Friston Forest in the South Downs National Park

Charlie and I went on an adventure yesterday. I used to take Ruby to Friston Forest from time to time, and I wanted Charlie to experience it. He was so thrilled to be somewhere different! We followed the marked White Horse Trail otherwise I would have got lost as I have very little sense of direction. The first part was very muddy and slippery, as you can see, but the rest of it was fine. The views from the ridge are great, and the woods have a lovely, friendly feel to them. I thought we would meet hordes of people and children (as it was still the Easter holidays) but most of them seemed to be in the Seven Sisters car park, either walking down to the sea or over the Seven Sisters cliffs. It's a very scenic drive from Nab Cottage to Friston Forest, well the bit from Polegate anyway! You go through the village of Wannock, and then through Jevington where there used to be a restaurant called The Hungry Monk. They invented the dessert banoffee pie in the 1970s. You then drive through some wonderful countryside, past another bit of woodland called Butcher's Hole, down to the main road where you turn right and go up and down a bit, before looking down on the wonderful, meandering Cuckmere River with the Seven Sisters car park just past it on the left. You take the road to the right to get to the main Friston Forest car park. There is a toilet there, and a large open area for picnics before or after your forest walk. At a fast pace it only takes about 35 minutes, but its a good walk.