I’d been planning to be in the Lake District this week for some time, but the weather chose that exact time to rebel. Facing the prospect of up to 95 kph gusts and lots of rain, I looked around for alternatives – anything just to get out for a couple of nights.
And so I settled on the South Downs, and the obvious thing was to pick up where I left off last time – at Hassocks – and continue the walk westwards for a bit. I timed it for just after a wave of rain was due to have passed, to optimise the conditions I’d be enjoying. “Was due to” being the operative phrase here…
Day 0: Travelling
I hopped on a train, only an hour from London Bridge to Hassocks, and walked the mile or so to the campsite. This would position me ready for a full day’s walking the next day. I’ve stayed here twice before, and at £10 per night it can’t really be beaten.
Pretty much as I got the tent up, it started raining – a fine drizzle that didn’t really let up for more than 24 hours.
Day 1: Hassocks to Washington
I could see from my tent that the ridge was shrouded in mist, and all that got me out of the tent was the knowledge that I had quite a bit to do, and I didn’t want to arrive too close to sunset at the next camp site.
Out into the mizzle I went, along the lane to the foot of the ridge, and then a climb up a bridleway to gain the crest.
Very little to see, but it’s not a navigational challenge by any means, so happily just followed the path. Indeed my map never left my rucksack, and I only used my digital mapping on my phone to check distances throughout the trip.
I detoured to look at Jack and Jill, the Clayton Windmills. Then a steady descent to Pyecombe, where I popped into the BP garage for a horrible coffee.
I then had to climb a short way back up the hill to rejoin the Way before crossing the A23.
Next was a steady climb at just the sort of gradient I can keep pushing without stopping. A descent to Saddlescombe Farm, where I resisted the temptation to stop for another coffee, and then on up to the Devil’s Dyke, one of the highlights of this part of the trail.
By now the cloud was starting to lift, and I could see ahead to Truleigh Hill. I remember from my first time, that it takes longer than it looks to walk this bit.
15km in (of what I’d originally calculated to be 26km for the day due to a very crudely straight route drawn on the map) found me at the youth hostel on Truleigh Hill, and I went in for an underwhelming bowl of soup for lunch.
It didn’t take long to descend to the River Adur, and then it was the long slow climb to the Land of Pigs (Annington Hill).
I then spent the rest of the time to Chanctonbury Ring willing myself to be there already. A succession of small ups and downs making it seem to take a long time.
A couple of km to descend and about a mile’s walk off trail brought me to Washington campsite (“Washcamp”). I pitched in almost exactly the same spot as the first time I camped here. This turned out to be a mistake as when the sun came out the next morning, I was still in the shade.
A pleasant night was had, after I’d seized on a gap between drizzly showers to yomp across the site to the showers.
Day 2: Washington to Amberley
The difference between where my tent was, and the area caught by the sun was very stark. I’d have saved quite a bit of time in drying my tent when I got home if I’d just camped nearer the caravans!
I returned to the trail, crossed the A24 and then set off up a lane, where I found a water tap. I’d not seen this before, as when I walked the trail before, I’d taken the shortcut across fields to Washington. In coming this way this time, I’d now walked every scrap of the full Way at least once.
An easy climb and easy walking apart from one extremely muddy patch of track which I stupidly didn’t divert into the adjoining field like the people coming the other way. Indeed it was my struggles in the mud that inspired them to do so. Oh well, at least I have been an inspiration in some way to someone!
With the better weather today, there were lots more people out, and this just made me push on rather than stop as much as I would normally. I did take a short break in a wood to get out of the sun though.
Soon I could see Amberley below, and it didn’t take very long to hit the road and walk down to the station.
But first a brief detour to the pub…
This wasn’t the trip I wanted due to the forecast for pretty much everywhere else, but turned out to be just what I needed. With some other commitments coming up over the next few weeks, I’m hoping I’ll finally get to the Lakes at the end of October and very start of November.
