Quiet lanes, rural pubs, neo-nazis and an old workhouse.
Celebrate Easter by dressing up (optional) – an Easter bonnet, fancy dress, and Easter egg, your plus-fours and tweed, or whatever.
Getting there:
Step boldly onto the 11.09 from Brighton to Lewes. The train
continues to Seaford, so there should be lots of room for bikes. (If
you miss this/can’t get on it, the 2 coach Ashford train leaves at 11.20 arriving shortly after the Seaford train. But ring or text me on
07901533876 if you are doing this).
Leave the station by the side entrance on platform 1 to avoid the road works. Meet your intrepid leader in the car park at 11.30, by the platform exit.
The ride
About 19 miles of gently undulating countryside. A longish, gentle
uphill through Spithurst after lunch but nothing too serious. The
general trend is up towards Newick and Down after.
We start by navigating craftily through the back alleys and secret cycle ways of Lewes to emerge at the base of the new cycle route to Ringmer (not yet open) 100 metres of A26 follows and then a left turn onto bucolic Wellingham Lane. We then visit Barcombe mills, passing over the toll bridge (no charge for cyclists).
We then keep straight ahead past the old Barcombe Mills station to reach the Royal Oak at Barcombe where we will take lunch in this unspoilt local pub. We then cruise up the incline through Spithurst and visit Newick, with its attractive village green.
Behind this rural charm is something else. Green Party tellers say that in the last election only Peacehaven had more votes for the BNP than Newick (in Lewes district). Quickly we descend to Chailey where there will be the opportunity to sample the delights of the Horns Lodge pub if you wish. The pub wins all kinds of awards but the landlord wants out, saying that it is too much work. We then visit the site of the Chailey Workhouse, now bijou dwellings, before returning towards Lewes using tiny lanes through the East Chiltington area.
Finally there will be the opportunity to sample the fleshpots of Lewes including the hole in the wall tea facility in delightful Grange Gardens, before returning to Brighton by trains which run 3 times an hour.
I have booked a table for 8 at the Royal Oak in Barcombe, so I need to know numbers. Please email me on Travelman@travelloglewes.co.uk or text me on 07901533876 BEFORE 2PM ON SATURDAY APRIL 4TH SO I CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS. EASTER SUNDAY WILL BE BUSY!
Chris Smith