The run
I should have known things didn’t bode well when I immediately took a wrong turn and headed off in the opposite direction to my planned route. Once again I had chosen a route from pub strolls, loving the clarity of directions. Well, one of us must have been having an off day (could have been me?) but I didn’t seem to be able to follow the author’s instructions at all today (something to do with being able to tell your left from your right I suppose).
Fairwarp Church
I started from the pub car park at The Forrester Inn, Fairwarp and headed off past the pretty village green, in fair but slightly chilly weather (I was glad of my hat and gloves). Headed through forest following a track past the church and along bridelways popular with riders through the Ashdown Forest. I met quite a few riders, walkers and dog walkers, all very friendly – some even complimented me on my running!
For a while it was all going well, bridge – check, Airman’s Grave – check, car park – check. Then, somehow I didn’t cross the B2026 where I should, although it did give me a chance to check out the Duddlesworth tearooms (unfortunately closed) before once more getting lost frustratingly close to the end.
Airman’s Grave, commemorating the crew of a Wellington bomber that crashed near here in 1941
Duddlesworth Tearooms
It had got to the point where I was fed up with this run now, I was hungry and wanted my coffee and peanut butter protein ball, so resorted to trying to chase the blue dot around the screen on the Runkeeper in order to find my way back.
Runkeeper route
I headed back to the road and ran along it for a few hundred yards until I found the place I should have come out (Spring Garden Farm) from here it was meant to be a simple matter of retracing my steps back to the start. Retrace my steps! By this point I was so confused and hungry that nothing looked familiar – thank goodness for the church being such a great landmark!
The farm
I headed off to the Birdineye Farm Shop just outside Uckfield, which was situated with a cluster of other businesses on a farm estate (car repairers, dog grooming etc).
Priding itself on its butchery – selling a good selection of meat both fresh and frozen, Andy the butcher talked me through his philosophy for the shop. All the meat is from the farm (with the odd exception of specialities bought in from Smithfields – duck for example) – I even got to meet the pig farmer whose pigs live free range in the forest. It’s a pity I didn’t need any meat. He explained they try to get in what the customers want (he had just had a request for mutton and had previously got in goat for someone). He also cuts the meat in front of the customer so they can see what they are getting. I bought a cake – they are bought in from somewhere – looked delicious – what excuse do I have to buy a cake I thought? Do I need one?
Red Berry Crumble Cake
The lunch
With just about enough time I headed back to The Forresters Arms for lunch. Surprisingly busy (mainly over 65s), the decor was with a low beamed ceiling and wooden floor, quite spartan. I ordered a light bite of Stilton and steak pie and a ginger beer. Must have a craving for pies today as I bought a Cornish pasty in the farm shop too. My lunch was kind of like a school dinner, but in a good way.
The overheard conversation: what you are planting in your garden, the parking dispute at the village shop, whatshername that used to live in Uckfield before she moved to Devon.
Stilton and steak pie
Wednesdays in the country 