Here in the south of England we are enjoying a prolonged spell of fine, high pressure weather. This is quite unusual for April, as this time of year tends to be changeable and showery.

On Sunday we went on our favourite walk from Seaford Head up to Beachy Head. The route takes you across to Cuckmere Haven then up the river to the Golden Galleon at Exceat. This is a massively popular pub despite, in our opinion, having been spoiled when taken over and refurbished a few years ago. The last time we ate in there it took an hour for them to serve up some really poor quality food. So instead we went along the road and had a ploughmans at the Farmhouse Tea Rooms at the Seven Sisters Country Park, which was pleasant enough.

From there we picked our way back to the coast and up and down the Seven Sisters to Birling Gap and further refreshments at the pub there. From there it's the final uphill stretch to Beachy Head. As we neared the top we saw five people strangely attired standing near the cliff edge so we went to investigate. They turned out to be base jumpers, preparing to jump off the cliff with paraglider-style parachutes.

Now Beachy Head is 530 feet high. We weren't quite at the top, so let's say they were jumping 500 feet. That doesn't give you long to get your parachute launched, under control and able to pick a safe spot for landing amid the rocks at the bottom. How mad do you have to be to want to do this? Just this side of certifiable if you ask me.

Anyway, they all got down safely and we continued our walk to the top, then took the bus back to our starting point. A fine day out.