Lewes is the county town of East Sussex with a population of under 20,000. Get off at Housedean Farm, and just up ahead, the South Downs Way tail will be on the left. You need to cross this road, but be careful of the cars. Its loud. This walk might now be one of my favourites. Where you have tea in Lewes will probably depend on which direction you are doing the walk in. Make your way through the old railway gate into the beautiful Railway Land. I usually get lost when I go for walks but Zoes directions were so easy to follow and the photos really useful to reassure you that you were on the right track. Then once out of the woods, you walk down a steep hill until you hit the road. The South Downs National Park is England's newest National Park, having been designated on March 31, 2010. Seagulls dart and plunge above the water, screeching and switching their course with breakneck turns. LOVELY views. The area is a designated National Nature Reserve and is the site of an Iron Age fort. Nestling in an idyllic setting in the South Downs National Park. Leave the road to the right of the clubhouse, [Map 1B] Circuit around the bowl you can see in front of you. Lewes Three Peaks: Mount Caburn, Firle Beacon and Kingston Ridge Circular, Lewes, Black Cap, Offham and River Ouse Circular, Lewes, Kingston, Rodmell and Glynde Circular, Lewes, Black Cap, Ditchling Beacon, Falmer and Kingston Ridge, Lewes to Fulking (Shepherd & Dog Pub Finish), Lewes to Southease, Firle Beacon and Mount Caburn, Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve and Convent Field, Lewes Castle and Love Lane Circular [PRIVATE PROPERTY]. [Map 3B] Follow the SDW north west along the ridge (with a big drop on your right hand side). This does not mean though that the village is unpeaceful, on the contrary the existence of a number of fine manor houses testify to the serenity of the village. Then right on to the main shopping street and continue (downhill). Cross the new bridle bridge over the A26 and follow a clear track obliquely up on to Itford Hill. until 4pm daily. It is a fast flowing river and without local knowledge it is easy to get swept out to sea, or up to Lewes, or even marooned in the mud as the tide sweeps in and out. This path is not marked as a right of way on OS maps but is within a large area of open access land. I continued up with the fence to my right (and the cows just the other side of it) when I then noticed another opening in the fence.right next to the cows. You will start your walk to Southease, from Lewes train station. Getting to the Start Lewes is just off the A27 to the north east of Brighton. East Sussex is located in the south of England and is world famous for its . Regular train services to Southease from Lewes or Seaford. 1 - From Southease Station join the lane and turn right, signposted as the South Downs Way to Alfriston. Routing Hiking - nicest. Lewes is an ancient town with a sizeable population serviced by a wide selection of amenities a good range of pubs catering for all tastes, lots of boutique shops and the usual selection of grocery shops and supermarkets. Well, now I knew. As you make your way up, take a look right for some gorgeous views of the hills through the bushes and trees. This is the longer option. You can even just about spot some white sea cliffs in the distance. There are many more twists and turns for the rest of the walk, however, Im not going to direct you turn by turn anymore because its very well signposted. Southease is a Community Rail Station Station Partners Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml, 7 out of 10 (three steep climbs, but mostly easy level walking on good paths with easy navigation). Sorry for the noise! and videos to You are spoiled with a changing landscape with this walk - on the left there are chalk hills and on the right rolling farmland. From the start of the SDW, you will continue for about 2.5 miles gently downhill, passing by fields, and maybe even some haystacksI was truly tempted to go and jump on them. The nearest stations to Southease are: Southease Village, Southease is 202 meters away, 3 min walk. 1 - From Southease Station join the lane and turn right, signposted as the South Downs Way to Alfriston. Jun 5th, 2022 . This is an energetic walk (550 metres or 1,600 feet of ascent) over three distinct downland ridges, with magnificent views throughout. The South Downs Way winds its way through the village towards the nearby River Ouse and the railway station. It all seems so close, I wondered how long it would take me to walk to them. Try this 6.3-mile point-to-point trail near Lewes, East Sussex. Comments have been closed on this article. Views are nice over the countryside. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Tickets cost 3 - 5 and the journey takes 6 min. Wildflower Meadow: Grow your own in a container. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. You'll start to see more wildlife and, depending on what time of day you're walking, seabirds will be quietly fishing on the banks. I just couldnt stop. A small rural station within the South Downs National Park with a well-positioned youth hostel and cafe. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. I decided that maybe I will marry a farmer. Just a little reminder in case you had forgot where you are. The current can get strong - Monty is a very strong swimmer but I definitely suggest being cautious throwing balls into the river for them. Keep going straight until the very end, and at the T-junction turn left. on Flickr, swcwalk65 swcwalks swcwalk47 walkicon 18424175039 G-S, walkicon swcwalks swcwalk47 18422665250 G-S, Lewes to Glynde (part 1) 6.2km (3.8 miles), Glynde to Southease (part 2) 6.3km (3.9 miles), Southease to Lewes (part 3) 11.1km (6.9 miles). A Gannett Company. Well, I had come this far. Second time that Ive done it. But no lunch stop. Technical sheet No. contact the editor here. The Abergavenny Arms, Rodmell, 01273 472416, is a popular pub with a pleasant outdoor terrace and is now the only possible lunch pub on this walk. Then I can live here. This is the longer (via West Firle option). 5.5 miles / 8.8 km. When you arrive at it you can either cross it to get to the station or you can turn right so go and have a peek at the gorgeous Southease village with it's thatched cottages and cute church. As I made my way through this field, I was on super high alert, keeping myself next to the barbed wire fence, prepared to jump over it if the bull appeared. There are numerous alternate routes you can take in the area, including along Egrets Way - if you're lucky you may even come across one. The area is a designated National Nature Reserve and is the site of an Iron Age fort. [Map 2B] Follow the South Downs Way (SDW) west. Alternatively (if you are feeling particularly robust), from Southease you can walk along the River Ouse into Lewes where you can then catch the 28 or 29 bus back . and turn west towards a farm at the entrance of Firle Manor, then join a quiet lane [the main route] heading north to the main road), Cross the busy road, and continue north, past the Trevor Arms to Glynde Station, Turn left at the village shop, cross the style and up on to the downs. Allow 3 - 4 hours. There walk passes 3 train stations, one between each of the 3 hills, so if you want to drop out, its quite easy. On show in the house are numerous interesting artefacts relating to the Bloomsbury Group who would frequently visit the house. You will reach the ridge and find yourself surrounded by the rolling hills of the South Downs, and you start to get a peak of the sea. Saltdean, opp Longridge Avenue Post Office. Psychogeography. A Historic Cast Iron Bridge built 1880 The bridge links Southease Parish which was divided by a 'cut' in the Ouse created in 1791 to improve the river's flow. I mention this because the second half of the walk, from this point, was my favourite part. Starting point: Lewes Railway Land, Railway Lane or if parked at Ham Lane the path to the left of the household recycling plant. There is also a long slow climb out of Glynde. Continue along, keep the fence to youre left past the next bend and you will soon reach an open field. But it's after that second incline that the magic happens. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Southease to Lewes(part 3) 11.1km (6.9 miles) Toughness 7 out of 10 (three steep climbs, but mostly easy level walking on good paths with easy navigation) Maps OS Explorer OL11 (was 122) Brighton Features This is an energetic walk (550 metres or 1,600 feet of ascent) over three distinct downland ridges, with magnificent views throughout. This trail is a route along the beautiful coastline from Saltdean to the Cuckmere River, taking in Cliffs, Nature Reserves, Seven Sisters Country Park, Watch Towers, Forts, Lidos and Harbours. Well, Im pleased to say, the bull did not appear, and once I left the field, my guard went back down to normal levels. To start at Glynde or Southease (hourly trains in either case), change at Lewes. The footpath hugs the river, comfortably elevated from the waters surging width. The Trevor Arms, the pub in Glynde has sadly now closed. Editors' Code of Practice. Keep walking until the sound of traffic fades and you are left with the sound of crickets and birds. Opposite the entrance to Itford House on your left, turn right with the South Downs Way. Southease Southease, Ditchling Beacon & Lewes This lengthy East Sussex walk traverses a section of the South Downs using the South Downs Way and other paths and tracks. Wow. Several substantial ascents, long but all well graded, Thirsty Work: Trevor Arms pub at Glynde. With its castle, saxon twittens, ruined priory and architecture from the Normans onwards, its really worth spending time there. For part of the way, there is a path on the bank to the left of the road which offers a magnificent view over Lewes. You will soon leave the trail and find yourself on a small road. This path is not marked as a right of way on OS maps but is within a large area of open access land. Then from Southease, its one stop to Lewes, where you make a change for the train to London. The level green meadows stretch away west, and to the east rise the South Downs. Dog friendly. Southease Villagein East Sussex is located in the Ouse Valley, roughly midway between the county town of Lewes, to the north, and the port of Newhaven to the south. Comments have been closed on this article. Kingston is a couple of miles from Lewes and sits nestled in the South Downs of England. Left out of the station, right on Priory Street, join Judd Lane, straight on (cross over the motorway, then a small road), and continue up to the ridge, Turn left onto a quiet lane steeply downhill to the Abergavenny Arms pub in Rodmell, After the pub, either, (shorter, old SDW route) follow the signposted permissive path south (parallel to the main road), then turn left through Southease village to the station (past a big church), or take option 2 (follow the longer but prettier new SDW route towards the river, then south to the bridge, cross it for the station), Continue east, cross the road, and up onto the downs along the SDW, At the path junction by the carpark, head north downhill along a quiet lane, or take Option 1 : continue east along the ridge, then sharply back on yourself, northwest to West Firle. I concluded that I wouldnt and that I might leave here today all cut up. Real Estate Software Dubai > blog > southease to lewes river walk. The walk from Lewes to Southease has a hike up two big inclines followed by ridge walks. There is not much to choose between them in terms of views or gradients climbed: rather it is the length of sections and the positioning of lunch and tea options: Anti-clockwise (directions on pages 3-5 of the pdf) is in many ways better. 4 - After almost half a mile, turn right over a stile and sharply back to the right, across the corner of a field to pass through a hedge gap, across another field and through a gateway in a second hedge. Useful post? I passed an unusual amount of South Downs Way signage. You can stop halfway and make the 20 min walk into Rodmell to check outMonk's House(Virginia Woolf's 17th century home)if you wanted to make more of a day of it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From: Kingston Ridge, BN7 3LA Kingston Near Lewes, England . This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Thinking about whether I would be able to make it over the wire without getting cut. On a slightly more haunting note - it is also somewhere here that Virginia Woolf lined her pockets with stones and stepped into the river. It's a perfect walk whatever the season but make sure you wear appropriate footwear - the path is walkable all year but can get boggy at points. Join with your email address to receive exclusive content and post updates. Head out on this 10.1-km point-to-point trail near Lewes, East Sussex. Cross the River Ouse and after a few yards, go left for the railway station and a train back to Southease. The trail sign will point ahead and to the left. I stood there for a solid 5min working up the courage to walk past it where the cows could get me. The Southease Swing Bridge over the River Ouse in East Sussex, The route takes you away from the River Ouse across farmland and into the village of Rodmell, Southease church dates from the year 966 making it one of the oldest in Sussex, Monk's House is now full of treasures relating to the Bloomsbury Group, The walk culminates at the Abergavenny Arms. Enter through the gate and take the path to the right. On entering the village you will pass Monk's house which has some fascinating history of its own. Southern Service operates a train from Southease to Lewes hourly. Turn left and follow this road for a little over half a mile out to the A27. SOUTHEASE, a parish in Lewes district, Sussex; on the river Ouse, adjacent to the Newhaven railway, 3 miles S by E of Lewes.Post town, Lewes. One of the pleasures of the walk is that the entire route is in view for much of the walk, so you can look back at the terrain you have already done or ahead to the delights to come. After the second gate, you will leave the river by taking a left to go under the metal bridge. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Happy hiking ;). You can also obviously do the circular walk starting in Glynde or Southease, though if doing the latter by train, note that, the YHA cafe excepted, there are no pubs or facilities at this station, and only a basic shelter on its platform. Next, you reach some woods where you have a very steep but short incline. Download walk details Once past the railway line the path veers a little to the right and you'll find yourself at the local tip/recycling plant (if you've parked at Ham Lane you'll be joining here). Lewes is a small town with a big heart. Seaford to Eastbourne The best walk in the Southeast!. This walk covers 11.4 miles, with 4.3 miles of that being the South Downs Way. cruising through East Sussex and its cliffs | Motorcycle route | 85.2 mi | EN, NL. In both directions the Landsdown Arms is a characterful pub near the station, and The Runaway, the buffet on platform 2 of Lewes station, is recommended for its excellent range of cakes: it is open until 6.50pm Monday to Friday, 5.50pm Saturday and 5.20pm Sunday. Walk to the other end of it and go through the little gate. I cant recall how many gates you walk through on your way up, but at one of them you will see your first signage pointing to the South Downs way. The Grade II Listed period home has been lovingly restored and extended by the current owner and features ornate fireplaces alongside an unashamedly modern extension boasting bi fold doors and a magnificent sky .