5th June 2021
The South Coast Mighty Hike is the first Macmillan hike I completed back in 2018 and I completed it again in 2019, and 2021.
It is one of my favourites and feels like my spiritual Macmillan home!
Starting at Brighton Racecourse the hike leads you out onto the South Downs. There is nothing too strenuous on this hike until you exit the first pitstop at 7.5 miles. You then climb Iford hill which is a long fairly steep slog but once at the top you stay on a plateau until the gentle descent into Alfriston and the lunch stop.
There follows a flat 5 miles through the Cuckmere Valley past the white horse carved into the hill and then the fun begins.
At the Birling Gap you start the first long climb up and then you have the joy of the Seven Sisters which are fairly sharp ascents and descents. They probably wouldn’t bother you too much in isolation but after 20 miles they tend to hurt a bit.
The thing to remember though is that they are just hills and you will get over them. I found hiking poles to be a real benefit.
All in all this is a fantastic hike and one I would happily do again.
