12 May 2024: A Brighton Circumnavigation

This was my lockdown ride, which we did in September 2020 – no trains, no cafes, small groups. Riding it again, it seems a bit hilly, but then that’s Brighton for you! Of course there is no shame in walking up the hills, and that is probably what I’ll be doing.

The ride was initially inspired by the discovery of a lovely wooded path near Preston Park station. This path, and other bits of our route, could, and should, have formed part of the Brighton Greenway, but they didn’t. I will probably have more to say about that on the ride.

The route is basically from the Level to Queens Park, then Bevendean, Moulsecoomb, Stanmer, Patcham, Westdene and Preston Village, finishing off in Trafalgar Street. For lunch, either bring your own or have something at Stanmer Tea Rooms (which is what I’ll be doing).

Meet at the Level, near the café, at or before 10am. The ride is about 16 miles long.

Jim.

Next ride: Sunday April 14th – Portslade to Shoreham

From Portslade Station via cycle path through Greenleas via Hangleton to Devils Dyke Railway Path to Dyke Road. Dyke Road (alternative South Downs Way to Saddlescoombe) and either Wild Flour Cafe for coffee or Rushfields Garden Centre at Poynings Cross Roads. Poynings, Fulking, Edburton.

Alternative 1: Bridleway to Truleigh Hill, then either bridleway to Southwick or Youth Hostel Road to Mill Hill and Shoreham with a stop at YHA cafe;

Alternative 2: Bridleway to Upper Beeding; for those not wanting to go off road follow Henfield Road to Rising Sun roundabout at Upper Beeding. Lunch at Rising Sun or other places in Bramber. Downs Link to Shoreham and tea or coffee stop.

We leave Portslade Station at 10.00. If anybody wishes to join me please confirm with me (via Nick) by Friday April 12 otherwise I might set off earlier!

Dave.

(PS although there is engineering works on the West Coastway on April 14th, trains will be running from Brighton to Portslade. The 09:30 Littlehampton train looks like the best bet – Jim.)

Next ride – Tuesday 2nd January, 2024

Annual new year cycle ride: Brighton Palace Pier to Carats cafe

Meet at the Pier at 10.30 am. Hopefully we’ll be able to cycle all the way to Carats cafe.

Nick

Next ride: Sunday December 10th: Brighton Palace Pier to Shoreham’s Port Kitchen

Port Kitchen is a cafe in Shoreham. The blurb says “come and watch Shoreham Port in action and enjoy panoramic views across the lock gates and out over the harbour”. The cafe welcomes cyclists and has bike sheds on site.

Meet at the Palace Pier at 10.30.

Please reserve a space on Eventbrite for this cycling & coffee event.

2024 rides:
Don’t forget to put the Clarion ride to Carats cafe on 2nd January in your 2024 diaries (10.30am departure from Brighton’s Palace Pier).

Next ride – Hassocks Circular – 15th October 2023

Those interested in attending next Sunday’s ride should register on the Eventbrite link here.

A 20 mile circular ride. We leave Hassocks station and head for Hurstpierpoint.

Leaving the village we join quiet country lanes to weave our way to Bolney where we stop for lunch at the Bolney Stage pub.

After lunch the quiet lanes continue to Twineham where we join a short bridleway that takes us to Sayers Green. From there we can choose to ride on the B2118 road, or on the shared pavement, to Albourne.
Then it’s back to Hassocks through Hurstpierpoint.

A few inclines but many more long downhill swoops!

Catch the 10.26 Victoria train from Brighton or meet us in Hassocks car park at 10.36.

Return trains to Brighton leave every 10-15 minutes.

Tessa 07887 489900

Next ride, Sunday 24th September: Redhill Circular via Outwood

It’s an incredible seven and a half years since we last did this ride, according to the website. You can read Tessa’s report of that occasion here. Sadly, on the recce ride I learnt that one of the key features of this ride – the café at Redhill Aerodrome – no longer exists, although we can still have a quick ride around the access road for old times’ sake. (I think we last visited the aerodrome in 2017).

Happily the Moors Nature Reserve and Holmethorpe Lagoons are still there, and full of birds and water. So is Spynes Mere reserve, although worryingly, all mention of that name seems to have disappeared from the noticeboards, and in fact the noticeboard itself at Spynes Mere has been stripped of information. Nevertheless the cormorants and other birds are still very much in evidence.

A coffee stop is possible at the Inn on the Pond. Lunch once again at the Bell, Outwood. (The Dog & Duck has reopened, but does not appear to be doing food).

Start at: Redhill station, platform 3 exit at 10:45. Distance: 18 miles.
Terrain: About a third of the ride is off road on good paths. Mainly flat with just a slight rise on approaching Bletchingley. Outwood Lane is 3.5 miles of well-surfaced, quiet road. We return to Redhill on leafy paths and shared-use pavements.
Getting there: Catch the 09:39 Victoria train from Brighton and change at Three Bridges onto the 10:27 Bedford train (20 minutes to change platforms).
Getting back: Trains leave Redhill at 3,9 and 33 minutes past the hour, with one change.

Jim.

Next ride: Sunday 3 September: Chichester Circular via Centurion Way, West Stoke, Fishbourne, Salterns Way and Chichester Canal (Picnic Ride)

This ride features some of the countryside in the immediate vicinity of Chichester, including a ride along the Chichester Canal, which was originally part of a network of waterways, along with the rivers Wey and Arun and the Wey & Arun Canal, that were used to carry vessels from London to Portsmouth in the early 19th century. It is 17 miles long, over half of this being on cycle paths and the canal towpath, the rest being mainly on lovely quiet lanes.

Start at Chichester Station at 11:30.
Getting there: Catch the 10:30 Portsmouth train from Brighton.
Getting back: Trains leave Chichester at 54 mins past the hour.

Bring a picnic!

Tessa and Jim.

This ride was originally devised by Julian Arkell, and last done in August 2022.

Clarion ride 27 August 2023: “The Back of Beyond”: Lewes to Berwick via East Hoathly and Muddles Green

Starting from Lewes Station we will sample the delights of some of the most Clarion-friendly lanes in Sussex, possibly punctuated by a coffee stop at Ringmer. Our lunch stop, the King’s Head in the delightful little Sussex village of East Hoathly, is just over half way. After lunch, we depart from the route followed on previous versions of this ride, and proceed to Muddles Green with a possible visit to Farley’s Farm, the home of the Penrose-Miller family with its history of Penrose’s surrealist art and Miller’s photography, although it doesn’t look like there will be much going on there on this occasion, except for a very expensive “surrealist picnic” which is probably sold out. Thence into the lovely flat, open countryside to the north of the Downs, and so to Berwick Station. If the café at Farley’s is closed (which it probably will be) we can have a tea stop at Arlington Reservoir to avoid a possible long wait at Berwick station.

Length: 25 miles. Duration: about 6½ hours, including stops. Terrain: Flat – we never go above the 75m contour, and any “climbs” we might encounter are gentle ones. There is a very short section of the B2192, but otherwise quiet lanes.

Getting there: Catch the 09:17 Seaford train from Brighton to Lewes (get a return to Berwick). Ride starts at 9:40 from the platform 1 exit at Lewes station.

Getting back: Trains leave Berwick for Brighton at 57 minutes past each hour.

Jim.

Next ride: Late Summer Picnic, Angmering-Brighton Sunday 20th August

This is a one way 18/19 mile ride starting at Angmering station and following the coast back to Brighton.

We head south from Angmering station and into the private estates, weaving our way eastwards, through East Preston before regaining the coast road. We stop on the grass or beach for a picnic, (and swim for those inclined) before heading on to the promenade by Sea Lane, Goring by Sea. We continue on the coast through Worthing to Shoreham where we turn inland before regaining the coast at the locks beside Carat’s cafe. Then its coast road back to Hove/ Brighton.

An easy flat ride, especially if the wind is coming from the west.

Bring a picnic and catch the 11.00 Southampton train from Brighton (11.04 from Hove) to Angmering, or meet us at Angmering station at 11.38

Tessa

PS if you are new to Clarion rides, we ask that you travel with a spare inner tube for your bike, in case of punctures.

Next Ride: Sunday July 30th: Lewes station circular, via Kingston & South Downs

One windmill, one prison and one bronze age burial site. Opportunities for refreshments in Lewes at the end of the 14 mile ride.

Travel details: 9.58 Eastbourne train from Brighton to Lewes. 10.30 cycling start from Lewes station.
Nick.