Length: 25.0 km/15.6 mi
Ascent/Descent: 520m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
Take the 09.24 Eastbourne
train from Victoria (09.31 CJ, 09.40 EC), change
at Lewes (10.26/10.30), arriving Seaford at 10.48.
Return trains: xx.24 and
xx.53.
This is a map-led or gps-led walk with only minimal written instructions.
The walk incorporates sections of three other SWC walks but most of it follows
quieter trails than the “popular” South Downs routes in the area (e.g. the
Seven Sisters and the Southease to Alfriston trail) and which are not included
in other SWC walks. It has some glorious panoramic views of the South Downs
with many spots for a picnic.
Walk Options:
The outline instructions are written doing the walk anti-clockwise but you can do it clockwise as your
Alfriston lunch stops are about half way.
Shortcut - finish at Bishopstone Station, 1.9 km
from the end.
Swimming - you start and finish along the coast.
Lunch: the
usual smorgasbord of options in that tourist honeypot that is Alfriston.
Tea: A Trailer Café en route plus plenty of
options in Seaford, including that real ale pub in the station.
For details check the pdf.For a detailed route map, gpx/kml file and (minimal) pdf
directions click here. T=swc.314
2 comments:
For anyone put off by the heading for this walk, the water quality at Seaford looks to be OK https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/sewage-pollution-alerts/
(although it may be a bit windy for swimming)
The forecast had promised iffy weather for today, until last night it suddenly turned and showed sun with very low precipitation risk all day. Well, that was not what we got!
4 off the train, who took some time to get off the platform as a ginormous number of other walkers alighted as well, mostly Generation Selfie folk, there for the 7 Sisters for sure.
Outside a first-timer waited for us, all the way from Coggeshall, so top marks for effort! He had even taken an earlier train... On the promenade walker n=6 was waiting, again off the earlier train and having hoped to squeeze in a quick swim but the waves were too high.
The sun was shining, a few fluffy clouds were passing and a fair breeze was keeping us cool as we climbed Seaford Head. We overtook some of the selfie takers and - over the brow - could see a bank of sea fog rolling over the Sisters. Turning left this side of the Cuckmere River, we had found peace and quiet.
1 took a shortcut, cutting out the outer half of the route, us other 5 had lunch in Alfriston, with the majority favouring the George over the Star and the Osteria opposite the George, so that's where we went.
Upon leaving, we were greeted by ominous grey skies and - once up the Downs - driving clouds, so much so that the left half of the trouser legs was wet and the right half bone dry. That lasted for about an hour, conveniently synced with us turning left into the wind. By the time we got to Bishopstone, the waves had normalised but the swimmer still didn't quite fancy it, so we all had time for a drink at The Steamworks before catching the 17.53 train.
2 of the 3 long enclosed paths had just been cut, and the 3rd one (down to Alfriston) had encroaching hedges, but no nettles and only a few brambles. So, lucky on that front at least...
w=sunny-start-turning-wet-then-grey-skies
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