Berwick via Upper Dicker Circular Walk

Tranquil, quiet and gently undulating countryside with fine views of the downs and weald

Length	17.3 km (10 3/4 mi) Time Required: 5–6 hours plus any stops or diversions
Toughness	1 out of 10
OS Maps	OS Explorer OL25 (Eastbourne)
Walk Notes	The walk starts and end at Berwick railway station, a 10 minute journey from Lewes. An idyllic ramble through tranquil, quiet and gently undulating countryside. Not a South Downs walk, but with fine views of the downs and weald. South Downs without the grind!
Travel	Berwick Railway Station is served by trains between Brighton, Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne and Hastings. Trains call once an hour throughout the week. If coming from London, it may be quicker to go to Brighton and change there, rather than changing at Lewes.
Walk options	This is not a long walk, but if pressed for time you could cut out the circuit of Abbot's Wood or take the short cut indicated in the final paragraph.
Points of interest	Abbots Wood derives its name from the times of Henry I, when the wood was gifted to Battle Abbey and overseen by the Abbot. A mixture of tree species, including conifer, hazel and hornbeam can be found. Michelham Priory House and Gardens is managed by the Sussex Archaeological Society (£14 in 2025, check with them for opening hours). The Priory was founded by Augustinian canons in 1229, on a secluded island surrounded by England's largest medieval moat. It was largely destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and rebuilt as a Tudor mansion. It later became a farm and housed wartime evacuees. Construction of Arlington Reservoir began in 1969 to meet the growing demand for tap water. A dam was built across the River Cuckmere, and the spoil from the excavation was used to build the rolling landscape around the reservoir's edges.
Lunch	The Old Oak Inn, Caneheath, Arlington, East Sussex, BN26 6SJ, is passed both after 4 kms and (more conveniently) after 7.4 kms. An award-winning free house and restaurant (Argus Pub of the Year 2024 and 2023). Large South facing sheltered garden and sundeck. Closed on Mondays, open other weekdays 12 to 10, Saturdays 10 to 8 and Sundays 10 to 5. Tel: (01323) 482072. Blue Door Cafe at Michelham Priory (no admission needed, same hours as the Priory) The village shop at Upper Dicker would be a good place to buy provisions and there are picnic tables nearby. The Plough, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker, BN27 3QJ, is the other lunch option (10.2 kns). Described as a beautiful 17th century gastro pub in the East Sussex countryside, with country-style restaurant, bistro bar, sun terraces and extensive gardens. Food served from midday till at least 8pm every day. Tel: (01323) 844859.
Tea	Arlington Reservoir Kiosk is a short detour from the walk and is good for a hot drink and a cake. The Berwick Inn is directly opposite the station at the end of the walk. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Author	This walk is based on an original created by Chris Smith of Travellog Lewes for The Ramblers.
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Version	Sep-25 Mike Powell
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Walk Directions

The directions for this walk are also in a PDF (link above) which you can download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

Berwick to Old Oak Inn (4 kms)
The start of this walk follows #cw2.27 Walk 2/27 (Berwick to Seaford). Exiting from platform 2 of Berwick station, turn right to emerge on the road opposite Berwick Service Station (from platform 1, you need to take the level crossing). Carefully cross the road and turn left. In 20 metres turn right, following the direction indicated by the footpath post on a path (with the Berwick Service Station garage off to your left), your direction 100°. In 40 metres go through a metal kissing gate. Veer left across a field aiming for a gate on the far side, your direction East (the map indicates another path further to the right, which may not be apparent on the ground). In 100 metres go through this metal gate (with a sign for the Cuckmere Pilgrims Path, or CPP) and continue on a faint grass footpath across the next field, heading to the left of a row of bushes on the far side and to the left of a line of mini pylon cables, your direction 80°.
In 140 metres go through two metal gates each side of a ditch stream and continue uphill, with a barbed-wire fence to your right, your direction East. In 120 metres, at the top of the hill, turn right to follow the fence, your direction 140°. In 50 metres go through a metal gate and turn left downhill, still with a barbed-wire fence on your right, your direction East. There is now a clear view of Arlington Reservoir to your left. In 150 metres go through a metal kissing-gate in the bottom right-hand corner of the field (which may be hidden by trees). In 5 metres turn right on a tarmac lane (Walk 2/27 turns left towards the reservoir) for about 10 metres to Chilverbridge House. Turn left through a gate and the garden. At the end of the garden, to the left of a wooden outbuilding, go over a stile and immediately afterwards turn right over a second stile.
Reach the road and cross carefully. A wooden signpost directs you to a path to the left of a parking area, which winds North East through trees, parallel with the road. At the end of the path cross the road again and turn right over a bridge, walking along a wide pavement. Turn left on a drive (entering South East Water property), signposted for the CPP and Wealdway (a long distance path between Gravesend and Eastbourne). Follow the Wealdway at 15°, with the River Cuckmere close by on your left. Where the drive turns to the right, take a stile on your left by a field gate and continue on a possibly wet path. You are heading directly towards the church at Arlington.
Go through a gap in a hedge and turn right, leaving the CPP and Wealdway. Follow a path on the left side of a fence and hedge. The path passes between a house and a hedge and over a plank bridge to reach a road (The Street). Walk left down the road passing Copyhold Cottages. Turn right down a waymarked path, with a hedge on your left and a wooden fence on your right. Walk about 70 metres to the point at which the path turns left (ignoring a gate on your right), over a footbridge and through a gate to enter a large field.
Continue at 60° to the right hand opposite corner of the field, towards a gate, with houses and pylons visible beyond. At the far corner of the field, go through a gate, cross a footbridge and a stile (broken in 2025) and cross Wilbees Road. Go over a stile and follow the right edge of the next field under the pylons, ignoring a stile and path to the right. Continue in the same direction across two more fields.
Turn right along a minor road at Bates Green Farm for about 100 metres, turn left over a stile, then turn right with a residential hedge on your left (soon ignoring the parallel path to the left through trees). After the second field, under a telegraph pole, ignore a path from the left. As you near the corner of the next field, with the pub garden ahead, turn left to the road and the Old Oak Inn (on your right).
Abbot’s Wood (3.4 kms)
You have the option of visiting the pub now, but as there is well over half the walk ahead, you may wish to complete the Abbot’s Wood circuit first. Either way, turn left on the road, and on the other side you will see the entrance to Abbot’s Wood, an extensive forest with open access. Follow the wide surfaced track in to the Wood then turn right on the Abbot’s Amble (marked by black arrows on a yellow background), which you follow anti-clockwise. Commit this point to memory as you will be returning here! Continue on to a wide drive passing the car park (and a toilet block) on your right, then follow the logos to the left, in to the woods. You have a ditch on your right, cross a wide path and ignore a marked route to the left, an unmarked track to the left and an unmarked track to the right. Pass to the left of a pond with seats, then turn right and left, off the wide track but always following the Abbot's Way markers. Just after a memorial seat on the right, you return to your starting point and turn right, back to the road, with the Old Oak now just to your left.
Old Oak Inn to Upper Dicker (2.8 kms)
Turn right from Abbot’s Wood (or left from the pub) on the road, then left on a concrete drive at Primrose Farm. The right of way at first is to the right of the main farm entrance, then you turn right on the drive. At the end of the drive, turn right and left, then go through a metal gate at the corner of the field on your right. Cross the field North-West, in the direction of a yellow arrow, heading for a gate in the far corner. In the next (irregularly shaped) field, bear slightly right (320°) towards a field gate or a gap visible ahead, probably with no obvious path, keeping well away from the ruined brick building in the left of the field. Note that the pylons marked on the map in this field are no longer there (also the paths to your left are opened up by the farm in the spring for fee-paying bluebell hunters, so you may find yourself surrounded by crowds). In the next small field ignore the stile visible ahead; instead bear slightly left and go through a field gate, then follow the field edge with woods to your right. In the last field the path bears to the left and you go over a stile on to the road (there is no sign here).
Turn left along the road, crossing over the River Cuckmere and pass Michelham Priory which you may wish to visit (it may be possible to walk up the drive and turn left on the Wealdway, but this has not been checked on the ground). Shortly after the priory, at the corner of a wooden fence, turn right on a path heading North and then North West (taking the left of two paths indicated on a post as you enter sports fields). Continue along the right edge of the sports fields, turning left (on the Wealdway and just after a marked path to the right) to cross the sports fields (320°) and leave the grass by a gap in the fence and over a plank bridge (if you are unsure, follow the edge of the grass round to the left and you will find the plank bridge to your right). Continue ahead to emerge to the left of Dicker stores and cafe (The Village Shop).
Pass picnic tables and turn left on the main road (Coldharbour Road, later Wick Street) about 100 metres after the stores. Go past a chapel on your left, across the cross roads and past the St Bedes school. A little further on, on your right, is The Plough pub with food and a garden.
Upper Dicker to Arlington Reservoir (3.5 kms)
Just after the pub, on the opposite side of the road, turn left down a tunnel of foliage. Once in the open, turn right with more sports fields to your left and a rough hedgerow to your right, following the Wealdway signs.
Go over a stile in to a large field, heading in the same direction as before (South-West), with woods to your left and the road below to the right. Turn left on a lane at Parkwood Farm, then almost immediately right in a large field. There are fine views of the South Downs throughout this section. Cross the field to a stile and (probably open) field gate near the middle of the far side. Cross the next field half left (200°) to a metal gate. In the next field take a wooden footbridge to your right and turn left.
The route now runs alongside or close to the banks of the Cuckmere river across two fields. This is a good point for a late picnic. When you reach a substantial footbridge to your left over the river, ignore it. Instead, leave the Wealdway and take the wide path immediately to the right. Note though that this is a BOAT (byway open to all traffic) which can be very slippery in the winter or after heavy rain (map users will note that there is an alternative path – this involves crossing the footbridge ahead of you, not turning right, then you can either cross two fields on a poorly defined path or follow the right edge until you reach the green sign as below).
Turn left over a footbridge at a green footpath sign for Arlington Reservoir. Follow the right edge of a field. Go over a footbridge in to the next field. Ignore a path to the right and continue under wires. Go through a gate ahead and continue on a gravel path, soon following the shore of Arlington Reservoir, with fine views of the South Downs across the water. Leave the lake shortly after a memorial seat for David Tonkin, at a wooden signpost.
For refreshments or for the most direct route to Berwick station, continue to the cafe, toilets and picnic area visible ahead, then turn right and left on the main road, which will take you back to the station.
Arlington Reservoir to Berwick (3.6 kms)
For the main route, leave the lake at the signpost, cross a wider path, then carefully cross the main road and continue on the path opposite. The path goes through woods then along the right side of a field. Cross the next field in the same direction (310°), then turn left at a signpost, just before a wooden outbuilding. Cross the next field by a field gate, then turn right, following the field boundary at first. The path then turns half left towards a signpost visible in front of the impressive buildings at May's Farm. Continue ahead at a 4 armed wooden signpost. Go over a stile in to the next field, then turn right alongside a low wooden fence, then cut half left to a 4 armed wooden signpost in front of the farm house.
[Mays Farm] For a good short cut, follow the directions in the next paragraph. For the main walk, go through the gate ahead and turn left. Go through another field gate and continue along the right edge of a field. Continue ahead at a four armed wooden signpost. Cross the rail line with great care. Go through a field gate at a gap in the hedge ahead. At a 3 armed signpost turn left over a ditch and immediately right over a second ditch. Go over a stile in to the next field, then left on a bridleway (turning right leads to Selmeston), with woods to your right. Ignore a path to the right and continue along the left edge of a field, following the CPP and Vanguard Way (a long distance path from Croydon to Newhaven). Cross another field and descend through woods to the main road, directly opposite the Berwick Inn. The station is to your left.
For the short cut from May’s Farm, do not cross the gate, but take the signed path half left, still within the field, on the Vanguard Way. Go through a gate and over a footbridge on to a muddy path with young trees on both sides. On reaching stone farm buildings to the right, turn left then right on a drive. Cross the garden, aiming for the main drive gateway, then follow the drive to the next gateway. After the end of the woods on your right, turn right, still along the Vanguard Way, at first along the right edge of a field, then through woods, soon with residential fences to your left. This path will take you back to the station. You turn right on the road to emerge on the northern side of the station.

Berwick via Upper Dicker Circular Walk

South Downs to the southeast, from near Mays Farm

Abbot's Wood Lake

Tudor Mansion at Michelham Priory

Arlington Reservoir from perimeter path, with South Downs beyond

South Downs above Wilmington from first fields

Walk Directions