Priest recommends one of his healthy walks in Brighton from guidebook

John Twisleton, a historian and assistant priest at St Bartholomew, Brighton, “is passionate about Brighton and Hove and the spiritual replenishment afforded by walking”.

He has come up with a set of walks in a bid to help people benefit from the “spiritual replenishment” of walking in Sussex.

His book, ‘Thirty Walks from Brighton Station - Catching Sights and Sea Air’, draws out points of interest about each walk route, 21twenty-one circular and nine using exploiting public transport for the return journey. Detailed walk routes are provided alongside schematic illustrations to give the overall feel of each walk and its sights. The walks are listed in order of length from one mile up to eighteen18.

John Twisleton with his book Thirty Walks from Brighton Station - Catching Sights and Sea Air

Canon John Twisleton said: “The circular walk to St Ann’s Well Garden presents a reminder of the hospitality of Brighton and Hove to minority groups. It passes the city’s first Mosque founded in the late 1970s as well as Coptic, Anglican and Baptist churches and a memorial in St Ann’s Garden significant to the LGBTQ+ community.

“Whereas in many parts of the world minorities tolerate one another, Brighton and Hove at its best aims at a respect for those who live differently going beyond tolerance.

“Respect, for example, given to Muslims, expressed in attendance by many non-Muslims in the daily breaking of fast during Ramadan. The Brighton and Hove Pride Festival in August is an internationally-famous celebration of respect and diversity led by the LGBTQ+ community,” he writes.

Thirty walks from Brighton Station is designed to be a practical handbook for exploring the city and its surrounds reaching beyond the daytripper’s duo of Pier and Pavilion to no less than the 266 two hundred and sixty six sights in the index of the book. The walks are based around the town extending to Shoreham Port, Bramber Castle, Truleigh Hill, Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon, Lewes, Southease, Telscombe and Newhaven.

“Having a wide range of walks of varying lengths allows for an eclectic suite of topics to be covered” writes Dr Geoffrey Mead in his foreword.

“It will be a superfit person to accomplish some of the longer forays into the local countryside, but they will have definite route instructions alongside a wide-ranging spread of facts and historical titbits. What struck me was the sheer enthusiasm of the writer and it shows a deep love of the topic and area.”

Canon Twisleton describes his motivation being linked, as a historian, to love for Brighton and Hove, as a walker, to the replenishment of body, mind and spirit attained in that pursuit and as an environmentalist to the provision of a handbook for recreation with low carbon footprint.

His book is formally being launched in St Bartholomew, Ann Street, Brighton today, Sunday, January 8, after 10.30am Solemn Mass around 11.45am when it will be available at a launch discount price of £9.99.

Copies can be ordered for £9.99 by contacting thirtywalks@gmail.com - the paperback is also available on Amazon for £11.99 with a Kindle version for £9.99 and shortly in local bookshops.

Brighton UK 18th February 2016 - The Pepper Pot or Pepperpot at the north end of Queens Park in winter sunshine with the moon visible at the top left A Grade II listed building designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1830 and originally stood in the grounds of

John Twisleton recommended a circular walk to Queen’s Park for Argus readers.

It is walk 6 from his book.

Exiting the ticket barrier at Brighton Station turn left then left again past the cycle storage onto Stroudley Road. Descend the stairs and cross New England Street into Ann Street down to London Road.

Cross into Oxford Street continuing across Ditchling Road into The Level heading past the public toilets to the pedestrian crossing.

Cross the A270, turn left then right for a steep ascent up Southover Street.

At the mini roundabout, turn half right up Montreal Road.

Turn left down Albion Hill, continuing across Queens Park Road to Queen’s Park. Turn right to continue along the lakeside and head for the South Road exit.

Walk to the right down under the arch facing the primary school and turn immediately right up Park Hill catching sight of the neoclassical edifice of Royal Spa Nursery School.

At the top of the hill view the splendid main entrance to the park.

Walk in front of this across Queen’s Park Road, then left down Upper Park Terrace. Enjoy the sea view before continuing down Carlton Hill.

At Grand Parade turn left to the pedestrian crossing.

Cross to Brighton Museum & Art Gallery continuing up Church Street turning right at Queen’s Road to head up to Brighton Station.

Distance: 2.3 mile/3.7 km

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