Walks you can reach from Lewes by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Lewes.
Glynde to Seaford (Sussex)
5 minutes direct from Lewes.
Highly recommended: South Downs ridge, chalk downland, Firle Park, river valley, ancient villages, forest, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and esplanade.
Alfriston Clergy House (National Trust; 3h15 in)
Time: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
5 lunch spots: Alfriston (3h15 in) — the Star Inn, the Old Smugglers Inn, or the Six Bells; plus the Ram Inn, Firle (45m in), or the Plough & Harrow (3h45 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Cuckmere Inn, or the Old Boot Inn
Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Berwick to Eastbourne (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
Highly recommended: Farmland, reservoir, chalk downland, ridge grassland, chalk figure, smugglers villages and seaside resort.
Eastbourne (5h30 in)
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
2 lunch spots: the Eight Bells (2h45 in), or Jevington Tea Garden (2h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Duke of Devonshire
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Eastbourne to Seaford (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
Highly recommended: Spectacular white cliffs in a well-protected national landscape. Immense white chalk cliffs, sea, marshes, meadows and beachfront.
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: four fifths along the coast.
Eastbourne (2h30 in)
Birling Gap (National Trust; 3h15 in)
Cuckmere Valley (National Trust; 4h45 in)
Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
4 lunch spots: the Kiosk (1h15 in), Cadence Cafe Beachy Head (2h in), the Beachy Head Pub (2h in), or Birling Gap café (3h15 in; excellent)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Cuckmere Inn
Best months: Jun-Jul (when the chalk is gleaming).
Warnings: Very popular and busy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Glynde Circular via Furlongs (Sussex)
5 minutes direct from Lewes.
Downland villages of artists and history: a Ravilious-painted cottage, a stately house, a Roman villa site and parish churches, with pubs en route.
Firle Place: A Tudor-cored country house, seat of the Gage family, open to the public.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Southease Circular via Telscombe (Sussex)
6 minutes direct from Lewes.
Ouse valley villages of literary curiosity, past a youth hostel cafe, Virginia Woolf's former home and a round-towered church; a couple of short steep climbs.
Monk's House: Virginia Woolf's country home in the Ouse valley village of Rodmell.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: No public toilets along the way.
Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Berwick Circular via Upper Dicker (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
Gently undulating farmland, open fields, bluebell woods, reservoir shorepath and quiet country lanes with fine downs and weald views.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be slippery.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Seaford Circular via Alfriston and Bishopstone (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
Steep coastal cliffs, chalk downland, open panoramic ridgelines, vineyard tracks, village greens, shingle beach and seafront promenade.
Time: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep coastal climbs.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Eastbourne Circular via Eastbourne Pier (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
All-tarmac seafront town walk past grand Victorian hotels, a pier, a Martello tower, the Winter Gardens, a gallery and elegant districts; a few moderate climbs.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Haywards Heath Circular via Lindfield (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from Lewes.
Low hills, Ouse Valley, woodland, nature reserves, fields, hedgerows, historic villages and canal-era river crossings.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Southease to Seaford (Sussex)
6 minutes direct from Lewes.
River valley, ridge-top South Downs, open downland with coastal views, pretty villages and seaside esplanade.
Monk's House (National Trust)
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Similar walk: Travelog Lewes.
Southease to Eastbourne (Sussex)
6 minutes direct from Lewes.
Open treeless downland ridges, steep ascents, scenic Cuckmere Valley, coastal promenade, beach and pier.
Time: 8h30 (7h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep ascents.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Berwick to Seaford (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Lewes.
South Downs chalk hills, open downland, river valley, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and picturesque village.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).