Читать книгу Walks in the South Downs National Park онлайн

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Halfway down the slope the way forks. Continue directly ahead, and at the foot of the hill you’ll reach a junction of tracks. Bear left, then almost immediately veer right on the continuing broad track to the Long Man. This rises gently between trees and scrub, and near the head of the slope enters Lullington Heath Nature Reserve where the way is flanked by gorse. In springtime the blackthorn bushes are fluffed with blossom, the speckled hills rolling away to the right appearing even more attractive than usual. Keep ahead to arrive at another junction of chalk and flint tracks, from where you gain a lovely view left to the westward continuation of the Downs, with Alfriston seen below in the Cuckmere valley. Go ahead to a second track which you then follow to the right. This soon curves left and takes you through a gateway into an open hilltop field. Across this you come to a bridle gate. Before going through this gate, pause to enjoy the backward view – an uplifting panorama that includes the coastline virtually from Beachy Head to Seaford Head; the large chalk outline of a white horse on the slopes of High and Over; Alfriston once more, with Bostal Hill above it; and projecting spurs of the South Downs stretching off to the west.