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