Ditchling Beacon

As I didn't have the freedom to get too far this week I decided to stay quite close to home. I have talked a lot about the South Downs, so on route to buying sunflower hearts and peanuts for my garden birds [they eat a lot, so I buy in bulk], I took a relatively small detour to Ditchling Beacon, on the South Down Way. The weather wasn't too bad where I live [and I was going shopping] so I stupidly didn't take gloves and I almost ended up with frostbite in my fingers. I didn't take into account the wind up on the Beacon and in the end had to get back into the car with my very red, sore and frozen fingers, which had nearly stopped functioning, warming them up on the car heater before I could move off. My lesson for the future is no matter what the weather, make sure you have a pair of gloves. Wind chill is painful.

In the summer, when one of us is n the house is feeling energetic, they will get one of the others to drive them to Ditchling Beacon from where they will walk back across the downs towards Lewes. [Alternatively, you can walk in the other direction towards Clayton and the Jack and Jill Windmills, but in our case we would be walking away from home.]

There is a road from Ditchling towards the A27 and Brighton which takes you up the side of the Beacon [814 feet - very steep and winding] and over the top. The London to Brighton Bike Race follows this route and there are very fit soles who cycle up it, not once but several times in one day, [penance?] and there is a path which partly follows the route of the road, bringing you up from the valley to the top of the downs.

At the top there is a National Trust Car Park [free to trust members showing the appropriate sticker] where you can enjoy the view and get a breath of fresh air, walk the dog, or make it a walkers day out. From the car park you get a wonderful view over Sussex.

 The little village of Westmeston can be clearly seen.

 The route to Lewes stretches out before you. Or you climb further up the hill on the route to Clayton and the windmills.

In the distance you can now see a structure which has the familiar shape of a sports stadium. The new home of Brighton and Hove Football Club which has been taking shape at Falmer, [I believe it is to be called the Amex Staduim] just outside Brighton. Not yet open for business, however the club are planning a series of events in the build up for the big day [so click on the link if you are interested in the latest news]. I can't say that I was in favour of the new stadium being built there, however it doesn't seem to be quite the eyesore I was expecting. While I would much prefer the scenery the way it was, such is life.

If you have really good eyesight or binoculars, you may also just be able to make out Brighton Racecourse at the top of a hill in the distance. While I have visited the greyhound racing in Brighton I haven't made it to the racecourse yet. Though I have been caught in the traffic jams on Wilson Avenue in Whitehawk, Brighton, when the road is closed due to a race. The circuit the horses take actually crosses public roads and so when a race is due, they stop the traffic until the horses and riders go past. You need to allow a bit of extra travel time on race days. Then you have to drive over the matting and straw laid on the road surface to protect the horses. It can give you a bit of a fright when the car wants to travel a different route to the one you intended.

I am easily side tracked - back to the downs.

If you decide to walk the downs there are places where tracks will bring you down to a village or pub for lunch. Indeed, the walkers of our house may leave the house with the sole intention of ending up at a pub. Sometimes they go by car, walking on the downs following a route that takes them to one of these hostelries, and then they walk off the calories on route back to the car. Alternatively, they may get dropped off  somewhere on the route and then be met at the pub by their driver for lunch and a lift home. Lastly, they may walk from the house up on the downs and finally down the the pub where someone will meet them for lunch and then give them a lift home. [You probably get the picture by now]. The only criteria for this is that the pub has to be dog friendly. [One or two favourites have been taken over by non dog - and even non children - friendly landlords which soon leads to them being given a wide berth.], and to have cheesy chips on the menu [chips sprinkled with cheese for the uninitiated.] One country pub which was a favourite for walks in and around high and over and Alfriston, changed their chef. He apparently thought his chips were too good to sprinkle cheese on. This lost the the pub not only our regular trade for cheesy chips [not that it would cause bankruptcy], but also the visiting parent and friend lunches and those warm summer evening meals where you could sit in the garden and watch the world go by [and of course the recommendations to friends and relatives]. Needless to say, we found another pub that was equally dog friendly, had no problem with cheesy chips and was just as pleasant to sit at in the summer evenings. The chef doesn't have to see cheese sprinkled on his chips and we still get the great service and pub grub we like.  So everyone is happy - I think.

So, what to recommend in and around Ditchling.

In Ditchling itself there is The Bull. A lovely atmospheric pub, though as it is not on our walking route it is not somewhere we visit regularly.

Ditchling is the home of Vera Lynn [of we'll meet again fame], the forces sweet heart. At least she was until Katherine Jenkins [no relation that I know of] took over that role recently with the troops in Afghanistan. There is a museum which is trying hard to raise money it needs for redevelopment [a pet project for one of our neighbours] so if you are in the area please give it a visit and your support.

It has not one but 2 vineyards that I know of [and there is another at Westmeston]. One is Ridgeview [that was mentioned in one of the first postings and the other is at Court Gardens Farm, Ditchling. I have visited the farm in connection with the vineyard and I have to say that although the farm shop was not open at the time, we were invited in to view its layout etc and were very impressed. I am pleased to see on visiting their website that they have again won awards for their sausages. Just another reason to drop in for a visit. I have not yet had the pleasure of tasting their Sparkling Wine, however, as I know which local winery presses the grapes for them, I think it should be on my shortlist of ones to try. Perhaps yours too!!

Looking for a present to take home. Then perhaps you should consider Ditchling Garden Centre [much more than a garden centre]. With the normal gardening bits and pieces, there is also a pet shop, bird food and anything you could want for feeding your garden birds, books, cafe/restaurant, small food hall for those up market little foodie items, candles and unusual gift ideas. It was the first in the area [and the first one I know of] to start a gardening club with its own cards and discounts. With lots of good offers throughout the year.

However, back to the walk.

When walking between Lewes and Ditchling Beacon, the favourite stop off point is generally the Half Moon Pub. There is quite a big car park at the back and an area to sit out in summer. A childrens play park on the other side of the car park [so it doesn't disturb the diners who want a bit of peace and quiet]. I understand that it came under new management a few months ago and we haven't tried it since then but if you are in the area give it a go. As a word of warning, this is also a meeting place for some of the racegoers for Plumpton Race Course. They are generally easy to distinguish from the walkers due to their attire. However it is as well to check whether you are planning to visit on a race day as you may be advised to reserve a table. Plumpton Race Course is itself a wonderful experience and they also have drive in movies from time to time. Check out their web site if you want to try something a little different.

So, we are almost back on home ground. As you drop towards Lewes, depending on the route you follow,  you can of course look forward to visiting either the Blacksmiths or Chalk Pit Inn, Offham,  mentioned in my Offham posting. Both personally recommended by myself.

I was once talking to a friend who had a second job working behind a bar further up country. [Why I am not giving more details will be apparent shortly!!]. We were talking about walking and cheesy chips and she offered the opinion that many walkers were a real pain. On further discussion it turned out that some walkers have a habit of going into hostelries, muddy boots and all, they order a half pint of their favourite tipple, and then sit for ages nursing the drink, taking up room and if you are lucky order a sandwich between them. [Please note - this was not my comment.]

The lesson here, if you are a walker, is not to outstay your welcome and give us all a bad name. Though I am sure that this does not apply to any one of you reading this article!

 - hope to be talking to you next week.