Length:
23.7 km/14.7 mi [shorter options available, see below]
Ascent/Descent:
544/545m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 5 ¾ hours
Toughness:
8 out of 10
Take
the 09.54 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham 10.01, EC 10.10), arrives Lewes at 10.56.
From London Bridge take
the Caterham & Tattenham Corner train at 09.47 and
change at East Croydon (10.01/10.10).
Return
trains are on xx.25 and xx.53. Buy a Seaford (Sussex) return.
From
Lewes, the route takes a variation of the familiar south easterly route out of
Lewes: cross the River Ouse in the town centre and climb a lane to a golf club
car-park. You then follow a circular ridge route, with glorious views
throughout followed by a long descent into Glynde. From Glynde station, go
through the village to cross over the A24 and pass Preston Court Farm. You go
through the entrance to Firle Park, cross a field and enter the village of West
Firle for lunch and drinks at the Ram Inn.
Continue
through West Firle to start a long climb up to a spot near Firle Beacon. Head
westerly to the transmission masts on Beddingham Hill and descend with glorious
views to the seafront promenade in Bishopstone and on along the coast to
Seaford.
You
have four options for shortening the walk:
Lewes
to Seaford omitting West Firle 18.6 km (11.6 m);
Glynde
to Seaford via West Firle 16.8km (10.5m);
Glynde
to Seaford omitting West Firle 12.5km (7.8m);
finish
at Bishopstone station (cuts 2.0 km).
Tea: Plenty of choice in
Seaford, the walk author recommends Salts Café.
2 comments:
Plenty of hard rain had fallen early morning in London, but when we alighted in Lewes, the weather was 'on forecast': namely blue skies with a fierce breeze on the tops.
6 off the train plus 1 driver down from Tunnie Wells set off in 5 + 2 fashion. We loosely followed the route around the rim of the most beautiful valley in the southeast (on account of the 'leader' neither watching map or text), where we encountered an 8th walker, down from 7oaks but up from Glynde where he had parked his car. We then had a sumptious lunch at The Ram, outside and initially in the sun. When a tree put us in the shade, it finally felt like autumn.
On up the Downs, with the Tunnie Wells guy having already opted for the short route. Views were as clear and far reaching as they will ever get from the heights around here, and the out-and-back to Firle Beacon was very well worth the effort. Turning back easterly, into the biting wind, now it really was a case of zipping up and moving on quickly. 7oaks man was heading down to the right off the ridge to reunite with his car, which left 6 of us ambling down to the left to Bishopstone and then Seaford.
There was still a little bit of light in the sky once we reached the seafront promenade, helped by the near full moon, and a slither of reddish sky out far west. 1 walker made out she could spot various named stars and planets, like she was a stargazer, but who'd believe her? Drinks at The Shore near the station. 18.25 train. A rather glorious day.
n=8 w=sunny-with-a-cold-breeze-on-the-tops
As the others roistered in the fleshpots of Firle, I climbed up to the ridge of the Downs - and had them to myself. In the clearest air I have ever seen in South England, the views were spectacular and far-reaching. (From the top of Malling Down, outside Lewes, we could see Crowborough, 14 miles away.) A long windswept traverse and down to Norton, where a nice lady provided water (that'll teach me to pack salt beef sandwiches) and on to Bishopstone and an early train. A great day out. Thanks for posting it, Thomas.
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