Keep going straight until the very end, and at the T-junction turn left. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 43 min to complete. At 491ft above sea level, the view from the top is an exceptional one across the valley to the main ridge of the Downs traversed earlier in the walk. On show in the house are numerous interesting artefacts relating to the Bloomsbury Group who would frequently visit the house. Two small vilages separated by the C7 but linked by the Parish Church, St Nicholas in Iford. Train from Glynde to Lewes from end of shorter walk, Whats underfoot: Excellent walking along good paths and tracks, and across open downland. 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). Well, whatever they were doing, it was scaring me. Difficulty: Medium (Im calling it medium because its a long one). If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Join with your email address to receive exclusive content and post updates. The train recommended train is the one closest to 9.45am, but if doing the clockwise walk and aiming to lunch at Glynde the first train after 10am is fine, and if aiming to lunch in Rodmell in this direction the 9.15am might be a good idea. Shorter walk options: As there is a station at the start and end of each section of this walk, you can do any one section as a walk in its own right, or any two consecutive ones (even starting at Southease, lunching in Lewes and finishing in Glynde or vice versa). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most historians agree that Lewes' name derives from the Old English 'hlaews' ('hills' or 'mounds') as Lewes is built . Directions are given to do this walk anti-clockwise (Lewes-Southease-Glynde-Lewes) or clockwise (Lewes-Glynde-Southease-Lewes). But something was different about this one. It all seems so close, I wondered how long it would take me to walk to them. 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. Accommodation wise, there are 3 or 4 hotels and a number of BnBs. Otherwise the road leading up the hill from the station has several independent cafes, while a back stop option is a Caffe Nero in the High Street open until 6.30 daily. Skirt below the golf course, cross the style just after the clubhouse, Down the lane to Lewes, cross the bridge, along the high street, Left to the station, passing the Landsdown Arms on your way. You will follow the South Downs Way (SDW) for part of the walk. Connections are usually better for the Southease trains than the Glynde ones. Take the right fork in the trail and make your way uphill again. The village comprises fewer than 1000 inhabitants, a 13th century church, Iford and Kingston Primary School and a pub called 'The Juggs' all of which provide focal points for the village. Continue south along the road, cross a busy road, and continue south on a lane for 30 metres. Most notably is the fort, as well as the museum and its focus on the maritime and wartime history of the town. Doing the Lewes to Southease section in this direction also means you have a long pleasant descent with fine views to Rodmell, and also, in section two, to Glynde. At the ridge, first detour 200m south to Mount Caburn, retrace your steps, then skirt north around the 'bowl' shaped valley in front of you. Walkers can largely follow signs to Rodmell on the way but can enjoy a few other specials sites en route if they so wish. I instead continued following the direction of the SDW, I had a train to make (I still believed I would make it at this point). Begin your walk from Southease Station. [Map 3C] Cross a minor road, and later a bridge high over a motorway. contact the editor here. Click here for a full-sized map of the Southease to Lewes walk. Starting at Newhavens Riverside Park the Egrets Way follows the course of the River Ouse north to Lewes passing close to the villages of Piddinghoe and Southease. Refreshments available at Rodmell and Southease (YHA cafe). 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. It actually took me about 45 min to get to the station from this point. You should be able to follow the shorter option using the brief instructions below. 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. here you have a choice. 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. Straight on across the bridge, and straight on up the steep hill to the Golf Club clubhouse (CH on the map). It only takes 10 minutes on the train, but the walk back took close to three hours. Just a quiet road with signage pointing the pub. At the end of the ridge, follow it downhill, cross the road via a foorbridge, and carry on to Southease Station. After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Whilst the walk is shorter than many in the area, you will not be disappointed. If you have a dog that likes water he/she will love dipping in and out of the water along the way. 5.5 miles / 8.8 km. Passing over Seaford Head you get fantastic views of the path over the Seven Sisters ahead then head inland to follow the banks of the river Cuckmere through Westdean, Litlington and Alfriston. But no lunch stop. Pass to the left of a circular fenced pond, go through a bridle gate and bear left. Time: It took me about 6 hours, which included lots of photo stops. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Notes: You'll be getting the train back so worth checking times first but you can easily pass the time at the lovelySouth Downs YHAat Southease. You need to cross this road, but be careful of the cars. Take the left turn onto a much smaller path with nothing but views of the South Downs hills ahead (and some telephone pylons). Routing Hiking - nicest. 06-Jun-15 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. Choice of car parks in Lewes, By Public Transport: Train between Southease and Lewes. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. All content of this blog is strictly copyrighted including text and photos and all unauthorised usage will be liable for penalty payment. The landscape opens up a little for a while until you cross under the railway line but just stick to the side of the river and you're in the right place. I dont know if thats what those signs are called, but thats what they mean (I think) so Im going to go with that. I did this walk as a continuation from the section of the South Downs Way, from Hassocks to Lewes. Leave the road to the right of the clubhouse, [Map 1B] Circuit around the bowl you can see in front of you. So I took it. I take your privacy seriously. South Downs Walk Southease or Rodmell to Falmer Route Map Go to GPS File Start details Nat Park - South Downs County/Area - East Sussex Author - Barry Mackie Length - 6.8 miles / 11 km Ascent - 1010 feet / 306 metres Time - 4 hours 20 minutes Grade - easy/mod Maps Walk Route Description Click image to visit gallery of 11 images. That really makes me so happy that my directions were easy to follow! Find ideas for new routes for walking, running, cycling and more on plotaroute.com. I laughed a bit when I reached the road. At SussexLive we have another perfect stroll to keep you entertained and enjoy the outdoors this time of year. Over the past month, I have found myself in a field with a bull twice. I took about 600 photos on this one. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Walkers also get to enjoy some wonderful Sussex farmland on the way just before they pass into Rodmell. I found this website with more South Downs walking ideas, including circular walks which would work really well if you have driven to the area. Then from Southease, its one stop to Lewes, where you make a change for the train to London. There is no path for the first few yards, after which you can feed into and follow a path that curves left on a descending terrace in a wide arc round the side of a downland combe. The South Downs I stand on Willey's Bridge, probably for the hundredth time since I moved to Lewes, and take a moment to soak up the winter sun, white cliffs glinting in the distance. By car: Start in Glynde (BN8 6RU), Kingston near Lewes (around BN7 3LA, closest to London and A27), or Rodmell (BN7 3EZ, pub), all of which have free parking. As I made my way downhill, a couple of farmers in their trucks drove on by, I looked at the time and realised a train would be arriving at Southease in 15 min. By Book: Follow Walk 26 to point [2] in the Abergavenny Arms pub in Rodmell. It's deserved time away from the busy pressures of modern life and provides a beautiful reconnect with nature. Turn left and follow this road for a little over half a mile out to the A27. Maybe the sign was pretend lol. Starting in Southease, the walker will travel north along the bank of the River Ouse with the river running to your right hand side. These Bus lines stop near Southease: 123, 14, 14C. Once I realised that train was not to be mine, I was kind of happy. Choice of pubs and cafes in Lewes, So you dont get lost: OS Explorer Map 122. Then follow Walk 24, points [5] to [1] in reverse, to Lewes. This adds 6.3km (4 miles) to the walk, making a total walk length of 29.9km (18.6 miles). Well, Im pleased to say, the bull did not appear, and once I left the field, my guard went back down to normal levels. Where you have tea in Lewes will probably depend on which direction you are doing the walk in. 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. 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. After leaving the banks of the river and crossing the farmland you will pass more signposts leading you to tiny Sussex village. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Of course, Id love you to stick about but you can unsubscribe at any time. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be spending the night in the South Downs as I walked from one section of the trail to the next. Allow 3 - 4 hours. Off the lead for most of the time. 1 - From Southease Station join the lane and turn right, signposted as the South Downs Way to Alfriston. Keep following the gravel path round to the left and you'll cross under the busy A27. You will next be walking in a field, with a gorgeous view to the left. At the high street, jump on the 29 Regency Route bus heading towards Brighton. Quite exposed for some time. At Southease carry on with clockwise section 3 of this walk. Take some time to appreciate it here as when you scratch the surface you'll discover a feast of beauty! Head out on this 10.1-km point-to-point trail near Lewes, East Sussex. The road curves north to the station, just past it is the The Lansdown Arms. Glynde Stores and Post Office next door to the tea room serves takeaway coffee and hot chocolate (but not tea!) I usually see a couple of herons and egret's along the way. At a way post, turn sharply left and continue to climb with a fence on your right. From here the path heads south over Balmer Down to the A27, crossing the road then round past Kingston near Lewes and on to the beautiful village of Southease, crossing the river Ouse to the station. Ancient villages, sites of special scientific interest, pubs, medieval waterways, working farms.and a host of wildlife, not forgetting the little Egret, namesake of the routeway. Then I can live here. The train takes just 6 mins from Southease to Lewes which seems amazing when you've had such a fulfilling walk! To start at Glynde or Southease (hourly trains in either case), change at Lewes. Choice of car parks in Lewes, By Public Transport: Train between Southease and Lewes. Now that the Trevor Arms in Glynde has closed, the only lunch option in that village is the Little Cottage Tea Rooms, if they are open. The suggested route takes 2 shortcuts. Editors' Code of Practice.