So I’ve been talking with someone close to me, and wanting to plan some adventures in the local area for us, and get out into some nature, so, because I like to write everything down, here’s my list to tackle, and also a safe place to put it rather than my phone, to look at in the future
Day 1: Treyford Down – Escape from our reality (briefly)
Morning:
So, are. you ready for a relaxing escape from Hove? How about we take a 40-minute drive to Treyford Down, to breathe in the crispy, fresh air (aka the one thing we can still get for free these days) Once we’re there, we then hike for a couple of hours through the South Downs, where we can enjoy some of the stunning views that might just make us question why we spend so much time indoors scrolling through Instagram. Yikes.
Lunch (yum)
We’d probably bring a picnic, unless we fancy paying £10 for a dusty ham sandwich at the local pub. Just kidding (kind of). But really, we’d pack a lunch, find a nice cheeky spot, and reflect on how the birds are living proper rent free while we humans struggle with inflation
Afternoon:
After eating our picnic, which is now lukewarm because we packed it at 8 a.m, we wander around and contemplate the meaning of life. It’s nature therapy, but free of charge and minus the yoga mats
To wrap up the day for the ADHD in us
- 9:00 AM: Drive 40 minutes to Treyford Down.
- 9:40 AM: Start our 2-hour scenic walk. Breathe in nature. Try not to get lost.
- 12:00 PM: Eat lunch. Picnic if we packed it. Pub if we didn’t.
- 1:30 PM: Wander, relax, contemplate life choices.
- 3:00 PM: Head home (or stop for tea if we’re pretending to be cultured).
Day 2: Glynde Place Estate – Our ‘Downton Abbey’ fantasy (Minus all the wealth)
Morning:
Corr, are we feeling fancy? I’m thinking we get ourselves over to Glynde Place Estate, only a 30 minute drive from Hove, and spend the morning pretending we’re in an old period drama. We roam the parkland and woodland as if we’re a the tragic hero(ine) waiting for our inheritance (or maybe just an Irish lottery win). We Walk for two hours, or until our feet proper give up and you’re we’re just too damn proud to admit we should have brought more comfortable shoes
Lunch (yum)
If we’re feeling a little too sophisticated to picnic on the ground like mere peasants, we can head into Glynde Village for a “civilized” upper class lunch. We try not to spill anything on ourselves, because in these quaint villages, they will notice
Afternoon:
Now that we’ve stuffed yourself like proper gremlins, we take a real leisurely stroll around the estate like we own the place. Chest puffed high. We also pretend we’re scouting for wedding venues for our friends. Bonus points if we convince our friends we’re actually secretly part of the aristocracy and came here to survey the lands
To wrap up the day again
- 10:00 AM: Drive 30 minutes to Glynde Place.
- 10:30 AM: Walk around like we own the place for 2 hours.
- 12:30 PM: Have lunch in Glynde Village or enjoy our picnic.
- 2:00 PM: Stroll around the estate and check out local attractions.
- 3:30 PM: Drive back to Hove, perhaps stop in Lewes for bonus points.
Day 3: Hove Park – Because we all need a day to be lazy
Morning:
Ah, Hove Park, that thing. The lazy persons paradise because it’s right on our doorstep here, absolutely no effort required at all. We take a stroll around the lake, and point out the ducks with our extensive knowledge of, well, ducks. We then walk for about an hour, or just sit down halfway and pretend the bench was our destination all along heh
Lunch:
We grab some lunch at a nearby cafe, where we can gossip about that weird ass guy in the park or plot how we’re going to finally start our “Instagram fitness journey” tomorrow (Spoiler: we won’t)
Afternoon:
Why overdo it while we’re so close, we spend the afternoon lying on the grass, pretending to care about nature while actually secretly judging passersby. Alternatively, we could play some sports, but let’s be real, we’re here to relax and enjoy the fact that no one can see our bank accounts while we lie in the sunshine contemplating life choices
To wrap up this lazy day
- 10:00 AM: Walk to Hove Park (no driving necessary ;))
- 10:05 AM: Stroll around the lake and admire the ducks for 1-1.5 hours.
- 12:00 PM: Have lunch at a nearby café.
- 1:30 PM: Spend the afternoon relaxing on the grass or playing sports (if we’re feeling ambitious).
- 3:00 PM: Head home or find a beach to catch the sunset.
Day 4: The River Adur – Wetlands, but make it fun
Morning:
Feeling adventurous after 3 days? Well, we excitedly take a speedy 20 minute drive to Shoreham-by-Sea, get a speeding ticket, and embark on that juicy scenic walk along the River Adur. The wetlands is pretty beautiful, so are you, and there’s nothing like the serenity of water to remind us that we’re all sinking slowly into the abyss
Lunch:
We head into town for lunch, where we can eat in a cute cafe while wondering why we decided to go walking near wetlands with just trainers. Be warned, if we end up going to the pub, our bill might make us feel like drowning in the river ourselves
Afternoon:
We spend the afternoon exploring Shoreham Harbor and pretending we’re into boats. Alternatively, we find a cafe to sit in and sip coffee like we’re plotting world domination. We then completely forget to take pictures of the harbor
To wrap up day 4:
- 10:00 AM: Drive 20 minutes to Shoreham-by-Sea.
- 10:20 AM: Start our scenic walk along the River Adur for 1.5-2 hours.
- 12:30 PM: Have lunch in Shoreham.
- 2:00 PM: Explore Shoreham Harbor or find a café to relax in.
- 4:00 PM: Drive back to Hove (or catch a sunset at the beach first).
Day 5: Lewes Priory Ruins – Where history meets existential crisis
Morning:
Shall we explore some medieval ruins. Yes. We’ll head to Lewes Priory, where we can feel the weight of history, and probably the weight of our own life decisions, pressing down on us. We walk among the ancient ruins and wonder what it would have been like to live in a time when dying of plague was the leading career path
Lunch:
By now, we’ll probably be starving and looking for some comfort in food. We go to the local cafe in Lewes, where we can eat like a modern day human and not a medieval monk. We enjoy a sandwich, while wondering how monks survived on bread and water. Spoiler: They didn’t.
Afternoon:
We then spend the afternoon wandering through Lewes antique shops, because why not add to our collection of useless trinkets? You never know when you’ll need a 19th century spoon to impress your mates
To wrap up ye old day
- 10:00 AM: Drive 20 minutes to Lewes.
- 10:30 AM: Explore Lewes Priory for an hour or so.
- 12:00 PM: Have lunch at a local café.
- 1:30 PM: Browse antique shops and soak in the town’s charm.
- 3:30 PM: Drive back to Hove or explore more of Lewes.
Day 6: Rottingdean Village & Undercliff Walk – A charming escape with a hint of cliff danger
Morning:
About 15 minutes from Hove, we’ve got the old Rottingdean Village, where the charm is as proper thick as the history… We spend the morning exploring quaint streets, charming buildings, and all the local gossip. We might even stumble upon Kipling’s garden, so, there’s that!
Lunch:
When the hunger pangs hit us hard, we hit up a local pub or cafe, but we remember to act reeaaaal sophisticated as we dine. We avoid asking about the “specials” unless we wanna hear a tragic tale of yesterday’s leftovers
Afternoon:
After our meal, we gear up for the Undercliff Walk. This long ass coastal trail promises us some dramatic views, the scent of the sea, and a fair chance of existential dread, as we wonder if we could survive a tumble down the cliffs
To wrap up the day:
- 10:00 AM: Drive 15 minutes to Rottingdean.
- 10:15 AM: Explore the village for an hour.
- 11:15 AM: Enjoy lunch at a local pub or café.
- 1:00 PM: Take the Undercliff Walk for about 1.5-2 hours.
- 3:00 PM: Head back to Hove (or linger if we find a good cafe).
Day 7: Devil’s Dyke adventure – Nature’s rollercoaster
Morning:
Finally, we end our week of adventures at the one and only, Devil’s Dyke. Just a 20 minute drive from Hove. We then marvel at the dramatic views and unique geological formations. We hike, or stroll, along the top, and take in some of the sweet ass sweeping panoramas. We gotta watch our steps though, the ground can be treacherous, much like life itself
Lunch:
After we’ve gasped at the views enough, we head to the local pub for a proper hearty lunch. Wee enjoy the cuisine that reflects the area, hearty, rustic, and perhaps a bit more than we wanted to eat, but it’s all part of the adventure right?
Afternoon:
We spend our afternoon hiking along the trails, leading down into the valley, simply lying in the grass, contemplating our life choices, specifically the choice to eat that third sausage roll from the local pub
To wrap up our last day
- 10:00 AM: Drive 20 minutes to Devil’s Dyke.
- 10:20 AM: Hike and enjoy the views for 2 hours.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch at a local pub.
- 2:00 PM: Explore more trails or relax in the grass.
- 4:00 PM: Head home, perhaps stop for ice cream on the way.
If you’re reading this, and you want to embark on this whimsical ass journey through the stunning landscapes and charming villages surrounding Hove, remember that the real treasure lies not just in the breathtaking views and delicious lunches, but in the laughter and memories you can create with friends (or while silently judging the choices of strangers)
Whether you’re contemplating life’s mysteries on a park bench, or pretending to be part of the aristocracy at Glynde Place, embrace each moment with a sense of humor and a dash of adventure
After all, life is too short to take seriously, so go out, explore, and maybe even get lost a little (figuratively, of course)!
Happy adventuring studs! 😀
