Black Down Amble
This route was recorded on Friday 29 November 2019 during a recce for the December U3A Amble
Distance: 3.1 miles (4.9 km) — OS Route Map
Black Down is the highest point in the South Downs National Park and the area was a favourite of Alfred Lord Tennyson. I have walked there many times and thought it might be a good location for one of my ambles. I recced the route on several occasions before following this recorded route for the U3A December 2019 Amble.
The walk starts from the National Trust car park in Tennyson’s Lane. This car park can be quite busy but, if full, there is another car park a little further along. On the day of the recce, the sun was shining and the autumn colours were glorious; by the time of the U3A amble the trees were bare and autumn was over.
This walk has good views in all directions. The route briefly joins two long distance paths, the Sussex Border Path and the Serpent Trail, before coming to the Temple of the Winds, which is named after a Bronze Age circular bank. There is a large circular bench at this point from which one has a view considered to be one of the best in the South Downs National Park.
