long man's walking guide to Sussex

A Compendium of Sussex Walks

Tag: walks

Pyecombe Circular

August 14, 2012 / / 0 Comments
Saddlescombe Farm

Saddlescombe Farm

Pyecombe Circular

  • 7 miles, 3 and a half hours
  • steep climbs and slopes
  • pub at Pyecombe,  tea rooms at Saddlescombe Farm
  • accessible by bus

buscup of tea

Circular walk on the Downs near Brighton from Pyecombe on the A23. Once away from the road, the walk passes through woods and fine open downland, taking in Newtimber Hill, Saddlescombe Farm  and  the southern slopes of Devil’s Dyke. Saddlescombe Farm is a National Trust owned hidden hamlet in the Downs with 1000 years of history. Pop by the seasonal Hiker’s Rest on the farm for tea and cake, before moving on back to Pyecombe, where you can enjoy a pint and a Pizza in the Plough.

Steyning, Chanctonbury and Washington Walk

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Chanctonbury Ring Sussex

Chanctonbury & Washington Walk  (Steyning & Community District Partnership, PDF)

Walking near Steyning, Chanctonbury and Washington (PDF) – South Downs National Park

  • 7 miles, 3-4 hours
  • steep ascent and descent, some stiles
  • good choice of pubs, tea rooms and toilets in Steyning. Option to extend walk to visit pub in Washington.
  • accessible by bus

buscup of tea

Excellent walk rising from Steyning onto the South Downs to Chanctonbury Ring, an iron age hill fort 242m high (791 ft), planted with a ring of trees in 1760. The Great Storm of 1987 did its best to flatten the ring for good but it has now recovered well.

Local legend has it that Chanctonbury Ring was created by the Devil. He can apparently be summoned by running around the clump of trees seven times anti-clockwise. When he appears he will offer you a bowl of soup in exchange for your soul. Probably not the most tempting offer though it can get cold up on the ring in winter!

This is walk three of the Steyning Walks series by the Steyning & District Community Partnership.

 

 

East Brighton Walks: Rottingdean and the Downs East of Brighton

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

East Brighton Walks (PDF)

St Wulfran's Church Ovingdean

St Wulfran’s Church, Ovingdean

  • variety of walking routes to choose from – from a mile or two to around 8 miles
  • some steep climbs on some of the walks
  • pubs, toilets and tea rooms in Rottingdean, Saltdean and Brighton Marina.
  • accessible by bus

buscup of tea

Part of Brighton and Hove Council’s excellent  ‘Downs on Your Doorstep’ series of leaflets, this leaflet details walking options for exploring the Downs east  of Brighton including the undercliff walk between Brighton Marina and Rottingdean or Saltdean, and inland over the Downs.

Balsdean Church

You can pass the seaside village of Rottingdean where Rudyard Kipling once lived (visit Kipling Gardens for real peace and tranquility), the famous Roedean School, the 11th century  St Wulfran’s Church nestling in the Downs in Ovingdean, and what little is left of the lost village of Balsdean (used as target practice by the military during the Second World War).

Hollingbury Woods Easy Access Trail

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Hollingbury Woods Easy Access Trail (PDF)

  • short easy access walk, free from gates and stiles and suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and the less mobile
  • smooth wide path with plenty of benches
  • about one hour walking time
  • on several bus routes

disabled access signbus

Part of Brighton and Hove Council’s excellent  ‘Downs on Your Doorstep’ series of leaflets, this leaflet details a short walk through woodlands on the northern edge of Brighton just off Ditchling Road (the link goes to the more up-to-date version by the South Downs Joint Committee).

Stanmer and Ditchling Beacon

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments
The Great Wood, Stanmer Park

Bluebells in The Great Wood, Stanmer Park

Stanmer and Ditchling Beacon (PDF)

  • variety of walking routes to choose from – about 7 miles for Stanmer and Ditchling circular walk
  • easy access route of 5 miles suitable for more robust buggies and wheelchairs
  • some steep climbs on some of the walks
  • pub, tea room and toilets in Stanmer village. Pub at Falmer. Ice cream van usually at Ditchling Beacon.
  • accessible by bus and train

disabled access signtrainbuscup of tea

Part of Brighton and Hove Council’s excellent  ‘Downs on Your Doorstep’ series of leaflets, this leaflet details walking options starting from Stanmer Park (or Falmer Train Station), including a more  substantial walk up to Ditchling Beacon, the highest point in East Sussex. Stanmer is a beautiful downland park containing the grade I listed Stanmer House (now partly a pub), the flintstone Stanmer Church and a  quiet village street with a good value tea shop.

Poppies near Ditchling Beacon

Poppies near Ditchling Beacon, July 2016

A profusion of bluebells can be seen on the higher reaches of Stanmer Great Wood during the spring, and you may see poppies in June and July.

Walks around Steyning: Rural Retreat Walk

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Rural Retreat Walk

  • 7.5  miles 4 hours. Short walk option – about 3 miles.
  • Flat with a number of stiles. Can be muddy. Some walking on country roads.
  • pub at start/finish in Ashurst. Tea room in Wiston

cup of tea

Circular country walk from the 16th century Fountain Inn in Ashurst, through meadows and farms to Wiston, where there is a popular tea room. The walk back is through more meadows and woodland with views of the Downs and Chanctonbury Ring. Walk 4 of the excellent Steyning Walks series.

The Fountain Inn was the location for the video of Paul McCartney’s festive favourite, ‘A Wonderful Christmastime’.

Walks around Steyning: River and Countryside Walk

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

River and Countryside Walk (PDF)

  • 6.5 miles, 3 hours
  • mostly level with some stiles
  • good choice of pubs, tea rooms and toilets in Steyning. None on route.
  • accessible by bus

bus

A circular walk from Steyning along the banks of the River Adur with views of Chanctonbury Ring and Lancing College, returning on the Downslink path. Walk two of the Steyning Walks series by the Steyning & District Community Partnership.

Walks around Steyning: Three Ancient Village Churches

August 12, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Bramber Castle, West Sussex, England, 14 Sept. 2011 - Flickr - PhillipC
Three Ancient Village Churches (PDF)

  • 4 miles 2 hours
  • mostly level with some stiles. Muddy in winter
  • pubs and toilets in Bramber. None on route. Ice cream van often in Bramber Castle car park.
  • accessible by bus

buscup of teachurch castle

Easy circular walk, starting from Bramber near Steyning, exploring three ancient churches of the Adur Valley, including the quaint Saxon church of St Botolphs. The walk also passes the ruins of Bramber Castle (an excellent picnic spot) and the medieval St Mary’s House. If you want to visit a further churches, Coombes Church, a little further down the country road from St Botolph’s is also well worth a visit and has wall paintings dating from around 1100. Walk 1 of the excellent Steyning Walks series.

Welcome to the long man guide to Sussex walks

August 6, 2012 / / 0 Comments

This website is intended to be  a comprehensive guide to walking in Sussex. I have lived in Sussex for over 20 years and walked many of its paths, especially in the Brighton area, the South Downs between Eastbourne and Arundel, and the Ashdown Forest. This is where my focus will inevitably start but  this website will cover all areas of the county, and I hope to get to know some new places in doing so.  Sussex is a beautiful county to walk in offering a wide choice of walks, and I hope this website encourages you to explore more of the county and get your walking boots on.

 
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