Arrived at our second house sit in Hassocks as the owners were departing for a week camping. We immediately took the dog, Belle, for a walk into nearby Ditchling to settle her down. Very busy village on a Sunday morning.
Owners had made an effort to tame the chaos in the house so we all settled in for the rest of Sunday reading the very chunky weekend newspapers they have in England.
Next day was a classic dreary English day with the sky around your neck and constant mizzle interrupted by rain. We took the train to Brighton, 10mins away, to have a look around. Gay Pride week had just finished so still busy and plenty of "sights". Brighton's heyday was well and truly gone, quite tatty areas, but on a real summers day the beach would be heaving, the main street and esplanade busy.
The infamous Brighton pier, £2 to walk along. The dog was not keen....
Felt sorry for this old boy, determined to have his oysters from the shellfish stand, lack of summers day weather not withstanding. They even had swim flags out but no takers given the swell and cool temps.
Our huge responsibility in pink rain jacket at the Brighton train station
Next day was fine and dry so the South Down National Park was first up just a few minutes away. 160km walk from one end to the other if you have a mind to. We did an hour with the dog, those little legs can get along if she wants to. There are fabulous views to the north and out to sea with all the wind turbines.
We drove to Chartwell House, Winston Churchills home from 1922 to mid 1960's. Had a stunning aspect overlooking the Kent Weald. Extensive gardens that tumbled down the hillside and walkable woods. The walled garden was well kept with an impressive range of espaliered apple trees. Although a large house it had a family feel about it, quite light and airy.
As we were nearby we carried on to Hever castle, once home to Anne Boleyn, second wife if Henry V111. We had stayed at the accommodation there several years ago and had fond memories of the grounds and the local pub - Henry V111 of course.
Sadly in the intervening years Hever Castle has become more commercial with various stalls found dotted about the grounds and a couple of concert sound stages.
We walked up to the Henry V111 pub for a late afternoon tea only to find to our dismay " closed on Tuesdays".... raisin buns purchased at Waitrose on the way back to Hassock instead.
Used our National Trust card next day to visit Bodiam Castle. NT properties can cost €24 each plus €5 for parking. As NT members, seniors no less, we get in free at each NT property. Given the number of properties we have been to so far this trip our membership fee was well worth it.
Nearby heritage rail was running short trips in the summer from Bodiam to Tenderton
We continued to Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters on the south coast. Remarkable landscape feature with the chalk cliffs. These are in the South Down National Park and the beach is well visited by tourists and locals. Many walks originate from the carpark, which was rammed. We did an hour or so, the Crows link, with the dog, much to other walkers amusement.
There was a white horse on a hillside we spotted at Litlington similar to the prehistoric Uffington White Horse. Litlington horse was crafted using 6 tons of chalk by four chaps in 1836. It is 93 feet long x 65 feet high and now maintained by volunteers from the National Trust. It makes quite a statement.
This morning we walked to Ditchling again for a coffee. The Green Welly cafe is beside the village roundabout (white circle in middle of four way village lanes). Always lots to see. The owner is very affable and has decent coffee.
As we walk to the cafe we pass a very old house called Wing Place and happened upon the estate manager who told us the history. It had belonged to Anne of Cleeves, 4th wife of Henry V111, who kept her head. He gave her the house, in fact the whole block as a divorce settlement in 1540. Has been owned by various ever since, William Pitt, Duke of Wellington etc.
Today was gardens of note which we visited relatively nearby. First up was Leonardslee, 100 hectares of rhodos, camellia, trees, lakes and woodland. Great valIey setting giving plenty of aspect to show magnificent specimens at their best. We set off on a 5km loop with a small dog a willing accomplice. Planting began in about 1801 but really got some speed on from1889 with Edmund Loder. He was famous for hybridising rhododendrons, particularly Loderi. Huge creamy white scented flowers on large healthy plants. We had planted Loderi at Jefferswood. There were hundreds of these very old plants in amongst towering woodland trees. Must be amazing to see the 100 hectares in flower in amongst azaleas also. Sadly the grounds went to rack and ruin in 2010 after an " investor" purchased it. Saved by a South African weathly woman now brought back, with some serious hard work, to be enjoyed by the public.
Before and after photos are amazing, so much vision
Edmund Loder's father had a smaller garden of about 50 hectares called High Beeches which we also visited, not as dynamic but still definitely worth a stroll about.
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