Length: 27.3 km (17.0 mi) [shorter walk possible, see
below]
Ascent/Descent: 629/624m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours
Toughness: 8 out of 10
Take the 09.54 Ore train from Victoria (CJ 10.01, EC
10.10), change at Lewes (10.56/11.00) onto the Seaford train,
arrives Southease 11.06.
Should the Ore train miss the connection at Lewes, take the 11.14 Eastbourne stopping service, arrives Glynde
11.19 and Berwick 11.25, and walk the alternative start routes from
Glynde or Berwick.
Return trains from Eastbourne: xx.05 and xx.33.
Buy an Eastbourne Return.
This walk along the South Downs Way (SDW) consists of spectacular ridge
walks with three steep ascents and a picturesque village in the middle for
lunch and another one for tea, and with Beachy Head, Eastbourne promenade,
beach and pier at the finish. It is a long but very rewarding walk. The route
is well waymarked, the paths are easy walking, and the route is easy to follow.
The South Downs are treeless and open, so there are good views throughout
(weather permitting).
The walk starts at Southease Station, right on the
SDW, and climbs the first ridge straight away, up to Itford Hill and then along
the ridge to Firle Beacon, the highest point of the walk. There is an
alternative start in Glynde in case the train misses the connection at Lewes
for Southease.
At the end of the ridge, you descend into
Alfriston, a pretty village in the scenic Cuckmere Valley, with a village green
dominated by a large church. Several good pubs and tea rooms and a village shop
vie for your lunch business. After lunch, follow the northern leg of the SDW up
and over Windover Hill and down to Jevington (tea room and pub) before a final
climb to head south along another ridge towards the coast.
There is an inland shortcut into Eastbourne if you
are tired, but the suggested route is to continue along the ridge to the coast,
to join up with the SDW's Coastal Route near Beachy Head. From here, head
downhill into Eastbourne, where you follow the promenade along the beach into
town towards the pier.
Walk Options:
Start at Glynde Station: similar distance, but
connection at Lewes not so tight.
Start at Berwick Station: follow the waymarked
Vanguard Way to Alfriston.
Shortcut into Eastbourne: descend
earlier into Eastbourne and follow roads to the station rather than the seaside
promenade (cut 2.5 km).
Lunch: plenty options in Alfriston.
Tea: tea room and pub in Jevington; plenty options in
Eastbourne.
For summary, walk directions, map, height
profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.25
#2026-06-13T09:54
1 comment:
4 off a not very much packed train, awaited by walker n=5 who had walked in from Lewes off a train 90 minutes earlier! No slacking there...
The sun was out and stayed out, and a strong wind was blowing all day from the SW, i.e. mainly from the back or side-on. There was a gargantuous charity walk on (Brighton Eastbourne for MacMillan), meaning we overtook hundreds and hundreds of walkers, until we got to Alfriston, where they turned right along the Cuckmere to also take in the 7 Sisters.
We had reached A'ton at 13.15, when 3 of us chose The George for lunch, while 2 explored the village, ended up at a tearoom "opposite the church", then joined us in the pub.
We then veered off the SDW route by heading straight up the hill to Lullington Church (very lovely, and one of the smallest in England, on account of the main body of it having burned down at some point) and then back on route and onto Wilmington Hill. Straight through Jevington and back up the Downs, eventually re-united with the MacMillan hordes where their coastal SDW route met ours.
We got to The London & County pub inbetween trains at 17.45, so - seeing we had just finished lunch a mere 3 1/2 hours earlier - had just a quick one and boarded the 18.05 to Lewes where we had dinner at Caccia & Tails, a very pleasant Focaccieria & Bar, then a drink at that pub at the last corner b4 the station.
A very grand day out indeed.
w=sunny-with-a-strong-wind
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