The Vanguard Way Blog has been started to complement the Vanguard Way official website: http://www.vanguardway.org.uk/ The Vanguard Way is a 66 mile, long distance footpath between East Croydon (South London) and the South Coast port of Newhaven.
Primarily we hope to record interesting sightings along the Vanguard Way with an emphasis on flora and fauna and other 'natural' phenomena. To offer a contribution, please email vanguardwayblog@gmail.com We will be interested to receive details of what has been sighted, where and when, together with a photo if available.

Friday, 18 October 2019

August and September 2019



Whenever we walk or join the Vanguards way there are usually buses and trains to help join up the section of the way. The frequency of these means of transport depends on the day of the week and sometimes the time of the year!
Independent walkers give us information about the condition of the long distance path and we really appreciate this. East Sussex County Council, Highways England and other organizations also give us information about the way and its condition. 
One up-date is about the installation pedestrian refuge to be installed on the A27 at the point where the Vanguard Way crosses to Berwick village.  

Sections 3 & 4 changes are happening around Edenbrigde and Forest Row thanks to East Sussex County Council who have been carrying out repairs to the Vanguard Way (footpath 26a). These include construction of a stone path, reprofiling and ditching, laying of drainage pipes, clearance of a neighbouring wood. We will keep Forest Row (FP 26a) as the signed definitive route of the Vanguard Way as in the route description but the unsigned alternative will be kept as an option. This takes walkers closer to Tablehurst Farm with its cafĂ© and toilets, past historic Tablehurst Manor, and with a magnificent view across the fields surrounding Windmill Cottages.  

Section 8.8 - The public footpath crosses the field towards Ludlay and it is hoped walkers will use the path that turns before the garden and across the prepared path
A long-term resident of Seaford has added this piece of historic information Bishopstone railway station is I believe unique in that it has two wartime pillboxes on its roof. These offered their occupants panoramic views over the sea and would have been a strong deterrent to any approaching forces. In addition, on the western side of Marine Parade, between the A259 and the railway bridge, there was a large underground reservoir of oil. The small brick building, still visible in the field, was a pumping station, to pump the oil to the sea, where it could be ignited, thus setting the sea on fire. This facility was however never used. Desperate measures for desperate times!
Different aspects of the Vanguard Way courtesy of Keith & Linda