Walks from Lewes

Highly recommended: Three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.

Monk's House – Virginia Woolf's Home (National Trust; 4h in)

Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

5 lunch spots: Glynde (1h45 in) — Glynde Stores & Post, or the Trevor Arms; plus the YHA Southease Hostel & Campsite (3h30 in), the Abergavenny Arms (4h in), or the Juggs (5h45 in)

Warnings: Three steep climbs.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Escarpments, three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Lewes (15m in)

Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h45 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Stile-free open downland with panoramic views, through the secluded Balsdean valley past a ruined hamlet and a nature reserve.

Lewes

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

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

Ouse valley flatlands and downland to the sea, past a Norman church, a vineyard and open-access tops, finishing at an Art Deco lido resort.

Lewes

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Mud possible in the valley.

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

Hilly downland over the 1264 Battle of Lewes ground and Offham Coombe access land, past a castle, a lido, chalk pits and a hilltop viewpoint.

Lewes Castle: A Norman motte-and-bailey castle on a ridge above the county town.

Blackcap: A National Trust downland summit topped by a clump of trees north of Lewes.

Lewes

Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

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

Open chalk downland, South Downs ridgeline, woods, wetland, bridleways, old racecourse and town streets.

Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

Steep hills, chalk ridge, South Downs Way, secluded valley, flat river levee and historic town.

Time: 8h (6h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Warnings: Steep hills. Avoid Dec/Jan.

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

Downland village loop with Ouse valley views, a Tudor house, a reconstructed windmill, ruined priory and three pubs.

Lewes

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Open downland section can be very muddy after rain.

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

Largely level Ouse valley loop to a hamlet, past churches, a Tudor house, a ruined priory and drainage brooks.

Lewes

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

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

Mostly secluded.

Monk's House – Virginia Woolf's Home (National Trust; 2h30 in)

Monk's House (National Trust)

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

1 lunch spot: the Abergavenny Arms Pub (2h15 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

South Downs ridges, open downland, sweeping valley, remote hidden valley, coastal shingle beach and recreation ground.

Time: 8h (6h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Warnings: Steep climbs.

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

South Downs chalk grassland ridge, panoramic views to sea and inland, dew ponds, Iron Age fort, wooded climbs, riverside embankment and historic town.

Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Can be slippery.

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