[Sussex] Getting out into the countryside

[AmexRuislip]

@herecomesaregular doesn't drive, mate.

Apologies, I didn't realise

We are NT regulars at Ightham Mote, Emmet's gardens, Knole, Sheffield Park and so on.

These are some of our favourite haunts.
Went to Chartwells on Sat last, beautiful place to visit
We normally frequent Cliveden and Wimpole for the walks.

But we have loads of places to walk round here near Fav. Miles more than I ever recall in Sussex.

Unfortunately my knee and back are preventing my enjoying a walk, presently.
Or a cycle. Painful.

Hopefully after the knee replacement (May or June) thinks may perk up a bit.

Best wishes

Hoping you have a speedy recovery.
I couldn't handle it if I cannot go walking.
Claremont Landscape Gdns, Winkworth Arboretum are lovely places to visit.
All the best

 

[LamieRobertson]

It's the shrink-wrapped t shirt that does it.

Now that if true would not be a pretty sight…u still going out in your lycra?

 

[queens park pete]

Thanks for all feedback, loads of good suggestions for me to look into. Saw an excellent physio at Stanford surgery who's given me some exercises to strengthen my knees (doesn't think the fluid is much of a problem more that I have very bowed legs and weak knees). If I can get back to how I was I'll be delighted and will definitely be doing some of these routes.

I work as a walking guide for a holiday company and see people in their 80s with bionic hips knees and pretty much everything else putting 40 year olds to shame week after week.

Walking poles can make a big difference to the impact through joints and also build confidence. Trick is to descend slowly and to sit down regularly to recharge. That's why there are pubs and cafes!

 

[Curious Orange]

Seems to me that you and I live fairly close to one another, love the North Downs me!

I have always been pleasantly surprised by the amount of Albion fans you spot around Guildford, especially given the place used to have a Chelsea Club Shop back in the day!

This thread inspired me to do a loop around St Martha's to Newlands and back at lunch. Beautiful.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Even though I am just north of London I can walk or drive to the Lea Valley Park and have a park and woods across the road from my house. It was so important to have those close during Covid. Still miss my younger days and walks by the sea in Sussex.

 

[Motogull]

I spent 20 years 'over the road' from the Ashdown Forest. A lovely place. Now, I'm not that far from the river Medway - walkable (alongside) from Rochester to Tonbridge and the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims Way.

 

[Weststander]

I spent 20 years 'over the road' from the Ashdown Forest. A lovely place. Now, I'm not that far from the river Medway - walkable (alongside) from Rochester to Tonbridge and the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims Way.

Do you like the centre of Rochester? Went there once, a secondary school trip to the castle in 1977! Looked historic and interesting.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Join the National Trust.
They have endless amounts of green spaces, walks and historical houses to mull over.
You make your money back with about 3 visits.

Not sure that you make your money back, but the average cost of your visits reduces the more visits you make. Think membership is about £160 a year for a couple. Personally I find National Trust admission prices expensive and I haven’t forgiven them for taking my money during Covid, whilst refusing to re-open venues.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Not sure that you make your money back, but the average cost of your visits reduces the more visits you make. Think membership is about £160 a year for a couple. Personally I find National Trust admission prices expensive and I haven’t forgiven them for taking my money during Covid, whilst refusing to re-open venues.

I do see yr POV.
As we have a joint Mr & Mrs membership and do visit lots of properties, the well spent £160 gets repayed.
NT is a business and has evolved so to compete with other family orientated venues.
I just guess it's a personal choice.

 

[BN9 BHA]

@herecomesaregular
As you don’t drive I can recommend catching the train to Southease and walking towards the river, if you cross over the bridge there are flat paths along the river towards Piddinghoe or the other way towards Rodmell.
If you’re struggling with mobility it’s just a nice area to just stroll to the river from the station.

 

[amexer]

Stanmer is a criminally underused park. Get a bus up to the top of Ditchling Road and walk along the top and down to the cafe where you can pick up a bus back if you don't fancy the whole loop.

Far fewer people there now there are parking charges

 

[queens park pete]

Not sure that you make your money back, but the average cost of your visits reduces the more visits you make. Think membership is about £160 a year for a couple. Personally I find National Trust admission prices expensive and I haven’t forgiven them for taking my money during Covid, whilst refusing to re-open venues.

NT isn't just the posh houses. Large tracts of our loveliest countryside are bought with those membership fees, including a fair chunk of the Seven Sisters, Ditching Beacon, the Dyke, Slindon. It's the reason there is a tunnel under Southwick Hill instead of a huge cutting like we got through Stanmer Woods (not NT).Half of the Lake District and most of the nicest coastal bits from Lands End to Northumberland. I am sure they will have land in the Staffs bit of the Peak District too!

Plus when you visit those country bits you get to park there for free.

Didn't they give you a refund for membership during COVID, but only if you asked for it? And it was a bit of a ball ache to do it, admittedly.

I had a Railcard I used only twice that year and BR wouldn't offer any kind of refund at all!

 

[queens park pete]

Far fewer people there now there are parking charges

79 bus runs to Stanmer village and the 78 runs past the top car parks at weekends.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I know it's good for my mental health (and I've been v. v lucky in my life to backpack to some beautiful places in the world) but I realised today, living in central-ish Brighton, that I rarely nowadays "properly" get out into the countryside. Last time was a walk along the sisters from Seaford Head to the pub at Cuckmere Haven (my favourite Sussex walk).

I don't drive, and in fact for a month I've been suffering from painful fluid on my knees so my mobility is poor at moment, and all I do is wander around Preston Park, and sometimes down to "see the sea". Not exactly immersing myself in nature (and all the benefits to your mental health that this gives).

Where do you go?

In covid I regularly walked around woodvale and surrounding cemeteries, the grounds are massive and you'd never know you were a stones throw away from all the traffic

 

[Weststander]

NT isn't just the posh houses. Large tracts of our loveliest countryside are bought with those membership fees, including a fair chunk of the Seven Sisters, Ditching Beacon, the Dyke, Slindon. It's the reason there is a tunnel under Southwick Hill instead of a huge cutting like we got through Stanmer Woods (not NT).Half of the Lake District and most of the nicest coastal bits from Lands End to Northumberland. I am sure they will have land in the Staffs bit of the Peak District too!

Plus when you visit those country bits you get to park there for free.

Didn't they give you a refund for membership during COVID, but only if you asked for it? And it was a bit of a ball ache to do it, admittedly.

I had a Railcard I used only twice that year and BR wouldn't offer any kind of refund at all!

I’m glad to support the NT. They’ve saved so much heritage and countryside.

Then it’s a bonus that most years we enjoy Nymans, Chartwell, Hinton Ampner, Standen, Batemans, Sissinghurst, etc.

 

[queens park pete]

I’m glad to support the NT. They’ve saved so much heritage and countryside.

Then it’s a bonus that most years we enjoy Nymans, Chartwell, Hinton Ampner, Standen, Batemans, Sissinghurst, etc.

Bloody expensive chutney though!

 

[Weststander]

Bloody expensive chutney though!

So’s the victoria sponge at Ightham Mote, before we had kids so about year 2000 the tight bastards served thin 1/32th slivers at £3. 25 years ago, making almost £100 a sponge .

 

[Bodian]

Where do you go?

I went through this gate recently on my way towards those fells. There's a house just behind me, and chatting to the owners I did ask them 'do you ever get bored'?. They said they didn't.

Rather spoilt up here I'm afraid.

 

[queens park pete]

I went through this gate recently on my way towards those fells. There's a house just behind me, and chatting to the owners I did ask them 'do you ever get bored'?. They said they didn't.

Rather spoilt up here I'm afraid.

View attachment 197760

What a dump. This whole country is going to the dogs!

 

[Bodian]

What a dump. This whole country is going to the dogs!

Indeed. I did actually come across a crisp packet [empty] later in the day.