The High Weald
Posted on Monday 10 August 2009 by Thomas James
A forecast of sunshine on 2 August brought a record number of riders out for the season. Even though I had taken the leader’s prerogative and made the rendezvous London Bridge for a change, this not deterred and thirty-one keen cyclists, both regulars and newcomers, awaited our day out in Sussex.
We left Haywards Heath to the north east and, after a few practice hills, took a larger climb across the Ashdown Forest and then down to the Medway Valley.
We made fast progress and arrived for lunch at Hartfield (centre of Winnie-the-Pooh country) twenty minutes before opening time. The thirsty riders then divided between the two village pubs. Both provided good meals and beer; the Haywaggon won narrowly on speed of service, although one of our fellow diners there was a little cyclist intolerant.
A lengthy climb after lunch back into Ashdown Forest and to Four Counties Viewpoint (some debate in the group as to which and whether Sussex counts as one, two or maybe three counties) and then a bucolic decent to the Ouse Valley and tea in the large tearoom adjacent to Sheffield Park Gardens.
To complete the day, a quick puncture break (our only one – not bad for thirty one riders), a swift return to Haywards Heath and back in London by 18.00.
Map of the ride here.