Walks you can reach from Lewes by train

Highly recommended: South Downs ridge, chalk downland, Firle Park, river valley, ancient villages, forest, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and esplanade.

Time: 6h30–12h30

5 lunch spots: Alfriston (3h–6h30 in) — the Star Inn, the Old Smugglers Inn, or the Six Bells; plus the Ram Inn, Firle (30m–1h30 in), or the Plough & Harrow (3h30–7h30 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.

Highly recommended: Farmland, reservoir, chalk downland, ridge grassland, chalk figure, smugglers villages and seaside resort.

Eastbourne

Time: 5h30–11h30

2 lunch spots: the Eight Bells (2h30–5h30 in), or Jevington Tea Garden (3h–5h30 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Duke of Devonshire

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

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

Birling Gap

Seven Sisters Country Park

Time: 6h30–13h

4 lunch spots: the Kiosk (1h30–2h30 in), Cadence Cafe Beachy Head (2h–4h in), the Beachy Head Pub (2h–4h in), or Birling Gap café (3h–5h30 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.

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.

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

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.

Warnings: No public toilets along the way.

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Gently undulating farmland, open fields, bluebell woods, reservoir shorepath and quiet country lanes with fine downs and weald views.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be slippery.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Steep coastal cliffs, chalk downland, open panoramic ridgelines, vineyard tracks, village greens, shingle beach and seafront promenade.

Warnings: Steep coastal climbs.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

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.

Eastbourne

Time: 2h30

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Low hills, Ouse Valley, woodland, nature reserves, fields, hedgerows, historic villages and canal-era river crossings.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

River valley, ridge-top South Downs, open downland with coastal views, pretty villages and seaside esplanade.

Time: 5h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Travelog Lewes.

Open treeless downland ridges, steep ascents, scenic Cuckmere Valley, coastal promenade, beach and pier.

Warnings: Steep ascents.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

South Downs chalk hills, open downland, river valley, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and picturesque village.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).