The sun was out and a warm day was promised. After dropping Sue off at
Brinsbury, Bertie and I set off for Rodmell near Lewis, where we were going to
walk down to Newhaven and back over the downs. However things started badly
when the road to Ashington was closed for repairs very close to village and
the A24. We had to turn around and return via Cowfold, enduring the morning
traffic jams, then down the A23, finally getting to the NT car park after
10am.
We parked up in the Priest house car park hoping no one would be checking up,
and set off on a circular approach to the river Ouse, down the track beside the
car park. The track past the last farm and into the flood plain fields.
The track curved around and met the river just below where it turned down to the
coast.
The tide was coming in and the river was in reverse flow, assisting the swan
family to float upstream.
Approaching the swing bridge at Southease, where we started to meet other people
- mostly parked in a layby just before the bridge.
After the bridge the river was wider and Bertie gathered up his courage to have
a dip - ended swimming as it got deep suddenly.
We continued down the river - almost straight - to where it turned at Dean's
farm. Here the path took a diversion away from the river (probably private land
fenced of). We went down the back road to the entrance to the farm - now a
residential complex. Into the complex and around the landscaping.
Beyond the complex we picked up a metaled drive into a valley away from the
river. Here I chose to change plan and cut the day short after suffering in the
heat beside the river. We would cross over here and pick up the return route
.
At a crossroads of paths we took the right hand one to climb up to Bullock down.
The map showed it cross the meadow and into a "rough area". We crossed over a
fence at a pseudo stile, and into the overgrown briar patch - we struggled up
here trying to find a path and eventually after being ripped to shreds we
retreated to walk around. Just a bit further along we found where the path had
been moved to - with a proper gate!
Up the new path and out at the top beside a rapeseed field. Following this path
as it emerged out on an estate road through a green tunnel.
Along the driveway above Halscombe farm, until it ran out and mutated into a
path looking over the village of Telscombe.
Down in the village we walked up the road to where it came out on the ridge at
the top of Telscombe Tye. Here we turned onto the bridleway heading along the
tops.
A brief view of the sea to the south as we crossed the Tye. Beyond the buildings
on the top we continued along the rounded tops
After passing a reservoir building we continued down a slight dip, and then
finally turned back north, over a grass field.
Over the top of the slope the next valley opened up below us - Breaky Bottom and
its very small vineyard. We continued in the same direction down to teh farm
below.
After the farm the track - a chalk driveway - climbed up the other side.
At teh top we crossed the flatter section and over the SDW. The track is now
called the White Way.
Dropping down the White way - with a short stop for Bertie to down a litre of water - there were not any cattle troughs around today once we left the river.
At Northease farm we reached teh back road we had driven down this morning and walked along it until we could pick up a track crossing harvested grain back to Rodmell. Back at the village we followed a large grassy swathe beside the edge of the village to pick up the circle road that would take us back to the car. All windows open we took off for home, but had to stop off for an ice cream on the way.
