As I’m sure you are aware (as an avid reader), when we took on the South Downs Way in July, we took had to take a shortcut at the end of the second day as the weather got really bad. Well, as Andy and I are perfectionists, our failing had been particularly troubling. The job needed to be finished. So before the summer disappeared we headed out to fill in the Missing Link on the South Downs Way.

It does seem like history is repeating its self, as there was engineering works on the Lewes railway line, and another London to Brighton bike ride meant no bikes on the Brighton railway line – so I had to cycle all the way. I was meeting Andy at House Dean Farm, where we deviated from the route back in June. I started early and it was really lovely weather, and due to the London to Brighton Bike Ride, Ditchling Beacon was closed to cars. I paced myself well, and got all the way up in one go (which doesn’t happen very often).

From the top of Ditchling Beacon I retraced our route along the South Downs Way. It was really quiet and the views were amazing, with mist in the Weald to the north, and when I got glimpses of the sea to the south there was a low lying haze as well. It really was a nice ride.

Re-tracing to South Downs Way as it descends from the high downs through lower valleys and wooded sections. I remembered most sections from a couple of months ago, but the difference in the weather was dramatic. The weather was so nice today, and it turned really nasty last time we cycled this route – in fact most of the tricky bits were even tricky in the rain. I got down to House Dean Farm in plenty of time and a good opportunity to eat my first cheese sandwich (risky as I only had two!). House Dean is on the A27 just outside Brighton and Falmer, but looks like it has a nice campsite, there was also a steady stream of cyclists on the cycle-path joining Lewes with Brighton.

Andy arrived on time, and we took the bridge over the A26 and headed back up into the South Downs. Although the path was first very fast downhill alongside the railway. We soon started climbing again, up wide chalk paths, with only one narrow section with tree roots that we had to walk up. I’ve not been to this part of the South Downs before, but I’ll come back. The views over Lewes were tremendous. When you are in Lewes you are only vaguely aware that it has a castle as it is hidden in the middle of the town. However, from the ridge we were cycling on, it is really obvious, a why it was built where it is. The South Downs drop down either side of the town, to allow the River Ouse to get to the sea at Newhaven, and the castle is built on high ground right in the middle of the gap – a perfect defensive position from an attack from the sea.

The views from this part of the South Downs were spectacular, especially as the path dropped down to Southease and the River Ouse.

At Southease there is a YHA Youth Hostel on the route with a nice cafe. It seemed we were too late for breakfast, but a cup of coffee and a big slice of cake provide suitable fuel for the last climb up to Firle Beacon. Andy has failed to cycle up this path on many occasions, so he was determined to get up it this time. He was successful, mainly due to a bit of luck where a runner held a gate open for him. I did pretty well but had to walk for two short sections, one up to the gate and the other section was the grassy slope near the top where it got steeper and steeper. I didn’t manage to catch to runner who held the gate open for Andy.

Once on the top, the main challenges were over. As we cycled past the aerials at the top of Firle Beacon, the sheep seemed to be herded in a strange pattern. It took a second glance to realise that they were seeking the very limited shade from the aerial. Soon we reached the Firle Beacon car park, and the missing link has been closed.

With the South Downs Way completed, we headed down to the coast and back into Brighton. We drop down from Firle Beacon into Newhaven on good paths, and eventually hit the small roads in Denton. This then led to the cycle paths into Newhaven, which seemed pretty jammed with traffic. It turned out this was due to the level crossing being closed. We then took the NCN route 2 out of Newhaven which included a very long climb up Gibbon Road, which in turn lead to really nice tracks long the cliff path of Peacehaven. These are Andy’s old stamping grounds so he knew the all the shortcuts. Eventually we got to Saltdean and dropped down onto the undercliff for a easy run into Brighton.

We soon got to Black Rock where we spilt up, Andy heading home and hoped to meet up with a friend who had cycled down on the London to Brighton bike ride. Brighton was very busy with the bike ride, also the Brighton Triathlon and an Extinction Rebellion gathering. I met up with Sue and we cycled along Maderia Drive, just catching half a song from The Levelers at the Concorde 2 venue for the Extinction Rebellion festival.

From Brighton we took the easy way home along the A23 cycle path. Most of it is busy and very noisy, but it is pretty direct and fast. It was a bit of a shock when compared to the peace and quiet of my ride out this morning. In the end I cycled about 80km with 1,250 metres of climbing to fill in a relatively small gap in our original attempt of the South Downs Way. Its been a good day out, and we need to plan other trips – the North Downs Way, The Ridgeway – who knows!