Sue had wanted to go and see the house and gardens at Charleston Farm house
for a while, and so I arranged for her to get a slot (you have to pre book for
a certain time). The idea was that Bertie and I would take a short walk whilst
she was perusing the house. As it would only take 1-2 hours I was not long,
but I worked out we could get across to Alciston then Berwick before we needed
to turn back. Sue was booked in for 12:15, so we arrived early and parked in
the main car park and had lunch before setting off on our separate ways. There
was a large number of people as several exhibitions were going on at the same
time, and in my hurry to get off, I forgot to close the side windows in the
van so after reaching the end of the drive I had to turn back and close them
before setting off once again.
We set off down the drive way continuing into a cow field where the Tilton
driveway turned off.
Beyond the first cow field were a number of repeats as we crossed the
undulations and over Mill hill to cross a back road.
Across the road and a view over to the downs of Long Man (slightly hidden on
this side). Through the grass fields into the dip below Alciston.
A slight zigzag along a wheat field before climbing the final grass field into
Alciston.
In the village, around the church and Tithe barn
Then out across wheat fields directly to Berwick (although a slight zigzag in
the middle)
In Berwick we went around the church to pick up the Vanguard Way. This went
straight through fields between rapeseed and wheat.
half way to Alfriston we turned back, climbing up slightly to Comp barn -
residential, and picking up Comp Lane.
The lane opened up as we passed New Barn - residential once again. The lane (now
a gravel track) continued along the base of the downs arriving at the end of a
back road from Alciston
Continuing along the lane crossing the back road that rose to Bostal car park at
Bopeep farm.
The last open field to pick up a lane that dropped to Tilton Farm
Up the Tilton driveway to meet the Charleston driveway and back up to the car park. We met Sue at the top of the lane waiting for us.
