Night hike on the South Downs

Walking on the South Downs

Remember Remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot… It was our intention to head out onto the South Downs on this very evening to look at the fireworks from Lewes and across Brighton.

The start point was Ditchling Beacon car park, with a walk eastwards towards Lewes and their famous bonfire procession. The fireworks are always spectacular and world renown and we were hoping so have a grand view as they lit up the night sky in a myriad of colours, sparks and bangs loud enough to split your ear drums.

We set off and strode across to find a vantage point, we were on a mission to get as far as we could as time was not on our side. We needed to be back at the minibus by 10pm. Slowly the clouds started to wind their ways across the Weald bringing with them the spots of rain that you don’t really want when you have left your waterproof trousers back home.

There is something wonderful about a night hike. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps the peacefulness of the night, perhaps the companionship of the darkness. We walked with our group of Explorer Scouts along the South Downs Way, most of it unrecognisable from cycling the South Downs Way or from the walks in the daytime. Perhaps that is what makes a night hike wonderful. It is more of an adventure, everything seems different you can’t see the sign posts, but you can see all little pin pricks of house lights and street lights strewn across the landscape, making it look like a different world.

As we hiked with Lewes in our sights, the clouds came in. The few fireworks we could see in the distance all but disappeared. We got as far as we could, time was against us and so was the timing of the Lewes fireworks. We has to turn round. The rain came down and we hadn’t seen a single Lewes firework, then bang, flash and a few fireworks lit up the sky behind us. Then as we crested the next hill, they disappeared from site and the rain, clouds and darkness accompanied us back to the minibus.

It was a very enjoyable 6 miles across along the South Downs Way and back. The cloudy, rainy weather made it feel very desolate, like we were the only people around after some terrible accident. But on the same hand it was very peaceful and you could certainly feel that you were out on the hills. Next year we will get nearer to Lewes so we can see the fireworks properly. Nest year will be full of moon, stars and crisp frost underfoot. Next year, remember the 5th November.