Around the Ashdown Forest

Chuck Hatch to Fairwarp

The "Plan" was to try out a 10 mile circular walk around Robertsbridge but on the morning there was a flood warning for the river Rother and as part of the route followed the river we quickly decided to abort and stick to an old favourite the Ashdown Forest.We last walked across the forest at the end of July 2012 and that walk really stretched the leg muscles - this one did the same as the terrain is split by lots of streams and valleys, some pretty steep.

Previously we had walked East to West across the forest so this time we went North to South, parking up at Chuck Hatch car park on the north edge just by the Hundred Acre Wood. (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Chuck+Hatch,+Hartfield&hl=en&sll=51.078771,0.102015&sspn=0.001739,0.004823&oq=chuck+hatch&hnear=Chuck+Hatch,+Hartfield,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=14
) and setting sights for a nice pub at Fairwarp about 5 miles away https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?ftid=0x47df5dfde386c82d:0xc6d60af43dd09200&q=Fairwarp&hl=en

The weather was wintry sun but forecast to cloud over in the afternoon with rain hitting around mid afternoon. The winter sunlight on the gorse and dead bracken was delightful.

The pulls up the slopes hit the legs and whilst not as muddy as some recent walks we often had to jump mud holes and divert around boggy ground. In the middle of the forest at Duddleswell we came across the grave of an Aircrew where a returning RAF bomber crashed in 1941.

Driven on by the smell of ale we reached the destination at 12-02 - just two minutes after "opening time"

The Foresters Arms at Fairwarp where a "Badger Ale" went down very well. Now for the International readers who have to put up with "pissy beer", the Badger Ale is an award winning beer using a single variety of hop (First Gold) and the beer won two gold medals at the Munich beer festival 2005. Ivan took the "Sussex" another excellent local beer.

As we are part-time POETS and to celebrate Robbie Burns Birthday just a few days ago we took the "Haggis; Neeps and Tatties" from the menu to go with the ale and it was delicious

Getting the legs moving again after such excellent refreshment was quite a feat and the return loop was even steeper.

Odd things tend to amuse us - could this be the new "Facebook" and if so, how would you "Un-Friend" someone!

Great walking and scenery - and that's Ivan not Bilbo Baggins!

Stats for the walk were...

Date	Steps	Distance (mi)	Time (min)	Calories	Average speed (mph)	Elevation gain (feet)	Elevation lost (feet)	Max speed (mph)
28/01/2013	18483	9.6	212	1151	2.7	1441	1452	8.1