Having done the walk yesterday, happy to inform you that the closed Giant's Rest in Wilmington is now the open Long Man Inn. They didn't have a card with opening hours etc so best to check their website.

Thanks MG. It's a great setting so good to know there is something open there. All - the website says the pub is open all day and lunch service is 12-230

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7 arrived at Berwick on the train on a day of sun cloud showers and very strong wind on top of the Downs . Having read the comments on this walk we decided to try going to Wilmington via the Wealdway (start of walk 90). Although it was perfectly passable we encountered nettles, brambles, wild roses and broken stiles so goodness knows what the standard route would have been like. Hundreds of butterflies flew out of the hedgerows to meet us - I think they were painted ladies. Great view of the Long Man from the Wealdway approach.

Most of us picknicked in Wilmington then joined our dining correspondent for a quick drink in the re-christened Long Man Inn. Food and beer were pronounced excellent, the staff were very enthusiastic and the walls were festooned with Long Man-themed artworks in various styles - definitely a venture worth supporting.

On to Jevington at a fast pace, up the hill and into a very strong west wind which made the walk to the A259 a real battle. Three of us got the bus from there and were surprised to be in time for the 1705 train, so we eschewed the delights of Eastbourne and jumped on it. The others were reported to have reached the bandstand on the seafront around 5.30; hope they had a nice time there.

Advertises itself.

I would advise you to bear in mind the comments posted earlier this month regarding the section of this walk between Arlington Reservoir and Wilmington.

Intend going.

National Rail says 9.24 train cancelled. I will try for the 8.54 train.

National Rail no longer saying 9.24 cancelled

Have the walkers on this outing been abducted by the Long Man of Wilmington? queue danger music 🎶 🎶 🎶

Six walkers at Berwick station set off in slightly drizzly weather which improved after a bit, negotiating some difficult stiles and slightly overgrown paths early on in the walk but nothing too challenging for us SWC people. We did unfortunatley lose one of our number by the Long Man of Wilmington, a new walker from Hastings and apologies to him - the group got a bit fragmented at this point and after the up and over bit here we inadvertently split in two groups and did different routes to Jevington. I'd agree in retrospect that sticking to the South Downs route and skipping Folkington looks nicer, more open views. Two ate in the Eight Bells, sounds like it was pretty good, others sandwiched by Folkington church or in Jevington. The afternoon has grand scenery even on a dull day and the descent coastwards is lovely. One took a shortcut to the bus,remaining four walked into Eastbourne and three finished with liquid refreshments and caught the 6.35pm train, the other having got the train before. Very nice, companionable day out.

6

slight drizzle mainly dull

Eight off the train under bright and sunny skies . On our way towards the Long Man after our loop along the reservoir, we encountered another (who had arrived on an earlier train) sitting on a stile....making for 9. Some stopped for an aperitif at the Giant's Rest while other pushed on towards Jevington along a route that contours along the downs. Most picnicked on the hillside just before Jevington and one managed (with much patience, I believe) to get lunch at the rather swamped Eight Bells...Others tried to have a drink but found the process too frustrating...and decided to carry on...Various endings were taken into Eastbourne, some involving a bus....In Eastbourne, 3 enjoyed an idyllic evening swim before regrouping with a few others for a very tasty and hugely efficient Thai meal at the little cafe just behind the station....19:00 train for this group....

13 walkers on a hot and sunny day. 11 set off from Berwick, including at least 3 first timers. We had some difficulty with the instructions early in the walk, but we were helped out by a friendly farmer who promised that a new, clearly marked path alongside a new fence, would be in place within a few weeks. We picked up another 2 walkers at the Giant’s Rest in Wilmington. They were the only pub lunchers. The majority of the remaining group picnicked beside the 1600 yew tree in the churchyard of St. Mary and Peter. The church is well worth a visit and we were especially fortunate to have among our group a learned authority who pointed us towards the easily missed, ancient carvings engraved in the church walls. After lunch we continued just below the imposing Long Man of Wilmington towards the village of Jevington. Some stopped for refreshments at the Eight Bells pub. The 7 who pressed on had believed the Jevington tea garden to be shut, only to learn later that it had in fact re-opened in April. Others, we understand, had taken the opportunity to sample its delights. A light sea breeze was very welcome as we headed on over the downs and into Eastbourne. 2 found time for a refreshing swim in the wonderfully warm and clean sea before meeting up with 3 of the others in time to take the 6pm train back to London. A really lovely walk on a near perfect, if slightly too hot, day.

13 hot and sunny

Intend going.

Is it only me who gets asked to do a walk report with comments like make it funny and not too long

and then references to how good Mr M Tiger reports are with words like 'pithy' and 'Northern humour'

So doing my best here you go

14

glorious

Good lunch at 8 Bells

Nice flora and fauna

Excellent company

Short and that will have to suffice as Tiga has set the funny bar way too high. Pooh

I am going to do the Walk Tomorrow. But what we got to be Cautious about. When we take the Train from London Victoria. It could be absolutely packed like anything. Due to the Weekend Engineering works at London Waterloo and London Euston.

13 Seven on the platform at the allotted time and five came later after problems with a cancelled train. Beautiful walk with some walkers taking their first course in the first pub and their second course in the second pub. A small group didn't fancy the walk into Eastbourne so decided to take the bus. The rest of us walked along the seafront and got some chips for the journey home, which alas, was marred by delayed trains. All in all though, an enjoyable day out.

We searched in vain for the Jevington Tea Rooms. I thought I knew where they were, but it appears to be a private house and garden now, so it looks like they have gone. Still, the Eight Bells does a good pot of tea and chocolate brownie.

If Southern cancel the 947 get on the 950. It gets to Berwick at 11:20. You need to change in Brighton. You only have six minutes to change platforms (currently 5 to 8) you are looking for the Eastbourne train calling at Berwick. Good luck with that.

Does the wry 'Good luck' comment mean this appealing walk is no longer really viable tomorrow? Is the Southern 'strike'(I've seen the earlier posts about this)a continuing problem? Thanks.

It is impossible to say. Random trains get cancelled. If you are unlucky it will be the outward train, but the comment below specifies an alternative. Last week we went an alternative route on the Southbourne to Chichester walk to avoid Southern trains but had a short connecting train get cancelled, while the direct Southern one from Victoria ran on time. But we were only 20 minutes late starting the walk. On the return leg, the trains were fine. It is random.

Looking at some 'live running' train websites I would say that roughly 5-10% of Southern's south coast services are being cancelled because of "issue with train crew". Saturday isn't an official 'Strike Day' but this ongoing disruption seems to be the result of the RMT union encouraging their staff to report sick at short notice. See Walker's comment on the Forum page for more details.

If you're delayed by half an hour or more you can claim compensation and get part of your fare back. However, it's a fiddly process (surprise!) and even if everyone did this I don't suppose it will get this tetchy dispute settled any sooner.

11

dull

No issues with Southern trains.