BeenThere-DoneThat Blog

No not the avian variety but something a little more special. We are talking fungi here - Bird’s Nest Fungi.

Amanda found these in our garden and neither of us had seen this type of fungus before. The individual ‘nests’ are between a quarter and a half inch in diameter.

Although it’s not a very scientific description I think they’re rather cute really.

We went for a three and a half mile walk this afternoon and I took a few photographs which turned out to be appropriate to my previous post and my remark about knitting.

First choose your wool.

Then decide what colour you’d like it to be.

Next you’ll need a large vat in which to dye the wool.

That’s just the job.

So I’m all set. All I need to do now is catch my wool - I may be some time.

The clocks went back last night so now it will be getting dark around 5:30 this evening although of course it’s now lighter in the morning. It is now eight weeks to the shortest day. We succumbed a week or so ago, when it became really quite chilly, and turned on the heating for the first time since summer. Now of course it has turned quite mild again - you can’t win.

This Spring, Summer and Autumn have not been very good from our point of view. We seem to have had a constant stream of low pressure systems coming off the Atlantic so that the longest spell of sunny days seems to have been only around 3-4 days before the weather deteriorated again.

It would have been nicer to have had some longer sunny spells so that longer trips of up to seven days would have been possible. It was much the same last year. The weather forecasts have been laughable at times changing completely from one day to the next which made trip planning a bit difficut.

Perhaps I’ll give up photography and the web site and take up knitting - at least one can do that whatever the weather.

We go home today but have decided to call in to Scotney Castle, in Kent, on the way but before any of you castle fanatics get overexcited, especially those of you who’s names begin with ‘M’, let me explain that there is very little castle but a lot of garden.

By the time we’d had breakfast, paid our hotel bill and driven to Scotney Castle it was a little after 11:00, they don’t open until 11:00 anyway, but the car park was nearly full; well it was a sunny Sunday after all.

We entered the grounds in a wooded area so couldn’t see very far until we reached a more open bit then went round a bend and saw this …

Nice view! We walked down the slope towards the ‘castle’ and arrived by the moat. The castle stands on a small island in the middle of the moat, which is more like a lake than a moat, and access is via a stone bridge.

The castle was built in the valley of the River Bewl around 1378-80 and, like Bodiam Castle, it had round towers at each corner only one of which remains. Some hundreds of years later a house was built here which incorporated the remaining ruins of the castle.

This shows a bit more of the ruins across the moat and that bright yellow plant, which I thought were flowers of some sort, turned out to be brightly coloured leaves. Very pretty though.

This shows a better view of the house which is, I believe, Tudor.

We went into the house, which is more or less empty, to have a look around but I didn’t find it particularly interesting. I did take this next picture whilst upstairs showing the area in the front of the house. The stone object in the centre of the circle is the old well head and, in the distance up the hill, can be seen the later Victorian Mansion. The mansion is open to the public but we didn’t go in.

We made our way back up the hill which is where I took this picture of the front of the Victorian Mansion.

Just around the right-hand side of the mansion is this little terrace where the old house/castle is just visible below.

As it was now lunchtime we adjourned to the cafeteria for a light lunch and headed back to the car. People seemed to be pouring into the place now and there seemed to be cars parked everywhere and not just in the car park so we were glad that we arrived relatively early.

That was the end of another trip and, we thought, a particularly nice one. We both liked Eastbourne very much and the coastal scenery is not to be missed. I’m sure we’ll go back.

We both have aching legs this morning so nothing strenuous today methinks. After breakfast we decided to have a look at the old town area after having passed an interesting half-timbered building on the way back on the bus yesterday so we walked up there.

There is very little left of interest in the old town and I gather the morons that passed for the local council were still demolishing historical buildings in the 1970s. The old church is still there dating from the 12th century, the Lamb Inn (the one we saw from the bus - 1st picture below), another half-timbered house (2nd picture below), the old parsonage  3rd picture below) together with an old barn/coach house and that’s it really.

We went back to our hotel for morning coffee and then drove off to Seaford Head where we parked. We had been here before for time enough to take a picture of the well known view of the Seven Sisters with the cottages in the foreground but that was all. We knew that there was a large area designated as a nature reserve which went right up to the cliff edge so we wanted to have a look round.

We turned right off the main track along a footpath which, we could see on the map, went to the cliff edge and soon found ourselves at a place called Hope Gap. This, like Birling Gap, is a point in the cliffs where it’s possible to get down to the shore with the aid of a few steps.

We hadn’t know about Hope Gap so it was an interesting find. Down the steps we went to potter about on the sea shore. We also discovered that the best possible view of the Seven Sisters, barring using a boat, is from this point; either from the shore or up on the cliffs. In the next picture you can see the Hope Gap steps, the shore (only when the tide is out) and the Seven Sisters.

Where the tide had gone out it had left a wave cut chalk platform with many shallow rock pools. We had a look in a number of pools and saw some shrimps and small fish but nothing else. Someone we spoke to said they’d seen a few crabs but we were hoping to see some sea anemones although we were out of luck.

There were some large blocks of cliff on the shore in places where the cliff had come down but they were much harder than chalk. Probably some sort of Breccia of which there are some in the next picture. The head and shoulders belong to Amanda.

If you count ‘The Sisters’, not including the extreme right-hand headland which is not part of them, you will probably count only six. That is because, starting from the left, number five is actually two lumps but the first is jutting out and partly obscuring the next so that they appear as one from this viewpoint. The low point between the last ’sister’ and the headland on the right-hand end is Birling Gap.

Between Seaford Head, where we are, and the first of the Seven Sisters is Cuckmere Haven Beach which you can see in this picture.

You can see here that parts of the chalk cliffs which form Seaford Head have a significant depth of a brown deposit on top. This is Loess which is a wind-blown sandy deposit which tends to collect in the valleys probably at the time of the last ice age. Water running over these deposits tends to run down and stain the chalk cliffs below.

Having had a good look around we headed back to Eastbourne and having parked our car at the hotel decided a walk along the seafront was in order. We could hear the sound of music in the distance and found that a brass band was playing in the Bandstand on the the promenade so we had to stop and listen for a while. The seagulls obviously don’t understand good manners as two of them, at one point, were perched on top of the Bandstand screeching their heads off.

When we had almost reached the pier we saw this very colourful display of flowers.

Going onto the pier we arrived at the Victorian Tea Rooms which I’d mentioned on our first day. We didn’t go in, although it looked very nice inside, because it was getting near to dinner time and we didn’t want to be tempted by any scrumptious looking cake. Next time perhaps. The dome beyond the tearooms is the Camera Obscura which was closed when we were there so we weren’t able to go in.

We spotted this little structure which I assume must be a shelter of some kind. I suppose that if, while walking on the pier, it starts to rain it would offer some temporary respite. We rather liked the view seen through the glass divider.

We walked back to the Wish Tower, near our hotel, so I’ll leave you with this last view of the seafront at Eastbourne taken from the hump on which the Wish Tower stands. Amanda has decided that she loves Eastbourne and, I have to admit, there is something about the place. A typical English seaside resort without the usual tastelessness that often goes with it. A rather attractive, grand and genteel town.

Tomorrow we leave for home - but ….

We woke to another sunny day so the prospects for today’s planned walk look good! After breakfast we walked out of our hotel at 9:15 and down to the seafront by the Wish Tower where we turned west. We had about a mile to walk along the seafront before we reached the footpath on the Downs, going past The Grand Hotel on the way and you don’t know what grand is until you’ve seen ‘The Grand’. Rooms start at around 190 GBP per night; a little more than we would want to pay. The Grand is the white building and you can see the Downs in the distance where we are headed.

The seafront road climbs quite gently such that it doesn’t really notice but after a while when looking back we could see that we’d already gained some height. We soon reached the footpath and started up the Downs towards Beachy Head and now it was noticeably steep. Part the way up I stopped to take a picture of the view which was a good excuse for a brief rest.

Some way further on (and up) we spotted a bench seat so we stopped there for about ten minutes to let a party of noisy school children go past and the noise faded as they disappeared into the distance. We eventually reached the Beachy Head area and had travelled two and a half miles so far. From this point we could see the Belle Tout Lighthouse where we were headed next and from the edge of the cliff the Beachy Head Lighthouse was also visible.

My - tha’s a long way down. Walking along the top of the cliffs the views include the sea, the downs and glimpses of the chalk cliffs - absolutely wonderful. The little figure ahead is Amanda and the white headland on the horizon is Seaford Head. Immediately this side of Seaford Head is Cuckmere Haven almost at the end of our walk and in between here and Seaford Head you may just be able to make out the Belle Tout Lighthouse just to the right of Amanda’s head.

A little further on and a bit nearer the Beachy Head Lighthouse Amanda photographed me photographing the lighthouse just before I fell over the edge.

Don’t for a minute think that we are walking on level ground. It’s all either up or down, some of it quite steep as you should be able to appreciate in this view.

You may notice that the the bottom of the next dip is out of sight down the steep slope but at least the Belle Tout Lighthouse is a bit nearer although there are two of these troughs to negotiate before we reach it. Looking back towards Eastbourne the Beachy Head Lighthouse is still visible and how do you like the look of that last slope we’ve come down not to mention the one we’ve just had to climb.

On the way along the cliff tops we saw a number of Clouded Yellow butterflies which was very nice but none of them would stop still long enough for me to take a photograph. We (that’s Amanda in front) are about to negotiate the last trough before the Belle Tout Lighthouse.

Hooray! We’ve finally reached the Belle Tout Lighthouse. Next stop is Birling Gap and that’s not very far now.

The lighthouse was moved 56 feet further inland in 1999 to save it from going over the cliffs as erosion progresses and it apparently is now being prepared for opening to the public.

After walking down the slope from the Belle Tout Lighthouse Birling gap is within sight. Total distance from our hotel to Birling Gap is about five miles.

It is now 12:15 so this is where we break for lunch. After lunch we head up the track visible on the right-hand edge of the picture and on to the Seven Sisters.

It was about this time that I realised that my pedometer was under reading slightly so I’m going to wait until the end of the walk and compare the pedometer reading with the distance I know the walk to be having measured it accurately on an Ordnance Survey map.

After lunch Amanda decided her legs weren’t up to going over the Seven Sisters with their many ups and downs, especially with some of them being rather steep, so she caught the bus round to Exceat where we arranged to meet and I set off up the track towards the Seven Sisters at 1:15 PM.

The walk up to the first hump wasn’t too bad at all and the view looking back, showing the Belle Tout Lighthouse from this side, wasn’t bad either.

The walk over the Seven Sisters was really quite pleasant with some amazing views and I soon found myself on the last but one hump looking at the top of the next, Haven Brow. But oh my goodness - look at the steepness of that final upward slope to the top.

I did make it, however, and here I am on top of Haven Brow, the most westerly of the Seven Sisters, looking down on Cuckmere Haven with Seaford Head beyond and only one and a half miles to the tearooms. 

I finally arrived at the road in Exceat at 3:15 PM to find Amanda waiting by the gate. That was a total distance of eight and a half miles from our hotel with five hours of actual walking and most of that route is part of the South Downs Way.

We went over to the tearooms for afternoon tea and caught the bus back to Eastbourne. An exceptionally nice day with regard to both the weather and the scenery. I’d love to do it again sometime.

Tomorrow, I think, will be an easy day.

We left home in the morning on a gloriously warm sunny day heading for the Sussex Coast. Our first stop, however, was to be Battle (1066 and all that!) and they have some peculiar parking arrangements in Battle. The abbey has its own car park for which you have to pay and you have to pay again to go into the abbey so we weren’t going to do either of those things. The other council run car parks are pay and display but in the Pay & Display cark park off Caldbec Hill there is what they call an overspill car park (unsurfaced) which is free and, consequently, it is very popular. We did actually find a space but it took a 99 point turn to get into it because there was so little room to manouevre.

We had been here last year when Marie came over but I forgot to take a photograph of the Abbey Gatehouse (silly me) so I rectified that omission this time.

We had arrived in Battle shortly before lunchtime and now it was lunchtime so we looked for somewhere to get a light lunch. We found a delicatessen, Battle Deli, which was also a little teashop and went in there.  We both enjoyed our lunch very much and I had the nicest soup I’ve had in a long while. Very good value. Recommended.

Not far from the car park was this ancient house.

Now there’s an interesting shape.

A short way past the abbey is this view. The field on the other side of the gate is called ‘Lake Field’, although I don’t know why as there isn’t any lake, and was bought by the National Trust to preserve the view. It’s a view worth preserving.

We decided that it was time to move on and headed for Eastbourne. Once settled in we went for a walk along the seafront. It had clouded up a bit by this time but was still pleasantly warm. We drove through Eastbourne, along the seafront, with Marie when she was over here and staying in Rye and it looked quite impressive then so we were very interested to be able to have a good look this time.

It certainly seems a nice town. There were a lot of rather grand buildings, mostly hotels, along the seafront and they looked well cared for; no peeling paint. There was a pebble beach and a pier.

We walked along the pier and were able to catch this view in the evening sunlight.

Nice pier and very well kept with some interesting little buildings including the ‘Victorian Tea Rooms’ and a Camera Obscura which was closed - pity.

So back for dinner and wait and see what the weather brings for tomorrow’s walk.

Just arrived back from our latest trip to the South Coast. We stopped off at Battle on our way to Eastbourne where we were staying for three days. Carried on to Eastbourne and went for a walk along the sea front. That was Thursday.

On Friday we walked 8 miles from Eastbourne along the coast to Exceat via Beachy Head, Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. What absolutely stunning scenery that is.

On Saturday we had a walk round Eastbourne and visited Seaford Head for the best views of the Seven Sisters barring a boat trip.

Sunday back home via Scotney Castle in Kent. A more detailed report will follow shortly.

Goldhanger is a small village, in Essex, not far from us and this weekend they hold the annual ‘Goldhanger Gala Weekend’ and we paid them a visit yesterday (Saturday) morning.

They have a second-hand book sale in the church, an art show in the village hall, a display of classic cars, Morris Dancing etc. We didn’t see the Morris Dancing because it didn’t take place until the afternoon and we left about midday.

It’s a nice little village as you can see and the pink house on the left has ‘1750′ moulded onto the wall.

There were a number of classic cars crammed into the rather small village and things were, it has to be said, a little chaotic.

The green one in the foreground is a ‘Talbot’ although I don’t know the model or the year of manufacture. The church and pub, The Chequers, can be seen beyond.

We had a look around the book sale where Amanda bought a few books and on our way out through the church porch we heard a little cheeping sound. Looking up near the roof we spotted this.

Three hungry mouths - baby Swallows - waiting to be fed and the parent birds did vist fairly frequently whilst we stood there. It seems unusual for a brood to be produced so late in the year; after all they have to build up enough strength to fly to Africa for the winter. I did ask them to post a trip report on the forum when they get back next summer but you can’t trust these birds so don’t hold your breath.

After leaving the church we decided to go for a walk along the river wall and went out of the churchyard via this unusual stile.

We made our way down to the river and although the tide was out leaving large areas of mudflats exposed I took a picture simply beacause I liked the colours and the same for the view over the fields.

This is Amanda on the river wall as we make our way back to the village seen in the distance.

We said our goodbyes to Goldhanger and went home. Goldhanger is near enough that we could come back anytime for a walk round and I hear the the pub does very good food.

Today saw us toddle off to our nearest station to watch the Winton Train pass though travelling from Harwich to it’s final destination - London.

Winton Train web site

One of the reasons we went was to see ‘Tornado’, the locomotive pulling the train, because we haven’t seen it ‘in the flesh’ before and because it was built only last year.

Tornado web site

Needless to say the experience lasted only a few seconds at the speed at which it was travelling but we’re glad we went.