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London to Brighton - 55 miles, September 2001.
During 2001, in an effort to do something 'different', I decided to undertake a walk from London to Brighton. After all, I had driven it several times on the LSMOC Mini Runs, cycled it several times on the BHF Bike Rides, used the train numerous times - so how about trying to walk it too? I had walked 30-ish miles in one go during the SDW walk and at other times, so I figured I had a good chance of doing it. Rather than try the whole distance - without anything in the way of training beforehand - I decided to make this attempt a two-day effort. I thought I would 'see how far I can get' on the first days walking to judge my ability to cover the whole distance in one go. Then I would carry on, from the point reached, on the second day. The walk seemed easy to plan - all I had to do was plan a suitable walking route, get the transport and accommodation sorted out - and go! My daughter Helen asked to accompany me on the first days walk.
In fact the walk worked out a little differently from the plan. These are the stages that were actually done:
| Date | Stage | Distance | Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/9/01 | Westminster Bridge to Hooley | 16 Miles | 5:30 | With Helen |
| 15/9/01 | Hooley to Horley | 10 Miles | 3:15 | |
| 16/9/01 | Horley to Cuckfield | 13 Miles | 4:00 | |
| 28/10/01 | Cuckfield to Brighton Palace Pier | 16 Miles | 3:55 | |
| 55 Miles | 16:40 | = 3.3 Miles/Hour average speed |
Saturday, September 15th.
Helen and I started on a bright and sunny morning, at Westminster Bridge, at 07:20. We set off down the A23 through Kennington, Brixton, Streatham, Norbury and Thornton Heath, arriving in Croydon (10 miles) at 10:20. At this time, our pace was good. Carrying on it was clear that Helen was feeling a little weary, so when we got to South Croydon we stopped for 20 minutes for a very welcome tea and toast. Carrying on, we went through Purley and Coulsdon and arrived at the 14 mile marker. Helen felt as though she had walked 114 miles, not 14! We decided to call Gilly to come and pick Helen up. Still walking down the A23, we met Gilly at Hooley (16 miles). Helen stopped there - having done well for someone who had done no training. I carried on solo through Merstham, Redhill and Salfords, arriving in Horley (26 miles) at 15:30. This was the planned end-point for Day 1. I did feel however as though I could have done perhaps another few miles - but at the time did not have the route map as the route from Horley deviated onto the B2036 to Cuckfield (as I dont think the A23 has a walkway all the way through Gatwick Airport, and south of Pease Pottage).
Sunday, September 16th.
On another bright morning, Gilly dropped me off again at the Horley end-point I had reached the previous day. At 09:00 and armed with a map, I started south again down the B2036 towards Cuckfield. This route took me past Gatwick and Crawley and down through seemingly endless country lanes to Balcombe (34 miles) and finally Cuckfield (39 miles). I realised that I could not get any further, as blisters etc. and general stiffness had set in! I limped into the centre of Cuckfield at 1:00pm, having called Gilly to pick me up there.
Sunday, October 28th.
For the final stage, Gilly dropped me off in Cuckfield, by the Church, where I had finished up at the end of the walk on September 16th. On an unseasonally warm morning, I strode off south, taking in Ansty, Burgess Hill and Hassocks, arriving at the foot of the South Downs at Clayton. In the shadow of the Jack and Jill windmills, I climbed over the downs to Pyecombe. Here I joined the A23 and walked south alongside speeding traffic, past the Brighton 'towers'. Entering Brighton at Patcham, I carried on along the A23 past Preston, finally arriving at the Palace Pier at 13:55 after only three hours and 55 minutes. Having completed the distance, I called Gilly to pick me up at the pier head.
Summary
So, it seems that I cannot expect to walk the full distance in a weekend - not without a bit more training anyway! Oh well, doing it in three stages is not bad! I had managed a respectable 3.3 miles per hour overall, and covered every inch of the 55 miles. Good enough. Now I have to think of something else to do!
Check out the London to Brighton Walk photo gallery HERE
There are not many photos, as although I took my camera on the final stage, it did not have any film in it!!
