Outings like this were the main motivation for buying this insulated backpack thing. I was slightly entertained by the fact that to the other commuters on the train this probably just looked like a boring laptop bag or something... but did in fact have a wine bucket, ice, and a bottle of English sparkling inside.

Unfortunately the train was delayed en route, it should have only taken an hour and a half to get down to Hassocks, but in the end it was over two. Anyway I got there eventually, and here's a photo of the South Downs on the walk from Hassocks.

Getting closer to the downs.

On Underhill Lane now. Quite hot actually! About 32 degrees.

Quite a slog getting up the hill but I made it to the top of Ditchling Beacon - here's the trig point to prove it.

The sun hanging low in the sky now. I think the official time of sunset today was 20:27 today, so still just under an hour to go.

The bottle of Everflyhyt I had brought with me (and lugged up the hill!) with the vineyards to the south of Ditchling.

I think this would be a great marketing shot for Everflyht! You can see the vineyard a bit to the right of the neck of the bottle.

Delighted to be back in one of my favourite spots.

I thought it important to document the wine bucket, which I had also lugged up the hill.

The sun, about 20 minutes before officially setting.

Some lens flare as well here.

The sun going very red.

A bit like those Miss Saigon posters.

Pretty close to the official moment of sunset now, and it does indeed seem to be disappearing behind that hill.

That's it, the sun has set!

Still some light remaining, and it was so nice being here that I eeked it out for as long as I thought I could get away with.

Setting off back to Hassocks now - it occurred to me I'd need at least a bit of remaining light to get safely back down the hill.

On the walk back down the hill.

Even stinging nettles looked rather beautiful in this light.

One final shot of the last glowing embers of the sun.