Reinterred: Lewes Walk

Today was the third day of our Eastbourne trip.

While others walked a bit further, I led a group who didn't feel up to Joyce's plan for the 1066 walk on a shorter route from Lewes over the South Downs with tea in Glynde, a pub lunch in Lewes afterwards and (for me) a walk around the town before returning to Eastbourne.

This was my invite.

"Saturday 26th April. Lewes. We will take the 9:29am train from Eastbourne (Adult with senior railcard Off-peak return £6.95). We will walk a 6.5 mile route via Glynde which promises some uphill walking but excellent views (see here). Lunch somewhere in Lewes (there are plenty of options) and a further optional 2 mile walk around the picturesque town (or do your own thing) before returning by train to Eastbourne on e.g. the 15:42 train (again they are quite frequent - about 4 trains an hour). Incidentally, it is the last match of the season for Lewes FC (in the Isthmian Premier League) v Cray Wanderers at the wonderfully named ground "The Dripping Pan" at 3pm with concessionary priced tickets at £9. (See here). We might just be tempted."

This was our route.

Here are some of my photos.

I had a walk along the pier first thing before we set off.

There was a bit of a market on today on the way to the station.

I was amused by the "Vicking" BBQ and its "Price's".

Here comes out train.

Lewes station is quite elegant.

We walk through the town going straight on our walk. "Are we going up there?", asked Dan. Yes we were.

Crossing the River Ouse we spotted Harvey's Brewery.

We passed the brewery shop.

We walked along the High St at Cliffe. The Snowdrop Inn just round the corner commemorates the avalanche they had here. The Lewes avalanche occurred on 27 December 1836 , when a huge build-up of snow on a chalk cliff overlooking the town collapsed into the settlement 100 metres (330 ft) below, destroying a row of cottages and killing eight people. It remains the deadliest avalanche on record in the United Kingdom

Up we go.

We left the road and climbed these steps.

We soon reached the golf course.

We were rewarded by some great views of the South Downs.

We came to the North-East corner of Southerham Farm Nature reserve.

We walked along the top of the down towards Mt Caburn. I offerred people the option of not going down to Glynde and back up again, but the lure of a tearoom was too strong. Here we turned downhill towards the village of Glynde.

We got a good view of Glynde Place.

We liked seeing the horses on the shoulder of Mt. Caburn.

In Glynde we visited the delightful Little Cottage Tearoom.

We sat in the garden. Further down they had tables set for an 80th birthday party.

Dru offered this robin the crumbs from her scone.

The tearoom is also the village post office, and has a Victorian postbox.

Time to head back up towards Mt. Caburn.

We took our time over the climb.

There was a seat about halfway up.

Dawn and Erica devised a strategy of taking 100 steps at a time and then pausing for a rest.

Drew and Shaun stopped at the top to wait for the rest of us.

And here are Dawn and Erica.

The path to our left went to the top of Mt. Caburn, but we decided not to do the extra there and back optional bit of the walk.

Instead we headed back to Lewes via Oxteddle Bottom and the edge of the golf course.

We had some great views again.

Passing the golf clubhouse, we got good views of Lewes as we descended.

The road has a 17% slope.

We searched for the brewery tap. The brewery is covered in scaffolding as this sign explains.

The John Harvey Tavern was the other side of Cliffe High Street.

They do a great selection of beers.

We found the room upstairs nearly empty. We had a light lunch. I just wanted a sandwich, but it was a little larger than expected!

After lunch we did our own thing, arranging to meet back at the station at 4pm for a train back to Eastbourne.

I visited the brewery shop first...

...and after admiring the morris dancing in the street for a while...

...went on this 2 mile Lewes Town Walk.

It took me along the River Ouse for a bit.

crossing the river back towards town here.

I came across these two young men playing acoustic guitars...

...by the waterways beside Pells Pool - the oldest public outdoor pool in the country fed by a spring, which is presumably associated with the nearby waterways. It's heated and very popular. 2011 was its 150 year anniversary. Sometime back there was an attempt to close it but public demand saved it.

I climbed up towards the castle. There is a sign here commemorating the Battle of Lewes of 1264.

Castle Bowls on the old tilting ground is 250 + years old with the game played as it was at the time of Drake with a deliberately bumpy green adding to the difficulties. No other club will play them. Possibly unique but there may still be a similar green in Plymouth. There's a conventional club near the football ground