Essex Man Does Walking

That sleep was the best I had in the tent since I started, my self inflating mattress actually managed to self inflate more than normal! So today finally the walk would be finished but it would be one of the more demanding days even though it was not as long as some.

When both of us were awake we headed to the coffee and food counter at the campsite, grabbed a coffee and a bacon sandwich and ate them contemplating the day ahead. It was a lovely start to the day and promised to be quite warm, no doubt more sunburn on one side of my body was to come.

We packed up the tent and headed off back into Alfriston where we picked up the trail by the Star Inn. We crossed over the road and down an alley that went past the Methodist Church and then onto the green where St Andrews Church was. We headed down a track by the left of the church and over a footbridge and then continued alongside the River Cuckmere. The trail continued till we reached the village of Litlington and then turned away from the river and up a slope towards the top of a hill. It was at this point we could see the White Horse and a hill opposite, a grand sight.

The trail headed down into Westdean and then back up some very steep stairs through a wooded area towards Exceat. It then opened up giving us a great view of Cuckmere Haven and the sea. We took the path down towards the Seven Sisters Country Park and the up again giving us an even better view before descending once more to the mouth of the River Cuckmere.

It was here then that the very hard task of going up and down the Seven Sisters began. Whilst each one is not necessarily high they are very steep and with a heavy rucksack on and the sun beating down it was incredibly demanding. I knew that at Birling Gap we could rest and get a drink but every time we reached the brow of one of the hills it didn’t seem any closer! The views over the cliffs though were amazing and this did make up in part for the pain!

Eventually we got to Birling Gap and I got some food, drink and an ice lolly for the both of us. Having a good rest we then climbed up the next hill towards Belle Tout Lighthouse. Down again we went and then up our last hill for the trip towards Beachy Head. We contemplated stopping at the top but the end was in sight and I wanted to push on. The last mile went quickly before we descended sharply down towards the finish where the sign post declared 100 miles to Winchester.

You sort of hope there might be a fanfare or a finishing line tape to cross but there isn’t. It certainly didn’t sink in at that moment what I had done and still a week later it is still sinking in. The whole trip is best looked back over the following weeks and then I think you can appreciate how tough it was and how pleased you should be to complete it. Anyway we had another 2 miles to walk to find the car!

Distance: 10.9 miles

Ascent: 2083 feet