Viva Lewes Issue #140 May 2018

COLUMN
Walkies
#15 Blue remembered hills
I think I may have forgotten what the colour blue
actually looks like. I have a vague idea it’s a primary
colour and every morning I glance out of the window
to remind myself. That’s right, of course, it’s another
word for monotone grey with a few dark smears.
Perhaps the English winter would be easier if our
senses were dominated by smell and not sight. And, if
we were furry, to keep that 50% chance of rain at bay.
We’ve decided that Todd, our regular canine walking
companion, is perfectly adapted to an ‘average’ UK
weather day.
Except that today is very definitely not one of those.
We seem to have woken into a brave new world. Not
quite Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds but certainly
Van Gogh on the Downs with a Serious Glint in his
Eye. This is wildflower heaven. Brush strokes heavily
laden with paint of every imaginable shade of yellow
have been daubed onto the intense green. And up
above... yes, I’m absolutely certain I’ve seen that colour
before somewhere. The sky is actually blue!
We meet Rachel and her two terriers, Soldier and
Bessie, at the car park at Bo Peep east of Firle and
head off east along the South Downs Way. Rachel is
in training for an epic 26-mile ‘South Coast Mighty
Hike’ from Brighton to Eastbourne fundraising for
the cancer charity, Macmillan (macmillan.org.uk)
and Sarah, Todd and I are doing our bit helping her
to get fit.
It has to be said it’s not exactly an onerous task.
Fellow walkers have swapped the head-down gritty
determination of recent weeks for cheery waves and
“Isn’t it just glorious?” smiles, finally confirming that
we’re not all completely mad for living on Mud Island
in the first place.
Even the dogs are joining in the general bonhomie
with much wagging of tails and sniffing of nether
regions. Just before we start to descend into the
Cuckmere River Valley, we decide to take advantage
of the stupendous views over the surrounding hills
and stop for a bit of ‘Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe’ à la
Manet. Perhaps sensibly, Sarah and Rachel decide to
remain fully clothed.
After a delightful meander - this time through a canvas
by Monet - along the river bank between Alfriston
and the White Horse at High Over where a gaggle
of paragliders are practicing their thermalling skills,
we make our way back to Bo Peep along the glorious
ridge line that overlooks the vineyards of the Rathfinny
Wine estate. It’s one of those walks that will
stick in the mind for years to come. Blue remembered
hills indeed. Richard Madden
Map: OL25. Distance: 7 miles. Terrain: Downland
tracks, fields, riverside paths and some steep climbs.
Directions: From Bo Peep car park follow the South
Downs Way into Alfriston before heading south along
the river to High and Over and following the bridleway
along the ridge back to Bo Peep. Halfway Pub: The
George Inn, Alfriston.
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