On a day off yesterday, we decided to go for a countryside walk despite the 30 degree heat we have been experiencing recently.
We opted for Exceat to Alfriston and back. Exceat is in East Sussex and is where you find the Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre. This where you can park, £4 is for all day and good value as car was parked in the shade afforded by lots of trees.
An uphill climb on South Downs Way, heading east away from the SSCP, took us up a grass slope to a flint wall. Soon after crossing the wall, we descended a long series of steps down a wooded slope to West Dean - a small village. Another uphill slope, but thankfully under shade, took us out of West Dean and still following the well signposted South Downs Way. The path then took a left turn and soon our walk instructions indicated a right turn over a stile into a wheat field. I was tempted into taking a close-up of an ear of wheat with the wonderful blue sky as the background.
We walked up hill along the edge of this field until we crested the brow and made our way onto a grassy footpath that led downhill to the village of Litlington. The village pub, the Plough & Harrow took my eye for a photo - a well presented old pub.
Continuing our walk, following written instructions I had downloaded from the internet, we headed on towards the village of Alfriston. Not been there before, but a wonderful old village with a lot of picturesque old buildings. We didn't have enough time for a 'big explore' of the village, though I am sure we will return in the future, but the Village Stores was particularly attractive.
From Alfriston (the furthest point from our car park on our walk), we took the riverside path that follows the meandering course of the River Cuckmere. This took us on a scenic and very sunny route back to Exceat.
There were a lot of wild flowers and butterflies around, my picture below shows the blossom on a blackberry bush. The Cuckmere was home to several ducks, Egrets, Swans and Canada Geese.
From a start time of 11.30 a.m., we arrived back at the car park for5p.m. after a steady and enjoyable 6.5 mile walk. It had certainly been hot, but the shade in the early parts and the pleasant breeze alongside the river made it much more bearable than would otherwise have been.