09:19:59
I haven't been on a train for a couple of months, so it was a nice feeling to be doing so again.10:33:32
I changed at Haywards Heath for a train heading down to Worthing.10:44:11
The view of the South Downs just before the train passed Hassocks.11:41:20
After about a half hour getting through the urban sprawl of Worthing, I reached this point where the footpath leads out of town.
11:42:36
Almost straight away it's into a nice green space.11:49:09
Albeit that a big stretch of the path goes through a golf course.11:58:04
11:59:59
It actually turned out to be a bit warmer than I expected, and given the climb up the hill I was forced to take my jacket off.
12:01:44
The view as I neared the top of Cissbury Ring.12:03:36
12:07:26
Approaching Cissbury Ring now.12:13:24
The view from the top of Cissbury Ring.
12:13:30
12:13:35
Great to be here again.12:16:57
Lovely blue skies atop Cissbury Ring.12:17:05
A helicopter overhead.
12:17:18
The views even nicer in the other direction from Cissbury Ring, where there's a bit less urban sprawl in the way.12:40:12
I brought some of Jean Marie's Bourgogne Rouge along with me to accompany lunch, which I decided to have here atop Cissbury Ring.12:41:56
I think this is while lunch was cooking.12:49:07
12:50:08
I decided to relocate to actually eat lunch, as I wanted to have a slightly different view.12:50:13
12:51:41
12:55:29
A couple more bottle shots en route to where I was aiming to sit and eat lunch.
12:55:42
12:57:38
12:59:24
Now all set up and in a sheltered spot (thanks to a gorse bush) with a nice view, where I could sit and eat lunch and enjoy a glass of wine.13:00:14
Me and my lunch - nothing very special, just an improvised soupy pasta dish I threw together from ingredients I grabbed as I was leaving home this morning.
13:00:20
Lovely in this setting though.13:18:10
Time to continue with the walk I think!13:21:06
I finally found out what those loops on my backpack are for.13:21:41
Is this possibly a dugout tumulus?
13:23:20
This looks like it would be a spectacular spot to sit and have a glass of wine.13:23:45
Alas very windy here today! I was glad of my gorse bush slightly higher up the hill.13:29:49
Some cows.13:32:32
Looking back down the track to Cissbury Ring.
13:51:13
This track would handily lead me pretty much all the way to Chanctonbury Ring.13:59:31
There's Chanctonbury Ring over there.14:01:16
Where the track meets the South Downs Way.14:01:57
Always happy seeing those SDW sign posts.
14:07:36
Approaching Chanctonbury Ring, looking very windswept and dramatic. The weather had also changed noticeable since I'd been on Cissbury Ring - much more moody now.14:09:32
14:09:40
14:10:43
14:16:26
I paused inside the woods atop Chanctonbury Ring for a little while for another glasss of wine, and to enjoy the view.14:29:02
14:31:22
Leaving Chanctonbury Ring now.14:31:23
14:31:28
14:32:15
Me with Chanctonbury Ring behind me.14:32:21
14:35:19
14:41:35
I had originally considered trying to walk all the way along the South Downs Way to Amberley from here, but alas there wasn't really enough daylight left, so I ultimately decided to head to Washington instead.14:54:44
Goodbye for now, South Downs Way.15:03:41
I came to the road here, where I could have waited for a bus, but decided instead to walk into Washington and wait there instead.15:08:05
I think the cycling version of the South Downs Way follows the road here.
15:13:37
I had a few minutes to spare before the bus so popped into the Frankland Arms for a swift pint of Harvey's.15:16:19
I sat out in the garden so I could see the bus in case it came early.15:50:01
At Pulborough station now. Oddly someone had left an assortment of sweets on the arm of this bench.15:58:39
Another glass of wine on the train on the way home to London.
16:06:20
Very pleasant trip.