Hello All
The rain looks set in for the weekend so I think it best to cancel the 19 mile walk. It won’t be much fun to be out all day in a downpour. It may just be a postponement as it is such a lovely walk so watch out for updates. Russell
Walk Four: All day Lewes-Blackcap-Kingston Ridge-Firle Beacon-Caburn-Lewes Sunday 2nd August 10am
19 miles or 30 km
Level: Medium to hard. There will be break-off points where people can easily return to Lewes, either peeling off and walking back, or catching the train from Southease or Glynde.
Bring with you: See kit list
Start: Open Space, 11a St Nicholas Lane (off Lansdown Place), Lewes BN7 2JY - 2 mins from the station
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch and something for tea.
Route and features:
- Stage One: Lewes to Offham along the River Ouse and then via Mount Harry to Blackcap (views across The Weald and Plumpton Plain).
- Stage Two: Blackcap via The South Downs Way. Then Balmer Farm, Newmarket Plantation, around Cold Combes, and up to Swanborough Hill (views across to the coastal cliffs and Brighton), along the ridge, above Iford and Rodmell and down to Southease. We will have a lunch stop at some point during this stage.
- Stage Three: From Southease to Itford Hill (view of the Ouse from Lewes to Newhaven), still on The South Downs Way, to Beddingham Hill (panoramic views of The Downs and The Weald). Drop down the escarpment to Little Dean and Glynde. We will stop for tea at some point during this stage, or perhaps later at Caburn.
- Stage Four: Glynde to Caburn (Bronze Age fort) following the ridge to Saxon Down, skirt Bible Bottom, and down Chapel Hill into Lewes.
Maps: OS Map Explorer 122 (Brighton & Hove, Lewes & Burgess Hill) or OS Landranger 198 (Brighton & The Downs).
Price: Adults £5; not recommended for under 14s. Please book via email or tel 01273 474761.
Walk Three: Ouse Valley Sunday 5th July, 10am
Option One 4 miles or 6.4km return by train; Option Two 6.25 miles or 10km return by train.
Level: Easy to medium. Gentle walk to Southease Station, whereupon you can either catch the train back to Lewes, or extend the walk to Newhaven (one small climb).
Bring with you: see kit list
Start: Open Space, 11a St Nicholas Lane (off Lansdown Place), Lewes BN7 2JY - 2 mins from the station
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch.
Route and features:
- Stage One: Railway Land through the Heart of Reeds across the water meadows to the riverbank. Then follow the western bank of River Ouse to Southease (views along the Ouse Valley to the sea and towards Lewes). We will have lunch on the green at Southease.
- Stage Two: If you are returning to Lewes from Southease, cross the old swing bridge to the station. If you are walking on to Newhaven, follow the western bank to Dean’s Farm. The path cuts up a small valley and then loops back to Piddinghoe through the village and back to the riverbank, skirt Piddinghoe Pond, and follow the bank to Newhaven. Anticlockwise around the Denton Island cut and across the bridge to Newhaven town station to return to Lewes.
- If you are still feeling energetic, you can walk through the harbour, across Mill Creek, to the beach and then east past Tide Mills, Bishopstone, and to Seaford, where you can enjoy fish and chips or tea and cake from the beach front kiosk, and then catch a train back to Lewes.
Maps: OS Map Explorer 122 (Brighton & Hove, Lewes & Burgess Hill) or OS Landranger 198 (Brighton & The Downs).
Price: £5 Adults plus cost of travel; under 11s free. Please book via email or tel 01273 474761.
Walk Two: Lewes to Seaford, return by train. Sunday 7th June, 10am
17 miles or 27 km
Start: 10 am - Open Space, 11a St Nicholas Lane (off Lansdown Place), Lewes BN7 2JY
Level: Not for beginners. Long walk with one steep climb up to Beddingham Hill; catch train to return to Lewes. Shorter version if
it rains ending at Bishopstone Railway Station.
Bring with you: see kit list
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch and something for tea.
Route and features:
- Stage One: Cross Lewes, go up Chapel Hill (views of Lewes) across to Saxon Hill (views of The Weald and Ashdown Forest) up to Caburn (Bronze Age Hill Fort) and down into the village of Glynde.
- Stage Two: Glynde through Little Dean and up the escarpment to Beddingham Hill (panoramic view of The Weald and The Downs). East along the ridge via Firle Beacon to Bo Peep (many panoramic views, long barrows and tumuli). Lunch stop at some point during this stage.
- Stage Three: Bo Peep south to Blackstone Bottom. Along the Comp (track) to High and Over (panoramic view of the Cuckmere Valley and Friston Forest) along the Cuckmere to Cuckmere Haven to stop for our tea, and then back west to Seaford on the coastal path.
Maps: OS Map Explorer 122 (Brighton & Hove, Lewes & Burgess Hill); OS Landranger 198 (Brighton & The Downs) then OS Landranger 199 (Eastbourne & Hastings).
Price: £5 Adults plus cost of travel; not recommended for under 11s. Please book via email.
Head for the Downs in Viva Lewes
Look out for a piece about Head for the Downs in the June issue of Viva Lewes
Family walk – May Bank holiday Monday 4th – 3pm
A walk designed for family and those wanting a leisurely stroll on the Downs near to Lewes.
Start: 3pm - Open Space, 11a St Nicholas Lane (off Lansdown Place), Lewes BN7 2JY
3.7 miles or 6 km
Level: Easy, some steep slopes.
Bring with you: See kit list Good walking boots/ shoes essential for steep slopes.
Route and features:
- Through The Cliffe and up Chapel Hill (views of the Ouse Valley, south west and north, and Lewes below).
- Up to Saxon Cross (views across Ringmar to The Weald).
- Across Cliffe Hill and then down through The Combe (the lambs should still be in the fields).
- Back to the Cliffe along road.
Maps: OS Map Explorer 122 (Brighton & Hove, Lewes & Burgess Hill) or OS Landranger 198 (Brighton & The Downs).
Price: £3.50 Adults; under 11s free. Please book via email or tel 01273 474761.
Additional walk may be added to the season – Above and below the escarpment
Southease Station to Glynde Station along the ridge and back by Comp Lane coach road. Features Firle Beacon, Alfriston, Berwick Church with the Bloomsbury wall painting and a chance to enjoy the Ram Inn at Firle.
England’s South Downs gain national park status
To accompany an article about the announcement of the South Downs National Park, The Guardian has published a series of lovely images.
Welcome to Head for the Downs 2009 Summer Season
Welcome to Head for the Downs
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2009 Season May – September
Guided walks in the Ouse Valley and Downs around Lewes
A series of walks to suit all ages – family walks, Lewes-coast walks, all day Lewes-Blackcap-Kingston Ridge-Firle Beacon-Caburn-Lewes, and walks for special occasions.
