ADVENTURE BLOG

Distance: 15 MILES

This cruisy loop begins at the Bull in the pretty village of Ditchling near Brighton. Within minutes you're out on car-free tracks where you see the gigantic grassy mound of Ditchling Beacon rising up on your right. Luckily, you don't have to climb it. Instead, the route skirts the edge of Plumpton racecourse (listen out for the thunder of hooves) before you emerge onto quiet lanes that lead to lunch at The Plough (theploughatplumpton.co.uk). A refreshing pint or so later, and you'll be ready for the return leg back to Ditchling. By the time you arrive back they'll be serving up scones and splosh at the village teashop (ditchlingtearooms.co.uk). Treat yourself to the Ditchling De-luxe — aside from the requisite scone, you get a cream cake as well. Go on, you deserve it...

Stop and see: As you reach the end of the dirt track, pop your head inside the little church at East Chiltington. It's hardly changed in well over a century.

Eat, drink, sleep: The Bull (thebullditchling.com) has four smart rooms with Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy towels and the whole shebang. The menu changes daily in the pub downstairs but try the ham-hock pie if it's on.

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