Overcast and slightly cooler so we headed down to the South Downs (almost to
the Eastern end) and a day around the Long Man. We would park in the
Wilmington long man car park then circle around the escarpment fronted by the
chalk carving, going around to Jevington. Then into Friston forest curving
around to Charleston Manor, before a serpentine route back to Lullington Heath
nature reserve. Back towards the village of Litlington, before curving up to
Lullington church. Finally around the escarpment under the Long Man and back
to the car park.
After dropping Sue off at Brinsbury, we drove down to Wilmington and parked in
the priory car park overlooking the Long Man (still free if you can get down the
narrow road to it and under the 2m barrier).
We headed back up the road to the church before taking the byway to meet the
eastern end of the escarpment.
At the base of the slopes we met and followed the Wealdway along the base, with
views north.
The Wealdway continued through some woods and down to the church at Folkington
situated at the end of a back road.
Leaving the church along the byway which open out with fields each side.
We cut the corner off where the Wealdway turned around the end of the
escarpment, by climbing up and over the final ridge.
Just over the top of the ridge we rejoined the Wealdway and followed it in its
hedge lined track to above the village of Jevington. There we continued on the
bridleway rising slightly but keeping above the village.
Finally leaving the hedges it opened to sheep pasture, and across a horse
exercise track
Into Friston Forest where we met a track coming up from Jevington then along the
tracks deep in the trees.
Finally escaping from the trees into the grasslands above Charleston Bottom,
where we followed a track that traversed and descended down into the valley
below.
Down in the bottom of the valley and heading for Charleston Manor (in the trees
ahead). On the opposite side of the valley ahead is the Alfriston White
Horse.
The woods surrounding the manor do not allow the public to look in. We picked up
the SDW and climbed the slope to the right.
We dropped down to the very edge of Litlington village, before turning sharply
up the driveway to Clapham Barn.
From the barn we travelled back above the valley we had walked along just
before. Then back into Friston Forest.
In the forest we curved around and up the gentle slope heading north.
Meeting up and passing the Lullington Heath Nature reserve to reach the
Winchester Pond at its north tip. From here we followed the byway heading down
to Litlington.
Part way down we split off along a secondard rudge to drop down to the back road
at Lullington manor and leading past Lullington church
Just past the church we left the road to follow the edge of a field from a car
park (I think this had moved closer to the church than on the map!). At the top
of the field we went through the scrub and climbed a fence to get onto the SDW
alternative track.
Over the top of the ridge climbing up past a reservoir, before we drop down the other side to go below the long man.
From the bottom of the Long Man we dropped down the path back to Wilmington, and the car park.
