Length: 10.4 miles The proposed walk is a slight variation on the Lewes via West Firle circular, finishing in Southease and incorporating an optional extension from West Firle to Charleston Farmhouse which will add approximately 2 km making a total of 18.8 km (just short of 12 miles).
Other options are detailed in the directions.
Difficulty: 7 out of 10
Trains: Catch the 9.54 Ore train from London Victoria (Clapham Junction 10.01, East Croydon 10.10), arriving Lewes 10.56.
Return trains from Southease are at 15.04, 16.05, 17.07, 18.07. Change at Lewes for trains to
Victoria. Change again at Hayward’s Heath if going to London Bridge.
Buy a day
return to Southease unless you plan to finish somewhere else.
The walk starts in the historic town of Lewes with the early section having fine views over the town and castle. The section along the South Downs Way offers extensive views both inland and towards the port of Newhaven with the Channel beyond.
The extension to Charleston Farmhouse offers a chance to enjoy the garden there which should be full of colour and to visit the farmhouse (see website). If you want spend time and end the walk there, it is possible to get a bus at 16.04 from a stop on the A27 next to where the driveway from the farmhouse exits (about 15- 20 minutes walk from the farmhouse).
Otherwise, we’ll take a path from Charleston up onto the South Downs Way and follow this to Southease.
Lunch: The suggested lunch pub is the Ram Inn (tel 01273 858222) in Firle. The cafe at Charleston also has some lunch options as well as tea and cakes. Picnic in Firle or at Charleston.
Tea: The YHA cafe at Southease or the station cafe at Lewes.
T=2.25
1 comment:
13 and a dog off the train in Lewes, 1 car driver with a dog and 1 who started from Glynde made a total of n=15 on today's walk on a w=bright_and_breezy day. 3 had lunch at the Ram Inn while the rest picnicked on the cricket pitch. After lunch, 4 headed directly for Southease and 11 carried on to Charleston farmhouse where we stopped for tea and cake and a look at the garden which was at its colourful best. From there, two walked on to Berwick and nine walked up the downs to Firle Beacon and followed the South Downs Way to Southease - a very enjoyable stretch over even, grassy ground, no mud to contend with, the wind behind us, gleaming sea on our left and a panoramic if hazy expanse of East Sussex to our right. We reached Southease with time to visit the YHA cafe (now open until 10pm) before heading to the station for the 17.07 train. It was cancelled and having no certainty that the 18.05 would run, we all walked to Lewes making for a very long day out. 7 caught the 18.25 and two the 18.55 from Lewes. The Berwick and earlier Southease finishers were homeward bound a couple of hours ahead of us. A very enjoyable day - the Sussex lanes lined with blossom, sheep with luxurious coats and healthy lambs, skylarks calling, a line of cows capering along the riverside full of the joys of spring. Most of the walk was mud free.
Post a Comment