High Weald Walk leg 3

East Grinstead to Groombridge

This was a great section to do and on a wonderful walking day - high cloud with sunny spells and a cool-ish breeze. It was also a more respectable 13.5 miles in length so we didn't ache quite as much as last weeks epic trip. We parked up at Groombridge and caught the bus out to East Grinstead. The initial 4 miles was supposed to be along the Forest Way disused railway line walk but we quickly met the "Elf & Safety" people who said we couldn't walk that way because tree lopping was being done and the path was closed for two miles. Fortunately the detour wasn't difficult and we looped around and met up with the trail two miles further on.

To early for the Pub in Forest Row (it was only 11-30 when we passed through the village) we strode on knowing that the path took us to Hartfield and passed directly in front of one of our favourite watering holes.

The High Weald scenery with its big rolling hills showed up well and it was a very nice section to do with a mixture of pasture and woodland. The last week of warm weather had certainly had its effect as the woodland flowers and trees were all bursting into life.  Primroses were at their best and in sheltered spots bluebells were just starting to flower.

Typical rolling countryside of the High Weald

We could spot the spire of Hartfield Church (Remember that in the UK you always find a pub next to the village church!) from 3 or 4 miles away but the trail kept looping around until it emerged directly across from the Anchor Inn.


Hartfield Church

The Anchor Inn - a great traditional pub

The old house at the entrance to Hartfield Church

Wise men leaving the Anchor!

Why is there always a big hill to climb after we have stopped for a beer and lunch! Finally the legs got going again and we heard our first Cuckoo of the year, which is a few days earlier than last year.  Also heard a Skylark also the first of the year.

Ivan and Trevor after a few beers in the Pub!

First sign of Bluebells

Primroses are everywhere and in their prime now.

Today we started out in West Sussex; walked across East Sussex - Crossing "The Wealdway" which was last years long walk and runs North to South across The Weald - and ended up reaching the Kent border. We are now not far off half-way through the "Long Trek" along the High Weald Trail.



Stats for the day were ...

Date	Steps	Distance (mi)	Time (Hr)	Calories	Average speed (mph)	Elevation gain (feet)	Elevation lost (feet)
29/04/2013	26,334	13.5	5:01	1,598	2.7	2,099	2,433

Cuckfield to East Grinstead

High Weald Trail - Leg 2

"My word, that was a long one" said the Actress to the Bishop. We parked up at Forest Row to catch the bus back to Cuckfield where we finished last time. Sitting quietly on the bus Trevor casually announces that the guide book says it was 17 miles for this leg. 17 miles was the chorused reply from the remaining pensioners! We have never walked 17 miles before.(On looking back our longest walk previously was 15.6 miles on the Detling to Charing walk last September).

Undaunted we set off at a pace in the glorious spring sunshine; not full sun but warm enough to make it feel like summer was down the road. The path wiggled its way across West Sussex in a series of North runs followed by East runs and through some really nice open countryside with great views.

Generally the up-pulls were long and hard and by the time we reached the village of Ardingly and the lunch stop the feet knew they had been well exercised. The pedometer said we had completed 7 miles so only 10 to go! The "Ardingly Inn" was a nice simple hostelry with a friendly atmosphere. I took this picture for my mate Dave because the picture over the fire was really good - a moody morning mist watercolour painting of a Lancaster Bomber being checked over by the ground crew.

The Ardingly Inn for lunch

Ardingly Reservoir



Some Arum lilies growing wild in a boggy patch in the wood



West Hoathly church with an amazing display of daffodils



The Pub in West Hoathly - we nearly took the diversion straight into the bar!

A "Wobbly Moment" crossing a stream. Who took the bridge away!.

Refreshed with Ale (and sausage and chips - well we needed the carbs) we set off for the second leg. More great scenery and very long hills. Some slight shortcuts were sought and found and we eventually managed to knock a mile off the official route just so we got home in daylight!


Stats for the day were ...

Date	Steps	Distance (mi)	Time (Hr)	Calories	Average speed (mph)	Elevation gain (feet)	Elevation lost (feet)
22/04/2013	30,542	15.9	6:02	1,884	2.6	3,394	3,315

High Weald Landscape Path - day 1

Horsham to Cuckfield - day 1, Monday 8th April

The Long Walk for 2013 has been chosen. Its the High Weald Path running 90 miles from Horsham in the west to Rye in the East. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Weald_Landscape_Trail and we expect to do it in 7 sections.

Today was forecast as high cloud with occasional sun and it turned out to be exactly right.  However, a keen easterly breeze meant it felt more like 5 deg C than the 8 forecast. We drove to Cuckfield; parked up and caught the bus to Horsham and the start of the walk.


The path was in pretty good condition and not too wet under foot but the way-markers were very erratic and a couple of times we made a forced detour when we moved slightly off path. We trekked through a mix of forest and open country and generally it was very pleasant. It was also very steep in places and our legs were not used to such exercise after the truncated recent walks due to the bad weather. At one point we came across some wonderful glens of wild daffodils.

Fortunately in the middle of the village of Slaugham (apparently its pronounced "Slaffam"!) was a nice pub, The Chequers, and as it was approaching 1-00pm we stopped for refreshment.

The village green at Slaugham

After lunch the legs were very slow to get moving and we still had 8 miles to go! The path got steeper and steeper; the stiles to climb over got higher and higher and our pace slower and slower. It was with great delight when the village of Cuckfield came into view and we could get boots off and enjoy the car ride home.













Stats for the day were ...

Date	Steps	Distance (mi)	Time (Hr)	Calories	Average speed (mph)	Elevation gain (feet)	Elevation lost (feet)
8/04/2013	28,996	14.97	5:33	1,756	2.7	2,315	2,085