In Reserve

BRIGHTON TO LEWES VIA THE RACECOURSE, BEVENDEAN DOWN, WHITEHAWK RACE HILL, RED HILL, PLEASANT MOUNT, WOODINGDEAN, CASTLE HILL, KINGSTON NEAR LEWES, THE COCKSHUT AND RAILWAY LAND

This is my third attempt at reaching Malling Down and, once again, I failed. The place is developing a mythological status; Malling Down, a euphemism for a destination unobtainable. This aside, the walk was a revelation. I've attempted to include a number of nature reserves, deserving further exploration, which has resulted in this quirky and less than direct route. No surprises there but Whitehawk Race Hill and Castle Hill turned out to be lovely and walking through the Cockshut Nature Reserve to the Railway Land revealed the rarity and specialness of this chalk grassland and chalk stream. If this is not what you are looking for, a more efficient walk in the drection of Kingston is just as easy. You can get a bus to the Royal Sussex County Hospital from Burgess Hill or a train from here and a 7 or 27 bus from Brighton Station.

The walk starts outside my workplace and I can tell you, there is no better feeling than rocking up at seven in the morning and then swiftly moving away from the building and into the sunshine. Not only that, I had to explain to two of my colleagues I passed en route, that I was not coming off a night shift and I wasn't working today. I was also able to observe the hospital from many angles as I went on my way, with the satisfaction of a woman with a day off.

Take Upper Abbey Road north, on the left hand side of the entrance to the hospital. This will take you to the appropriately named Whitehawk Hill Road. Go straight up, past the transmitter, to the race course and to the right of the track. As you travel over Manor Road, you have to recognise that this was once someone else's manor. You are crossing the centre of Whitehawk Camp at the nature reserve. The contours of this once monstrous causewayed enclosure are visible in places and the 5500 year-old remains have been much excavated. Many staff park up here, having no special access to parking at the hospital and so it was, I encountered quite a few going in the other direction.

Cross the tarmac track and take the next right as it heads northwest to cross the race track at the gate. After Warren and Bear Road, continue north and eventually descend into Bevendean. Make your way onto Plymouth Avenue and take the steps as the road turns left. Go west on Upper Bevendean Avenue and then take the steps up to another nature reserve. Before the second gate, head east on the grassy track. This follows the line of Heath Hill Avenue below. I feel I probably did not examine this reserve sufficiently before descending onto the road at the back of Bevendean Primary School. I noticed you could access the trees on the north side and took the next steps which only made their way out on to the road above. This is an unnecessary diversion but I made my way down to Bodiam Avenue and onto the last stretch of Heath Hill Avenue. At the southern end is the recreation ground. Skirt the grass on the western side and scramble through the bramble at the corner. Following the edge of the trees, I had to duck under and electric fence before reaching the track east-west. Heed the stop sign and go west to join Drove Road. Cut the corner and cross Warren Road. Back at the racetrack, follow it a little east and cross it here by the gate.

Once again, I was able to look at the hospital from a distance. On entering Sheepcote Valley, you can enjoy the seaviews and looks across to East Brighton Park. As you continue in this line, you can see the spire of St Mark on Eastern Road. At the first opportunity, bear left. I had a lovely sit down on the sculpted bench in this area. Continue south and make your way east to the bridleway on the western side of the golf course. When you can, take the bridleway east to cross the green. Bag the trig at Red Hill, if you like. At the junction, switch back north and then  bear east at the next junction, towards Wick Bottom. Pleasant Mount is obvious to the east and go up when you reach the junction. Another trig point is in the field to the south.

Join the tarmac north to Woodingdean. Go straight past the school and join Downsway. At the end of the road go right and join Falmer Road. The sign on the road indicates you are now entering the South Downs National Park. Ignore the byway on the left and take Norton Drive to join the bridleway on the left of the antenna. You'll be walking on the edge of Bullock Hill.

Standean Bottom was lovely and surprisingly sycamore-lined. Apparently Balsdean was a lost village at this location, requisistioned by the military for firing practice in 1939, never to be occupied again. After the post-war derelict barn, take the access path just above it and head northwest.  The two paths merge. This is Castle Hill National Nature Reserve and I was not alone in enjoying the birds and plants. Along with the twitchers, I bumped into my future self, browned and alone, doing the circuit in the other direction. We had both daydreamed about the barn and what could be done with it before being on our way.

At the junction with Newmarket Hill, take the byway east to join the South Downs Way and Juggs Road. The views open up in all directions as you leave the valleys tucked down below. Lewes with its cliff lies beyond. Leave the South Downs Way and continue into Kingston near Lewes. Short and steep. Ashcombe windmill is visible, as if an all-time landmark. A surprise to find out it has been rebuilt, just a decade a go.

When you reach the village go right on Church lane. Pass the recreation ground. Sports Day was just underway and the 13th century St Pancras Church was cloaked in scaffolding. Join The Street and go northeast to the Juggs. I had an excellent and well-timed lunch.

Continue straight over the junction on the footpath on the left of the school. Pass through Spring Barn Farm and join Kingston Road. A little way along, on the right, take the path northeast to the newly created and wonderful Cockshut Restoration Project. I had no idea chalk streams were such rare habitats. You can do a circuit but my hot feet were hurting and I continued on this section of the Greenwich Meridian Trail under the A27. Still continuing with the Cockshut, it seemed rude not to follow the footpath as opposed to the bridleway because it had been lately strimmed.

Follow the path around the tip and take the Ouse Valley Way north, under the railway, on the bank of the Ouse, to the Railway Land Nature Reserve. Another place to explore, that I have never been to, before joining the roads westward to the Station.