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Set out this morning with the intention of walking by Birling Gap but the plans fell apart when my walking partner called to say that they were ill 🙁

So  I considered my options and decided to visit the Long Man at Wilmington again, I am due to take a friend there, so I thought it prudent to remind myself of the climb.

Amazingly, given my recent history, I found it easy to ascend past the Long Man, sailing up the hill (yes I did sound like an old tramp steamer) and over onto the fields seaward of the hill.

The views are spectacular in the area, seeing Seaford and beyond on the seaward side, and Arlington etc inland.

Instead of heading towards Lullington I picked up the path into Friston Fores, a decision never to be regreted 🙂

The Path I took was a wide path spliting the forest, and it was bathed in sunshine, it has some ascents and descents that are enough  the make you work but not overly strenuous.

The magical element though was finding butterflies and dragonflies dancing in the air above the sunlit path.

I would have liked to take the path down to Friston Place but dark clouds were gathering and you can guess who left his coat in the car, some 4 mile away !

Thankfully the rain was a mere sprinkling and I didn’t get a drenching.

the walk back, once out of the forest, was fairly level with the exception of the descent back past the Long Man which is good for waking up the thigh muscles !!

Further pictures and 2 short videos can be found here

Just a short walk today as I left it late (around midday) and it had got warm and muggy.

Parked up at the carpark by the mills at Clayton and set off for Wolstonbury.

Strolled up the hill and then looped back viewing Red Earth’s sculpture Fold then headed back

As I had set off without bringing a drink I erred on the side of caution and went back to the car,

with an earlier start and carrying fluids I would have probably gone on the the Beacon  or further.

Yep, I’ve finally got round to revisiting Fit and Fuggared – the walk across the seven sisters,

And, yes you’ve got it, I never managed the walk from Birling Gap to the Golden Galleon and back.

I (and my body) had fogotten how savage the hills are, the first sister soon reminded me,

I mentally split the walk into 4 stages for each direction:

1. From Birling Gap to the ladder stile
2. From the ladder stile to cairn
3. From the cairn to the seat by the gate
4. From the gate to the Golden Galleon

Although this walk isn’t long (8.5 miles in total) compared to the walks I have been doing is brutal and demanding, both physically and mentally.

By the time I reached Stage 2 I knew I was struggling, and threw in the towel at Stage 3

I cannot believe I couldn’t face an 8.5 mile walk after doing one of double the length a fortnight ago 🙁

I have done this walk last year, I will be revisiting it and having another crack or 3 at it !

I have included a picture just the other side of Stage 1, looking back at the ladder stile and the imposing slope facing you :-O The easiest climb is up to the righ, unfortunately that takes you towards the cliff edge :-O