With my recent excursion around Jevington, I was now really keen to explore more of the south downs with my camera living closeby in Bexhill east Sussex. Next on my hit list was a return to Alfriston that I first visited in the late summer of 2016. But this time I would be starting from the white horse on the hilltop known as high and over.
From High and Over to Alfriston
When I arrived at high and over I could see the moon setting on the horizon but not get setup in time to capture it taking in the sweeping landscape of the south downs. Photographing the moon had not been part of the plan, it came as a surprise, but such information is easily obtained from apps like Photopills or the Photographers Ephimeris. Should always check where the sun and moon will be relative to the time of day you are out.
From the car park at high and over I crossed the road and followed the footpath over Cradle hill, Camp hill then along the Greenway and onto the South Downs Way with some dramatic views from the hill tops in the morning light looking north.
A bit further along the south downs way closer to Alfriston there were some inquisitive wild Ponies grazing.
From Alfriston along the Cuckmere river
Alfriston itself is a pretty little village at the foot of the south downs in the Cuckmere valley with a couple of friendly pubs. Alfriston is popular with visitors and tourists if you visit later in the day. I headed through Alfriston, across the road and pass the church to get onto the Cuckmere river and continue the walk from there back towards high and over and the white horse.
Being early February it was still winter,, the trees were bare, the air was crisp and clear with very good visibility. The sun was low in the sky behind me providing some dramatic lighting onto the stonework of the church building. You can see from the top right hand corner I was using too much polarisation. This can be improved upon post processing in lightroom using the Radial Filter tool.
Lots of subjects for landscape photography from Alfriston along the Cuckmere river with the church as the backdrop. Looking east were good views of Wilmington Hill with some swans in the mid ground on the flood plains making a good focal point.
High and Over
Eventually having come full circle crossed over the Cuckmere river and made my way to the foot of the high and over and the white horse. Climbing the hill and looking back towards Alfriston provided some breath-taking views over the Cuckmere valley.
I not really capture one of the white horse itself carved out of the hillside on high and over but I sure was going to return to this point and walk the other way down to Cuckmere haven.