3 Men on a walk 2017: Another "Up & Over" the South Downs

Plumpton loop over the Downs

Despite relatively favourable weather forecasts the night before, it turned out to be a pretty "dirty" day with light drizzle and low cloud, especially up on the top of the hills. Still we decided to brave it and this was a walk in an area not really familiar with us and particularly the hike up the face of the Downs from the tiny village of Plumpton.

We parked up next to the village pub - always a good incentive to walk fast and complete the trek! - and immediately hit a trail which goes straight up the escarpment and doesn't take prisoners. This was one of the steepest climbs for many a month and at the top we entered mist from low cloud and patches of snow from the recent blizzard that passed over us last Thursday evening.

Once up on the crest our route took us gently down the southern relief before we turned west and then took the long slow climb back up to the northern rim again. a quick turn east along the South Downs Way took us back to the trail we had climbed up from the pub and so we quickly descended it again right into the door of the Half-Moon for lunch.