Saturday 11th
October 2008
Washington -
Chanctonbury Ring - Steyning Round Hill - Cissbury Ring - Findon - Sullington
Hill - Washington
14 miles
Getting a long walk
completed during daylight at this time of year requires getting up very early in
the morning, so 7am saw us thundering down country lanes, through thick morning
fog to the village of
Washington. From here
Chanctonbury Ring is usually visible, but not today however, as the hill
tops were still cloaked in low cloud.
We made our way through fields where the sheep looked like small clouds floating
in the mist, before ascending steeply round a giant
sinkhole, through broadleaf woodland, and up to the hill top. Here the fog
was much thicker and the sun appeared as just a pale disc, giving the ring an
even stranger and more eerie appearance than usual.
By the time we reached Steyning Round Hill and our meeting with the
Monarch's Way the autumn sun was beaming and all the chill of the morning
had completely gone. Downwards we plodded along bird infested hedgerows and
fields of meadow pipits and skylarks to a quiet spot called No Man's land. Then
it was steeply upwards again to the ancient hill fort of
Cissbury Ring which we tackled from the east this time before walking
westwards through its heathland centre. Here amongst the numerous stonechats we
also spied a
whinchat and flocks of
twite.
The downland views on this 8 hour walk are superb and the flint and chalk track
undulates like the flight of a woodpecker all day long. The exertion to the body
and the stimulation to the senses, leaves you with a warm fuzzy
feeling in both your muscles and your mind that will last you all week. So what
are you waiting for, give it a go!
Arrival at Washington
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Chanctonbury Ring wreathed in the morning fog
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No Man's Land with Cissbury Ring in the background
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Shaggy Scalycap mushrooms (Pholiota squarrosa) that were growing at the
base of a beech tree.
This common species is not particularly poisonous, but it is inedible.
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A male Stonechat with some lunch
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Acorns from the Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)
Sullington Hill