Ditchling Tearooms

On a sunny but breezy morning after a night of heavy rain, I met Anton and John Clark at Selsfield Common at 10.15. Anton had already put the miles in by cycling from his home in Haywards Heath to Three Bridges to collect the other riders – just John as it happens! This meant he could alert us to some flooding by Wakehurst Place, which had subsided a little by the time we arrived. We carried on, avoiding Lindfield down Plummerden Lane and on to Wivelsfield via Slugwash Lane. I was happy to take the unearned credit from Anton and John, for the all the neat arrow signs showing us our route! At Wivelsfield we were surprised to see a control stop and many muddy rather tired walkers. They were doing a sponsored walk from London to Brighton and had started the previous day. We chatted to some and encouraged all of them as we cycled past them, being glad that we were on our bikes. They left our route about half way down Streat Lane and I hope they had a good off-road route over the downs.

We enjoyed our wonderful view of the Downs and cycling along them, not up them, along Underhill and into Ditchling tearooms at 12ish where we enjoyed our lunch.

We then returned to the bottom of Ditchling Beacon and cycled further along the downs towards Clayton and Hurstpierpoint College. Quiet lanes to Ansty, short A road and up into Cuckfield. Here Anton being near home again decided no more miles were required of him and left us and John took the ‘fracking’ route (though after the Queen’ s speech this could sadly be anywhere and everywhere) back to Crawley to be home in time for tea.  I made my way home via Borde Hill through a horse event and Ardingly, where I enjoyed a welcome cup of tea and cake in the newly re-opened ‘Gallery Café’ there. Up Chilling Street, one of my favourite roads in this beautiful part of Sussex and home, still in lovely sunny  weather.

I had done 50 miles in total by the time I reached home but if any of you are tempted to join a similar ride in the future there are trains from Hassocks and Wivelsfield and even Cuckfield I think.

Thanks Ros, sounds like a nice ride.