South Downs Society

Special Taster-Walks on offer in November in the Western Weald

The South Downs Society is holding two special taster walks in the Western Weald in November.  The walks are part of a programme of over 300 walks and strolls that are organized every year by the conservation charity the South Downs Society.

The first walk will start from the Rising Sun in Milland at 10.30am on Tuesday 25 November 2008.  The walk is 6.5 miles long, and will pass through the Milland Valley, one of the most attractive parts of the Western Weald, including the hamlets of Borden and Trotton Marsh.  Walkers will visit Coombe Pond, which is the site of an iron works, and is lovely in the autumn sunshine.  The Valley nestles below the stunning highpoints of Telegraph Hill and Dunner Hill, and walkers should enjoy some wonderful views.  Walkers will be back at the Rising Sun by 1.30pm.

And later that week, on Friday 28 November, a second walk will start from Lurgashall Village Green at 10.30am.  Lurgashall is a delightful village.  Several of the houses on the sloping triangular village green are traditional and very pretty tile-hung dwellings.   Walkers will pass through the graveyard of an 11th Century church, and climb gently till a clearing is reached just beneath the mighty Black Down, the highest point in Sussex and on the South Downs.  The walk is 5 miles in length and at the finish, walkers may care to have a well-earned lunch at the Noah’s Ark Pub, overlooking the village green in Lurgashall, where the walk will finish at about 12.45pm.

South Downs Society walks leader, David Herbert, said “Everyone is welcome on the walks, which are free, and are a great way of finding out about beautiful areas of the Western Weald and the South Downs, and of meeting others who love the countryside too.”
 
Peter Harris, who is leading the Lurghashall walk, said “The South Downs Society has been working hard to protect the beauty of the Downs since we started in 1923.  Another important part of the charity’s work is helping people to discover the beautiful nooks and crannies of the South Downs.  It’s amazing what treasures you’ll find on a relatively short walk in the area.” 

Walkers are encouraged to wear walking boots because the footpaths are likely to be wet in places. 

The Society is always looking for new members to support its work, and to become volunteers.  Jacquetta Fewster, Director of the South Downs Society, said: “We are particularly eager to recruit more walks leaders and countryside protection volunteers for the Western Weald patch.  Full support will be given.  Anyone who is interested in joining or becoming a volunteer is encouraged to contact the Society on 01798 875073, or email Downsmen@btconnect.com.”

Black Down, (c) Natural England/Anne Purkiss