Superb weather, warmest of the whole week & not a breath of wind; just a case of waiting for the early morning mist to burn off. Strangely, when we returned to Norman's Bay at the end of the day, an eerie blanket of low cloud & strange light had crept over the site - one of our neighbours had spent the day in Hastings & told us it had settled there at lunchtime
Obviously, the Downs were the place to be!
Parked the van on Combe Hill above Willingdon & here's Les striding out along the '1066 Trail', link path & alternative South Downs Way route
Straight up the hills opposite on to Lullington Heath
'The Eight Bells' at Jevington: friendly, welcoming, open early & good beer! Had a pint of Adnam's 'Broadside' - a fair distance from its Suffolk home! Interesting pictures on display feature National Hunt racing at nearby Plumpton & the intriguing local 'Terrier' racing but the most fascinating was a framed newspaper story from 1925 reporting that the landlady had been fined £5 for serving 'After Hours' drinks on Christmas Eve!
Unusual 'Tapsell Gate' at the entrance to Jevington's St. Andrews churchyard - it swings, & closes, in either direction on a central pivot. Easily negotiable by coffin-bearers & it provided a surface on which to rest their load
Invented by a local man, there are half a dozen to be found in Sussex but few anywhere else
Left: St Andrews Church, Jevington
Right: Church of St Michael, the Archangel in Litlington
Its main claim to fame is as the secret wedding venue of the Prince Regent in 1786: he was later to become George IV. He married a local woman, Mrs Maria Fitzherbert but later abandoned her for the Princess of Brunswick!
Wonderful walk across Lullington Heath to the Cuckmere Valley - Alfriston in the dip & Bostal Hill, focus of Sunday's walk, rising beyond the river
Millennium village sign is a lovely 'potted' history: on one side 'the Cathedral of the Downs', the Clergy House, the famous white footbridge & a nod to the rope-making industry; on the other the Market Cross, Flint Tower, smuggling, the Red Lion figurehead & a reference to the village's use as a military base during the Napoleonic Wars
'The Star Inn', Alfriston & now we'd collected all 3 hostelries! A pub since the early 16th century decorated with all kinds of fascinating characters
There was originally a religious hostel on this site: built in 1345, it was used by monks and pilgrims on their way between Battle Abbey & Chichester Cathedral & that probably explains 2 of the 3 figures above!
It is alleged that the red lion is the figurehead from a warship sunk off Beachy Head in 1690 whilst I also heard it was from a galleon plundered by wreckers! Some claim it to be authentic... I think I'd go with replica!
Still....a village with 3 excellent pubs..... now that really is unusual! In my experience, unique!
Bostal Hill again: this time leaving Alfriston & on our way to the 'Long Man'!
Barman at 'The Star' was a young Spaniard - a keen walker. He wanted to know where we'd come from, where we were going & when we told him he was quite envious! He described his favourite route & its attractions - I was just pleased that was our planned way back!
Tough decision!We picked up the Wealdway & wound our way around Wilmington Hill on the fringe between farmland & Downs
Highlight of the Day: The Long Man of Wilmington!
Almost impossible to photograph from ground level yet its proportions are such that, apparently, it only looks 'right' from here!
Generally accepted that the carving dates from the 16th century though there are several respected academics who insist it is much older, possibly even Neolithic
227' tall, this is a hugely impressive site &, in a strange way, I'm glad we left this until last!
A last look back before we rounded Wilmington Hill, headed down through trees & began the long trudge back up to the summit of a perfectly still & sun-drenched Combe Hill
Watched a young man flying a hawk whilst explaining to a couple of passers-by that the bird was struggling to find any moving air & that's why it kept coming down & sitting on fence-posts!
Away to the south we could see the huge lump of cloud sitting on the coast & our campsite.... oh well!
Beer of the Day: rather fine bottle of 'Green Daemon' from Newnham's Hopdaemon Brewery (Kent). Wasn't too sure when I chose this as the label declares it to be a 'Helles' beer & I thought it might lack a bit of flavour. Sharp & refreshing, its 5% gives it enough body to make me think I'll look for this again!
DVD Update: watched 'Marnie' last night & it's 'Shadow of Doubt' tonight... then it might be time to have a bit of a rest from Hitchcock!
Back to the 'Additional Photos & Comments' Page tomorrow!
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