In amongst the Deans

This morning was bright enough for sunglasses, chilly enough for gloves and yet still mild enough for shorts… if any of that makes any sense!

And it’s my brother Nigel’s birthday today, so Happy Birthday Big Bro!  And as a result, what better place to run than on home territory… the Deans.

I started out at Woodingdean, running up the Falmer Road to the old bakery (long, long gone), and across the top of the village…

… before dropping all the way down the long and winding decline to Standean Bottom, where the hamlet of Balsdean used to sit.

From here I chose the path that went straight back up the hill, following it around until I came back to the side of Woodingdean again.  Today was clearly going to be a run of views.

Turning sharp left, I then ran down the Bostle, passing Balsdean reservoir, ‘Cottages and ‘Farm before reaching the top of Saltdean.

At Saltdean I snuck around the back of the houses to try to get a better view of Saltdean valley.

They I snuck back and from here I dropped gently down through the village of Rottindean, all the way to the sea, where the colour balance changed dramatically.

It was an easy run along the flat of the Undercliff Walk to the steps at Ovingdean, where I ran up the valley to the church, pausing to pay my respects to Ric.

From here I was going to take a quick detour into Roedean Bottom, but instead ran past and up to the Race Course at the Western end of Woodingdean.

Once at the top I ran along the Drove Road across the top of Woodingdean, looking down on Bevendean to my left, back to my starting point at the old bakery.

It was then an easy few minutes back down the Falmer Road to finish what had been a really pleasant run in two hours on the nose.

I had covered 11.45 miles at an average speed of 5.72mph, which is quite sedentary but I’ll forgive myself because of the terrain and the fact that I was very happy just moseying along, looking at the view and taking pictures.

I hope this is a nice trip down memory lane for your birthday Bro… I made sure that I went all the way around the village for you!