16 km (10 miles) or 22.7 km (14 miles) 7/10, maybe 5/10 for the 10 mile version
It's not as complicated as it sounds! (and has been tested). Most of the walk follows quieter trails than the main south downs route on other SWC walks, with fine views. It should work well clockwise with a Bishopstone start cutting out nearly two miles of seafront walking. The instructions are pretty sketchy so you really need a map or GPX to do this walk anyhow.
A 10 mile version is available if you end the walk at Eastbourne Road, Seaford (bus stop for 12A, 12X, 701 etc. to Seaford station and onward to Brighton, marked on the map here), or take the last chance for a longer Wednesday walk before the clocks go back, with a spectacular finish over Seaford Head.
Trains: 0954 from Victoria (Clapham Junction 1001 East Croydon 1010) changing at Lewes on to the 1100 arriving Bishopstone 1116. There is only a 4 minute connection time which normally involves a dash across the station – quickest if you are in the middle of the train from London. Returns from Seaford via Lewes at 24 and 53. If you book now (1 Oct) you can get advance tickets for £10.65 out and £4.65 back (with railcard).
Lunch and tea: numerous options in Alfriston and Seaford respectively, all set out on the Glynde to Seaford walk pages.
Short walk option: as well as the shorter starts and finishes proposed above, you could take a big short cut 3.6 km after Bishopstone which misses out Alfriston and reduces the walk length by a further 10 km.
For walk directions, map and GPX click here.
T=swc.314
4 comments:
I keep getting an error message when trying to transfer the GPX for walk 314, Seaford Circular via Alfriston and Bishopstone, to my PC. Anyone else having problems?
And now it's working. I intend going on this walk - the forecast is good. If anyone is coming to Lewes on the 09:54 from Victoria and it's running too late for the change at Lewes, give me a ring on 07973 139358, I'll have my car.
Many thanks Brian. If we missed the train we could also (1) wait for the next one or (2) get the train to Glynde and go to Seaford via walk 181 option 2, 10 miles 6/10
A good turnout of #15 for this walk in #perfect-sunny-mild weather. But it has been raining a bit so there were a few slippery bits as well as some paths completely blocked by puddles.
The group got pretty spread out in the morning and the back markers arrived at Alfriston to find the whole group spread out on the benches on the green and no pub-goers. Your correspondent barely had time to gobble down his sandwich before we set off again, mindful I assume of the long walk ahead. For most of the afternoon the "slow group" at least was slightly more cohesive with seven more or less staying together till the bus stop. I hear that four in total took the bus option, two from my group.
So that left five of us to take a slight shortcut across a mucky field from South Barn to reach Seaford Head, with views indeed spectacular to gleaming white cliffs in both directions. Four of us staggered into the Steamworks for tea and cakes in time to get the 1754, leaving one with a well-earned pint. Very tired at the end but a good walk to take advantage of the fine day.
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