1066 Country Challenge Walk - 23 Miles

Hello again dear Reader,

This was one of my last training walks before the big event. We had planned for a break down on the south coast, so this was just an opportunistic chance to get in some more practice.

We were staying in a beautiful village called Icklesham, near Rye, and I decided to cover as much as possible of the 32 mile 1066 Country Challenge walk. Looking at the map of the route, I decided to start from the cottage we were staying at, and to walk as far as I could towards Pevensey Castle, 27 miles away. I was reasonably relaxed about distances as long as I walked over 20 miles.

Here are a selection of images from the walk which I will put some narrative around over the coming week:

The house was spectacular with equally eccentric owners who made us really welcome, especially Rufus. I don't think the concept of walking the entire 1066 route was something they could comprehend, so I was eyed with a suspicious air of a madman when I declared my intentions. This view was evident when I asked how early I could have my breakfast so I could get an early start. "8.30am is the earliest". Oh well, no chance of doing the entire route. The lady of the Monor then proceeded to make a booking at their local hostelry for the three of us for an evening meal on the Sunday night after my walk. "It is booked for 7pm sir". Right, let's work this one out. If I walk at 3 mph for the entire route, and set off at only 9.15am after a hearty breakfast, it would take me until 9.15pm and I would miss "me tea" as they say. OK, time to adjust my ambitions for the day.



The grand Manor with the Lady of the House avec hound complete with Porche!



This was the local pub we were booked into for tomorrow, and the start point for the walk. Here we were having a short walk to see the local scenery.

This is Paul McCartney's recording studios

Rufus hunting for rabbits again!

Here is the start proper. I set off around 9.15am and the weather was great for walking. Visibility was amazing.

Whilst I am was happy for Rufus to be off the lead amidst sheep, I was always worried in case he got shot, so put him on lead soon after this..

I thought this was an amazing shot of a cockrel next to a lamb.

Yes, and I was learning from the previous week, where I got sun stroke from not covering my bonce, so out with the crazy buff!

Here's the same view without the ugly obstruction of my face!

Here's the waymarkers for the trek.

At this point on the trek, I was absolutely in the middle of nowhere. It felt great to be so far from civilisation and car noise etc.

Always like walking along enclosed paths like this.

We had to cross a railway line. Good job nothing was coming with Rufus posing for this shot!

These were the weird styles we had to squeeze through all along the route.

HEre we entered a beautiful meadow. This shot does not do justice to the blaze of colour as we entered this field.

As I got to the end of the meadow, I entered some scrubby woodland, whcih saw the path come to an end as a local land owner had decided to build electric fences across the poblic footpath. What a twat! You cannot block a public footpath. The right to roam overrides everything. I carried on regardless, as nothing will stop me and my right to walk a public footpath. I had to lift Rufus over each and every electric fence and then climb over, risking my nads at each fence.

Idiot land owner blocking foot path.

Eventually, I had to climb a tree to vault over the final illegal fence whcih meant dropping Rufus over, whilst I scaled a tree to avoid ripping my gear on the barbed wire fence.

Eventually, I came onto a golf caourse. Another annoying man made obstruction to my right of way. THis is even worse than the previous electric fences. You are made to feel really bad, as most golfers feel we have no right to be there, as they pay exorbitant green fees to hit a tiny blob around my landscape. I was once walking a beach with Rufus and Karen when we erred onto a Link golf course. As we were looking for the right route, a really nice chap said, "yeah, get back to the fucking beach!" - Hmmn, yes, charming.

Can I have a pooh on that nice putting green over there? Yeah, go for it Rufie.

We eventually got into a nice bluebell wood.

Forestry paths.

Eventually, I came into Battle, whcih was about the halfway point for the days walk. It was a celebration day with a village fete, with stalls and animals. I checked Battle Abbey and noticed it was English Heritage, so decided to go in.

Inside Battle Abbey.

Rufus was getting really hot and thirsty, so constantly looking for any option for a dip. Eventually, he opted for a puddle in the middle of the road.

Rufus cooling off.

This was near the end of the walk.

Karen was already waiting at Herstmonceaux, so I was jogging along in the end. Here is the very long straight drive to the castle at the end of the day.

The college is a science college, and here are the observatories. These featured on stars at night the next week, but they didn't see anything due to cl;oud cover. Ha!

Here I am at the end. Still capable of a smile!