walkhighlands

Training walk: Lewes to Hassocks

Date walked: 04/03/2024

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 19.5km

Ascent: 700m

Sunday 3rd March took a train to Lewes with the aim of walking along the South Downs Way to Clayton then Hassocks to get the train back home. To get a bit of practice with ascent I dropped into the Weald and reascended four times en-route. This effectively simulated a ridge walk without an initial sustained 800 meter ascent to access it.

First challenge was getting to Lewes. A problem with the signalling system meant trains heading south from London were delayed and I got to Lewes half an hour late, around 10:30 am. I was glad I hadn't attempted an earlier plan of starting from Southease as that would have made the timing a little tight (I had plans that evening so wanted to get home before 6pm).

Weather was ideal, pleasantly cool with no wind but the ground was soggy underfoot in places. Somehow missed the bridleway when exiting Lewes and climbing onto the Downs and ended up trespassing, thankfully a friendly lady directed me to the bridleway I had somehow missed by around 50 meters. After that it was easy walking with superb clarity in the air and clear views across to Ashdown Forest and the North Downs/Surrey hills. Stopped for a hot chocolate at the modile cafe at the Jack & Jill car park then dropped down to Clayton and followed the railway line to Hassocks station.

Now it was time for round two of the SE England Sunday public transport lottery. A train arrived whilst I was getting a ticket from the machine which I managed to board and turned out to be a delayed service hence why I wasn't expecting it. This got me to Three Bridges two minutes before a connecting train back to my home town. Unfortunately after I boarded this service was terminated because the relief driver hadn't arrived, so I had to get off and wait 25 minutes for the next train which was rammed full and I had to stand all the way to Horsham (4:30pm on Sunday, that well known peak time for travel). Ended up back home around 5 pm.

Overall a good walk and felt pleasantly tired after, didn't feel the need to crash out when I got home. The only issue is the South Downs are very easy to hike up and down, it only takes 15 minutes to get to the ridge from the base so it is not really conditioning me for hiking up Munros in two and a half months time. I think I will have to be a bit tactical with my hikes when I get up there and start with the easier ones so I build up hill fitness without crashing out.

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Training walk: South Downs

Attachment(s) Date walked: 28/01/2024
Distance: 23km
Ascent: 540m
Comments: 2
Views: 593


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Attachment(s) Munros: Beinn a' Bhùird
Date walked: 15/06/2022
Distance: 37km
Ascent: 1220m
Comments: 2
Views: 993


Carn a Mhaim and Derry Cairngorm loop from Linn of Dee

Attachment(s) Munros: Càrn a' Mhàim, Derry Cairngorm
Date walked: 13/06/2022
Distance: 30.5km
Ascent: 1320m
Views: 743


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Attachment(s) Corbetts: Monamenach
Date walked: 12/06/2022
Distance: 5.5km
Ascent: 445m
Views: 566


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Hewitts: Froswick, Harter Fell (Far Eastern Fells), High Street, Ill Bell, Thornthwaite Crag
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Distance: 20km
Views: 938


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Attachment(s) Date walked: 31/12/2021
Distance: 16km
Views: 632


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Attachment(s) Date walked: 10/06/2021
Distance: 24km
Views: 641


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Attachment(s) Date walked: 10/06/2021
Distance: 6km
Ascent: 500m
Comments: 2
Views: 852


Trans-Knoydart trek, part 4. Cape Wrath trail.

Attachment(s) Date walked: 04/06/2021
Distance: 21km
Comments: 2
Views: 907

al78


User avatar
Activity: Walker
Place: Wester Ross
Ideal day out: A bike & hike or a long walk to set up base campo. Taking aim at a summit or three, with some not too technical scrambling, a nice narrow ridge walk around a corrie where the gouging effect of past glaciers can be seen, and a (clear) view from the summit that covers thousands of square miles with no evidence of human activity.

Munros: 32
Corbetts: 9
Donalds: 1



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Statistics

2024

Trips: 2
Distance: 42.5 km
Ascent: 1240m

2022

Trips: 4
Distance: 93 km
Ascent: 2985m
Munros: 3
Corbetts: 1
Hewitts: 5
Wainwrights 7

2021

Trips: 6
Distance: 86.5 km
Ascent: 500m

2020

Trips: 1

2019

Trips: 4
Distance: 95 km
Ascent: 1180m
Hewitts: 1

2018

Trips: 1
Distance: 50 km


Joined: Feb 01, 2018
Last visited: Mar 16, 2024
Total posts: 1407 | Search posts