3 men on a walk 2016: Jevington to Alfriston

Jevington to Alfriston over the South Downs

After a cold wet then snowy weekend we were lucky to have a dry day even if it was only 3 dec C. We headed for the South Downs because being a chalk outcrop, they tend to be less muddy and the water drains so much better through the chalk. Basically this was correct except that for a few miles we had to walk alongside the river Cuckmere and this was very muddy! It had been in flood only a week earlier and at places had burst its banks and flooded the surrounding fields.

We parked up at Jevington and walked up onto the top of the South Downs on the South Downs Way. From this viewpoint we could see the North sea; the white cliffs on the Seaford side of the Cuckmere estuary. The path also took us along the top of the "Wilmingtom Man" sculpture cut into the chalk above Wilmington village. However, we couldn't see it from the top!

From here the South Downs Way drops down into the Cuckmere valley and the ancient village of Alfriston. We had a choice of three "hostelries" for lunch and chose "The Olde Smugglars Inne", this being a new venue for our log. This pub was built in 1358 and at one time it was the headquarters for the smuggling of Brandy from France to avoid excise duty. (See http://www.yeoldesmugglersinne.co.uk/pages/history.html )

After lunch we walked along the river to the village of Litlington (home of the Long Man Micro-Brewery whose ale we had drunk at lunch) and from here turned East to trek up the downs again on the path back to Jevington.