Earth Roof of new YHA
Seating in front
Main entrance
Reception.
We were made most welcome by temporary warden Dianna from Australia who is spending some time over in UK, she is normally based at Alfriston. The hostel was very modern, opened in May 2009 with excellent firm bunks to sleep in. On first night we were split 2 (with 5 others) and 4 in a dorm which was quite acceptable with its own en-suite bathroom. On the second night we had to move all together into a 6 bed dorm which was rather hot. The kitchen was unbearably hot with small windows in order to save energy. The kitchen was well equipped and clean and the dining room/lounge was comfortable with flat screen wall mounted TV and settees to lounge on. Each bunk was equipped with own light and socket to plug in personal stereo charger etc. On the second night warden Martin who was very young was also very helpful and friendly. Definitely well worth a visit with bus stop outside into Eastbourne.
Bob Starey did suggest Alfriston has much more atmosphere and of course good pub in village. Maybe for next time! any takers?
The best day by far was the Thursday, we did the coast ride Sustrans route 21 all the way to Hasting, some 24 miles where I introduced everyone to the Fish man with the huge frying pan, very famous even in France. For £2 you get a very large brown or white bap with a fillet of whiting and fillet of sole, fresh caught that morning and cooked in top quality Italian olive oil. It was delicious and very filling. This was then followed by beer at the only pub in Hastings making its own beer. Bob had sussed this out from the Real Ale guide at the LIFO (Last in first Out - Pub) run by a man from Newcastle who was very friendly and after 5 pints cautioned us to drink no more and get on our way quietly and safely and thus we did retracing our revolutions along route 21. No self catering that night, Ray, Ed, Eddy & Toni dived strait into Weatherspoons in Eastbourne en-route back, Bob and I returned for a shower put on our glad rags and hit the town for the night catching the last bus back to find all were fast asleep in the 6 bed dorm.
The route home on Friday was much more pleasant via the Cookoo trail. Bob was in a hurry and went his separate way by road arriving in Sutton at 3pm having stopped at Redhiil W'Spoon for lunch. The rest dropped me for dead and went to a cafe in ??? and I carried along the Cookoo trail hoping to catch them and then stopped at Hayfield for coffee and as it started to rain and being on my own I caught the train at Becton?? and was back home by 1pm. The rest did remarkably well getting home around 4pm having stopped in East Grinstead for lunch approx 140mls for me and almost 200mls for the rest.
Bob Starey did suggest Alfriston has much more atmosphere and of course good pub in village. Maybe for next time! any takers?
The best day by far was the Thursday, we did the coast ride Sustrans route 21 all the way to Hasting, some 24 miles where I introduced everyone to the Fish man with the huge frying pan, very famous even in France. For £2 you get a very large brown or white bap with a fillet of whiting and fillet of sole, fresh caught that morning and cooked in top quality Italian olive oil. It was delicious and very filling. This was then followed by beer at the only pub in Hastings making its own beer. Bob had sussed this out from the Real Ale guide at the LIFO (Last in first Out - Pub) run by a man from Newcastle who was very friendly and after 5 pints cautioned us to drink no more and get on our way quietly and safely and thus we did retracing our revolutions along route 21. No self catering that night, Ray, Ed, Eddy & Toni dived strait into Weatherspoons in Eastbourne en-route back, Bob and I returned for a shower put on our glad rags and hit the town for the night catching the last bus back to find all were fast asleep in the 6 bed dorm.
The route home on Friday was much more pleasant via the Cookoo trail. Bob was in a hurry and went his separate way by road arriving in Sutton at 3pm having stopped at Redhiil W'Spoon for lunch. The rest dropped me for dead and went to a cafe in ??? and I carried along the Cookoo trail hoping to catch them and then stopped at Hayfield for coffee and as it started to rain and being on my own I caught the train at Becton?? and was back home by 1pm. The rest did remarkably well getting home around 4pm having stopped in East Grinstead for lunch approx 140mls for me and almost 200mls for the rest.
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