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Dewpond in the Nature Reserve
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Steep Hill- The Chalky paths lead
us to the top of Steep Hill.
489ft high.
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Our walk today takes us to the Downs above Lancing in West Sussex. We were planning our next walk when Paula received an email for a commission to be painted in the Lancing area.
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| View towards Worthing on our way up to the trig point. |
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Trig point on Steep Hill
(First Jaffa Cake Stop
Armed with rain jackets, boots and Jaffa Cakes, we set off. The Dewpond above is near our starting point at the Lancing Ring Nature Reserve. We chose this 4.5 mile walk because of the stunning views, we were not disappointed.
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| View to Sompting and Worthing |
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| Hazy view of the sea facing into the sun. |
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| Wartime Remains of trenches leaving markings on the surface of the land. |
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More battle scars of the war. Coombe Head Copse in the distance.
The trees were at our half way point. |
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| Most of the South Downs is used by working farmers these days. |
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| This is the path just walked, the rain caught up with us here, hence the spot on the lens. |
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Our Second stop for Jaffa Cakes
We stopped here for more Jaffa Cakes, and to take in the lovely views. We are on top of the Downs in the middle of nowhere and there is only the sounds of the birds to break the silence.
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| The path to come, looking ahead to Coombe Head Copse |
Our walk turns to the left now and gives us new views of the Adur Valley down to the coast. We can also see the air traffic too-ing and fro-ing from Shoreham Airport, and the ever prominent structure of Lancing College Chapel dominating the skyline.
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| Lunch Break. Sandwiches and Jaffa Cakes. Old concrete from the War |
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| The view ahead to the old (disused) Beeding Cement Works |
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| Towards Beeding Hill and inland |
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| Overlooking the Adur Valley with the old Power Station in the far distance. |
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| As we come downhill we overlook Coombe Farm |
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| Lancing College Chapel looms on the horizon. |
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| Heading to the botton of the valley we see Cowbottom Hovel. A Shelter for cattle in the Winter months, its a very old flint wall square where the cattle could shelter behind its tall walls out of the biting cold winds. |
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| Next to Cowbottom Hovel, we have no Jaffa Cakes left and have this very steep hill to climb. |
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| On the hill we find Mayflower in blossom. Looking across to Valley Farm. |
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| Sheep grazing overlooking Shoreham |
Coming up the last hill, our feet are telling us that we have completed our first 4.5 mile walk this year so far. All we need now is some coffee while we plan our next trip out.
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| One of my favourite buildings, Lancing College Chapel |
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| Inside the Chapel. |
The resulting painting from this walk is "Lancing Down"
Thanks to Paula Oakley for the photograph
http://paula-paintmyworld.blogspot.co.uk/
