 5:30 passing though some nice ancient woodland on the way to the Worth Way (old Railway). On the nortern loop we met one man and his dog coming the other way, Andy and Tarba had arrived just after we left and followed us most of the eay but then went round the otherway at Rowfant. Then back to the Worth Way at Rowfant station and met Andy & Tarba for the return through Tulleys farm.  The Red Lion was reached without resort to torches and the fruits of Lewes were consumed.

Date: 10th September 2008
Time: 5:30pm
Diatance: 11km
Parking: at the pub
Pub: The Royal Oak

Close to home due to the shortening nights, please note the earlier start time.The organiser has told me to sell this walk with, “the scramble track”, “the clay pit” and “the brickworks”.

*** UPDATE ***

”

The brickworks is now a landfill sight…and it can stink
for miles around some days…thought it worth mentioning…so at least we’re
your warned…(went past the Oak a week or so ago and it whiffed a bit all
around the area)” Neal Zimmermann

We’re pressing on regardless, on the back of his successful Industrial Heritage Walks we can consider ourselves proud to be invited on Roy Carter’s first “Aromo-Trek”. And it gives us a unique opportunity to bag the Sussex Vegetable Big Five – can we identify the smell of rotting carrot, potato, swede, parsnip and cabbage?

Certainly the car I was in was travelling slightly underprepared compared to Gomshall. This time we headed south on M23 / A23 before realising, (a) we didn’t know where we were going (b) both a GPS and our only map were in the boot.
Miraculously we arrived at The Plough in time for a pint of Harveys.
Birthday boy Mark led us up Wolstonbury Hill where a clear evening led to extensive views, heated debate as to the exact position of Burgess Hill, the Leith Hill / North Downs debate and even woke the InTouch on-call phone from peaceful slumber.

West down the hill and then across the flatlands towards, Poynings where we enjoyed the quintessential English village sound of leather on willow. The pub looked good as well so don’t be surprised if we return.
A short, sharp, shock climb led us up The South Downs but, again, blessed us with spectacular views and, most importantly, a pint of Timmy Taylor’s at The Devils Dyke Pub. I’m glad to report that the temptation to get the bus back down into Brighton was resisted by all and sundry.
Homeward bound past Devils Dyke, through Saddlescombe and over Cow Down, a hot air balloon joining us along the way. The lagging Neill and Roy found a controversial short-cut across the A23 to summit at The Plough bar first. (Conversation in central reservation; Neill: Is this legal? Roy: Well, it’s not a motorway.)
I know we’re not finished yet, but gets my vote for Plod Of The Year. Great views, challenging climb, a pub half way round and it started a flurry of internet research into both conventional and funicular railways.

Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 5:45pm
Parking: at the pub or on the street in Haresdean
Pub: The Plough

An 11km, Mark Loveridge designed, jaunt through the South Downs including two climbs and spectacular views over The Weald and of Devils Dyke.

There may even be time for a well-earned pint at The Devils Dyke Inn after we’ve climbed the Downs.

The map:-

The GPX file:-

First we saw a brigde. then a choo-choo train. then a layke.

Roy.

Pretty poor turn out for the pre-amble. One. But, then again, it wasn’t well advertised.

In short, great walk Roy, everyone who can should attend.

Some observations:-

– the walk is definitely best done clockwise, views of the Ouse Valley Viaduct are sparse west of Ryelands Farm

– the Ardingly Reservoir Car Park is open until 9pm in the summer

– from the Car Park, head to the NE corner and cross a stile, when you reach a road turn right and you’re on the right track

– one muddy patch in Horse Wood

– look carefully for the right turn, following a gully down (over a stile) to Ayins Farm

– when you’re level with Ayins Farm, turn left towards it. Go through a gap in the fence with a stile to your right. Turn immediately right past the stile and go through a silver gate. Follow a narrow path through the meadow, initially straight on, but soon left, to go round the farm. Turn back and have a look at the building.

– there’s no point in pretending that the College Road / High Beech Lane section is any fun. Walk in single file and be careful. For the first RH bend switch to the LH side of the road because it’s a blind bend and the hedge abuts the road

– I’d strongly recommend that you shorten the route by turning right along Copyhold Lane. There’s a steep climb on High Beech Lane that has the cars dropping down fast towards you with little space to your right

– near the end, after Stone Hall on a lane heading east you’ll meet a gate across it with a small pedestrian gate to the left. Ignore this temptation and go through a silver gate on your left-hand side into the field, then take the angle pointed by the Public Footpath sign

– just after this you’ll have a wood on your left. Before the wood ends, look to your right and behind you – one last glimpse of the Viaduct!

Ardingly Circuit Lap Record, 2:43:07, N. Turton on 21/6/08 *

* subject to a IOC enquiry into Mr. Turton’s diuretic intake

A picture of the Ouse Valley Viaduct to whet your appetites:-

What, you want one with a train in it?

What, you want one with a steam train?

Get lost.

Date: 25th June 2008
Time: 5:30pm
Parking: Ardingly Reservoir, TQ 33523 28675 (WGS84)
Pub: Apres-walk watering-hole to be determined

Summary:-

A Roy Carter Special. An exploration of the natural and industrial history of the Ardingly area affording spectacular views of the Ouse Valley Viaduct. Followed a few pints and some crisps.

Map in PDF format:-

GPS Route for technophiles (and people who don’t trust Roy’s map-reading):-

Meet near the Frankland Arms There should be some roadside parking
W 0.40499896 N 50.90456208
E 512251 N 112908

Dave Tilling could not make it but did volunteer this write up:-
Someone was late- we got going, we got lost, we
found the way again, Bradlg faffed, someone else fell over , we got to the pub
and all was well.

Well almost correct! Most cars left from Victory house on time and arrived in Washington and parked with time to spare, since it was a nice afternoon and there was a Pub garden opposite it seemed foolish not to take advantage while waiting for the rest of the group. Pizzas were ordered as an incentive to get back on time! However due to traffic problems on the A23 Andy and family were not able to join us so off across the fields we went. Once the accent up Chanctonbury was started Neill showed his prowess at hill climbing as was soon waiting for the rest at the top. After a brief rest Neill followed the unofficial path round the North side while the rest went the normal way along the South Downs path. Soon Cissbury was reached and a bonus Trig point. Steve & Neill went off to locate a Geocache which was found hidden in brambles. The return leg involved a long climb back upto the summit of the ridge west of Chanctonbury and then a descent in the gathering gloom through he woods an back to the promised Pizzas at the Frankland arms.