Free walk 181 - a vigorous South Downs ramble

Download walk 181. Lewes to Seaford via West Firle

Length 22.9km (14.3m); toughness 8/10 – 2, possibly 3 major climbs depending on a choice of routes early in the walk..

Trains 9.47 London Victoria (Clapham Junction 09.53, East Croydon 10.04) arrive Lewes 10.55

Return trains from Seaford at xx.57 to Lewes for connecting trains to London Victoria or alternatively catch a xx.27 to Brighton for connecting trains back to London Bridge. Buy a day return to Seaford.

This vigorous and glorious South Downs workout may be attractive for those going on the Scottish adventure but cannot make the Saturday Tisbury excursion. There are some long climbs and overall a total of 544m of ascent and descent.

An early lunch may be taken at the Trevor Arms in Glynde but the later recommended stop is the Ram Inn in West Firle. Both pubs are run by the same people and serve excellent meals.

Salts café in Seaford is your best bet for tea and cakes.

There are options for shortening the walk and these can be found here along with outline walk instructions.

This walk is in open countryside and is best done with a map or GPS  coupled with the outline walk guidelines. However if you want to use more  detailed written instructions see the beginning of the outline walk instructions for what to bring with you.

Weather watch: the BBC  long-term forecast for the area is for it to be dry but cold but at 150 -200m on the top of the Downs  where you will be mainly walking it could be bleak so wrap up and check on the forecast