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... but would like to talk with a few of the members before committing yourself, you would be most welcome to meet us on one of our informal Sunday events, of which there are two in June. On Sunday 8th June we are organising a day walk on the South Downs in Sussex from Southease to Eastbourne. - Approx. 20 miles or 32 km, about 9 hours; mostly on grassy paths and rough tracks. Maps OS Landranger 198 and 199 or OS Outdoor Leisure 123 Eastbourne and Beachy Head. Meet Southease Station at 10:10 a.m. (Grid ref: TQ431055). 10.04 train from Lewes, connecting with 08.47 from London Victoria. Southease Station is 3 miles south of Lewes on the River Ouse. Walk starts in an easterly direction heading over Firle Beacon and Bostal Hill then down into the delightful village of Alfriston. Route then follows the meandering Cuckmere river down to Cuckmere Haven on the coast. From Cuckmere Haven we'll continue on the Coast Path over the Seven Sisters to Birling Gap, then onto Beachy Head and down into Eastbourne, where there are seaside chippies and other lures as well as trains back to Lewes and London.
This will be far more strenuous than the other Sunday walks we have organised so far this year, more akin to a good day on the hills. There will not be a scheduled pub stop and you will need to bring a packed lunch plus extra snack food and plenty of water (two litres recommended, more if forecast is hot and sunny). You will need suitable footwear and a waterproof coat if rain is forecast.
People wishing to do a shorter walk could finish at Alfriston were there are pubs and a National Trust property, Clergy House. The nearest station is Berwick Station about 3 miles north of Alfriston, whence trains at 48 mins past each hour back to Lewes. Another shorter option is to walk with the main group to Exceat Bridge, 2 km north of Cuckmere basin, then take the coast path west, to finish at Seaford wehere there are tains to Lewes and connections onwards to London. In the event of foul weather the entire group may decide to take one of these shorter options. Recommend that people driving leave car at Lewes, for trains to Southease (10.04) and back from Eastbourne (or Seaford or Berwick). Then on Sunday 22nd June, to celebrate Bike Week, a bike ride in East London. Starting at Blackheath Station Car Park at 11am, the route passes through Greenwich Park, along the Thames Path and past the Millennium Dome and Thames Flood Barrier. It crosses the Thames at the Woolwich Ferry, past the Docklands City Airport and onto the Greenway. From the Greenway, excellent views over the 2012 Olympic Stadium construction site and the stadium to the splendid Victorian Abbey Mills pumping station. The route then joins onto the Limehouse cut and the Three Mills tidal mill, through the heart of the Docklands banking zone to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel - and thus back through Greenwich Park and onto Blackheath Station Car Park to return by 5pm. A remarkable cycling marathon of 26 miles and 385 yards, 90% off road, through the heart of East London and Docklands. Regular train services to Blackheath from Charing Cross, Waterloo East, London Bridge and the North Kent Line. Free parking in Blackheath Station Car Park. We'll have a quick café lunch at about 12.30 at the Firepower Museum. Bring snacks if you are likely to feel peckish later. These events provide an excellent opportunity for prospective members to meet and talk with Club members and find out more about the Club. If you would like to attend either of them, a message to the Membership Secretary would be much appreciated - see Contacts. But please let us know at least a couple of days in advance if you plan to attend, in case we have to change the meeting place or time. The walk we recently had in Guildford had brilliant weather conditions and looks like the folks enjoyed themselves quite a bit. Head over to the gallery to take a look at the pictures from that meet. All pictures courtesy for David Mclellan. More pictures from Cristina are here. |
