Another place to have lunch on this walk is the Steamworks pub in Glynde station. A month ago some of us had dinner here and were impressed with the food both in price and quality.

As the walk “maintainer” but not planning to travel south tomorrow, I’d be very grateful for any comments on my slightly amended walk directions. I need to do some updates in any case, including to reference the Glynde Steamworks, so feedback is particularly welcome from anyone who visits it.

You might think that with forecast of grey cloud and possible rain, trains to the coast would not be busy. In fact it was like the last train out of Kyiv before the Russians arrived. Lots standing even at Clapham Junction. Walk posters note: there are no more quiet weekend days on trains to Lewes or Eastbourne.

12 of us somehow coalesced out of the maelstrom of eager-eyed youth at Lewes. Four others led by a known SWC walker also went past but made it clear they did not want to associate with us, so I am not counting them. We met a car driver up on the hill who didn’t spurn our company, so 13 in all.

Up over the Mount Caburn massif in the murk. Car driver went the valley route and later reported seeing a clouded yellow. The rest of us stuck to the ridge as directed, where I lamented the lack of butterflies due to the cloud. The scenery was very fine, however, and my companions declared it “perfect walking weather”.

At Glynde many/most of us stopped at the Steamworks. They got a bit jittery after ten food orders, telling an unfortunate old lady (not in our group: we are not old!) that they would accept no more for 25 minutes. But the two of us still to order remonstrated and got our orders in. The kitchen staff needn’t have worried as they produced the delicious and competitively priced food with commendable speed.

Leaving the pub, we found the Trevor Arms on the other side of the station had also reopened. A quick glance inside revealed plenty of drinkers but only two people eating. No menus were displayed, however, and it had the air of a drinks-only pub.

Having eaten, there seemed no reason to walk to West Firle, so we did the direct short cut up onto the downs. This would have been grand for butterflies had the sun come out, but in fact it got gloomier with some drizzle. But as we walked across the heart of the downs the skies started to clear. Hopes of a swim rose. At one point there was a cornucopia of gorgeously juicy cherry plums. (It has been a brilliant summer for them…)

Approaching Bishopstone beach (which was amazingly empty, given the morning crowds on the train) we expected to find three other swimmers who we assumed were ahead of us, but they were not there. It was still sunny but cloud was encroaching from the west, so we dashed into the sea to enjoy a swim while it was still partly sunny. The waves were lively but not enough to be scary and there was a lovely silver trail to the south west. A strong current to the east meant one made no progress laterally along the beach, however.

After the swim we had tea at the yacht club. Annoyingly the skies now cleared to full sunshine. Over delicious cake we phoned the missing swimmers. They said they were just arriving and going for a swim further down the beach. We went to meet them and the mystery of how they came to be behind us was revealed. It turned out I had blithely led my companions over the downs on the Southease to Seaford route, while the others had followed the actual route for this walk, which was slightly more circuitous.

The second batch of swimmers had had a more lively swim, the waves now having got a bit bigger. I missed this crucial detail, however, and was hankering after a second swim now the sun was fully out. So when the other seven went to the pub by the church, I snuck back to the beach for a second go. This lasted just five minutes, as the waves were now quite menacing and one even knocked me over. Oh well, I am allowed one dumb swim per summer, I guess.

Back to the pub. Some of us then ordered fish and chips from Trawlers and others bought a bottle of wine, and we got the 19.54 train by the skin of our teeth. The train to Lewes was busy but the one to Victoria less so. We didn’t get a table but we got to sit together and annoy the rest of the carriage with our chatter.

A grand day out and thanks to the absent walk poster for the choice.

2 walkers, 1 frustrated by the queue for drinks in "Steamworks", went outside to eat sandwiches and joined another. After, what felt like an age, 1 went inside to see if people were ready to leave and reported that they were "almost" ready. So said 2 walkers set off, expecting others to catch up; this did not happen. Said walkers continued the full route, arriving just in time to catch the train from Seaford, in time to connect

with the (slightly delayed) 18.55 from Lewes to London Victoria.

It is worth pointing out that the buses from Exceat are only every half hour after 8pm. The last practical train from Seaford is at 20.59: there is a 21.57 train but this involves a bus replacement service from Lewes to Brighton and gets to London very late (0.42).

So to get the 20.59 train, aiming for the 20.23 bus would be recommended. Allowing two hours to walk in the moonlight from Seaford to Exceat, you would want to be setting off on this leg of the walk not long after 6pm. (After this time, an out and back walk onto Seaford Head would be possible.) It will be fully dark at about 7.15pm

Remember buses no longer go from the Cuckmere Inn: you now have to walk 400 metres along the main road to the Seven Sisters Visitor Centre stop.

8 assembled at the main entrance to Lewes station for the usual formalities after which those planning to dine in the pub set off at a steady pace to arrive in time for the 12:45 booking. On the downs outside of Lewes we met number 9 who had set off directly from the station. The walking was fab -- bright skies, fresh breeze and great views.... we arrived in time for lunch and it was marvellous -- really a great pub! Two of the picnickers waited for the lunchers -- but things became fragmented as one group left ahead

of the others and the other experimented with a more direct ascent to the downs and took the higher downland route on the approach to Bishopstone village.... however, all but one did regroup for a spell just before the descent to Bishopstone where we lost one to a bus and one to a caravan. The rest carried on to Seaford and enjoyed hot/cold bevies and snacks at the charming Steamworks on the station. Three caught the 17:59 and 3 intrepid souls set off about 18:25 for an evening walk over Seaford Head and what a delight it was with a beautiful full moon to guide us along the way.....truly magical. We caught the 20:20ish bus back to Seaford, had time to get take away pizza from Dominos and a few other essentials from Tescos before catching the 20:59. A fine day (and evening) out in bright sun then moon with fresh breeze .

6 on this walk, initially under overcast skies, then from Mount Caburn (at noon) onwards under sunny blue skies. The wind was always strong. Always. Even in the valleys. Some day for walking it was...

Seeing that we had a 'tourist' amongst us, who'd never been to or near Lewes, we added an out-and-back onto The Caburn to the route, and therefore arrived 15 mins late for the lunch booking. Which was lovely. The lunch, the table in one of the never-before-seen indoor rooms, the food, and the drink and all. On onto the VERY windy Downs, where (that tourist interest again) we added the tiny out-and-back to the Firle Beacon to the route. From there to the beach at Bishopstone we were into the wind, which did not please everyone. Naturally, I found it quite exhilarating and par for the course.

The walk has recently been taken over by a new 'maintainer' from the original author, and he has modified the descent route from the SDW. It worked quite well: tarmac to Blackcap Farm, then descending into the very scenic Stump Bottom and on into Poverty Bottom. But the old route was fine as well, and different from this iteration, so maybe it should be kept as an alternative?

There was then a short stretch of blackberries in an edibly ripe state. First of the year?

At the beach, we talked one walker out of shortcutting the walk at Bishopstone, and she and some others then walked the shingle or sandy stretches. The sea was WILD, the water a teaming grey-brown-blue maelstrom of house-height waves (I am only slightly exaggerating here) with only one daredevil kite surfer braving the elements. It was some sight.

Salts Cafe got our vote for a brief ice cream and coffee stop, then the tourist paid for drinks at Steamworks. Great day out, certainly in my book.

Oh: we passed 4 games of cricket. A record for any walk?

overcast to noon then sunny and always very windy

There is something wrong with those train times.

London Bridge 09.55

East Croydon 09.42.

Austen

Well spotted, Austen. I'm guessing Hollie B meant 10:12 at ECR. Post updated.

2 I'm told. No food at The Ram for walk-in due to a wedding party.

The Trevor Arms in Glynde closed in January 2017. The Ram in Firle is the first (and only) available lunchtime pub.

as per the walk post...

Indeed. I was referring to the walk directions, which refer to the Trevor Arms and need updating!

not my walk though...

Hi I'm an accredited walk leader with south bank group. Just checking in about this. Due to it getting dark around 5pm is this going to be a full 14.7 miles, for those who can endure it?

It is giving a lot of options but what is the leader doing on this day? 10 miles would be enough for me but would want someone else to be doing same.

can you let me know thanks.

Hi Julie,

as a Ramblers leader you will be aware that the SWC follows a different concept: we don't have leaders, or - more precisely - every walker is their own leader. That is why our walk directions and routes are freely downloadable. In practice this means that usually several of the possible options of a walk route will get walked by one or other of the group. Personally, I will usually walk the full walk.

This will take 5 3/4 hours as per Naismith's Formula, so with an 11 o'clock start there is just enough time for this and a very short lunch stop (darkness on the day will be around 16.50 hours). As the last 2 km are along the seafront promenade, this should not be a problem. With a full one hour pub lunch of course, also parts of the descent to the coast will be in the gloom.

As an aside, most walkers turning up for 20+ km walks in November are walking faster than what Naismith's assumes, so there shouldn't be a problem. And there are shortcuts possible for walkers with appetite for a more gentle pace. But, as we always say: in autumn and winter, please bring a headtorch on any walk...

Plenty of hard rain had fallen early morning in London, but when we alighted in Lewes, the weather was 'on forecast': namely blue skies with a fierce breeze on the tops.

6 off the train plus 1 driver down from Tunnie Wells set off in 5 + 2 fashion. We loosely followed the route around the rim of the most beautiful valley in the southeast (on account of the 'leader' neither watching map or text), where we encountered an 8th walker, down from 7oaks but up from Glynde where he had parked his car. We then had a sumptious lunch at The Ram, outside and initially in the sun. When a tree put us in the shade, it finally felt like autumn.

On up the Downs, with the Tunnie Wells guy having already opted for the short route. Views were as clear and far reaching as they will ever get from the heights around here, and the out-and-back to Firle Beacon was very well worth the effort. Turning back easterly, into the biting wind, now it really was a case of zipping up and moving on quickly. 7oaks man was heading down to the right off the ridge to reunite with his car, which left 6 of us ambling down to the left to Bishopstone and then Seaford.

There was still a little bit of light in the sky once we reached the seafront promenade, helped by the near full moon, and a slither of reddish sky out far west. 1 walker made out she could spot various named stars and planets, like she was a stargazer, but who'd believe her? Drinks at The Shore near the station. 18.25 train. A rather glorious day.

8 sunny with a cold breeze on the tops

As the others roistered in the fleshpots of Firle, I climbed up to the ridge of the Downs - and had them to myself. In the clearest air I have ever seen in South England, the views were spectacular and far-reaching. (From the top of Malling Down, outside Lewes, we could see Crowborough, 14 miles away.) A long windswept traverse and down to Norton, where a nice lady provided water (that'll teach me to pack salt beef sandwiches) and on to Bishopstone and an early train. A great day out. Thanks for posting it, Thomas.

Are we sure the 0917/ CJ 0923 train is running? It's not coming up on my journey planner. Although I may go for the Balcombe walk anyway.

Comes up on my journey planner, yes. Failing that, next best is a 09.20 via Brighton...

13 walkers off the train, 2 more already in Lewes (there for the weekend), 1 more arriving from Brighton a few minutes later, and 1 other met at lunch, who had taken the late train and start from Glynde, i.e. 17 in total in sunny and warm for the time of year weather.

Fantastic day for a walk across two ridges into the sun and down to the sea, light on the mud-count due to the mostly chalky ground and with very fine views throughout, and only a very light breeze to contend with. The Ram Inn was fully booked inside but had ample space outside in the sun. Meals were of good quality, as was the beer.

Several people expressed that they'd preferred the walk author to copy and paste together the instructions from the various walks this is a combination of, as compared to the skeleton directions currently available. Such as it is, it is practically a map-led walk.

I especially liked the rim-top variant of the out-of-Lewes bit, providing for different views compared to the down-through-the-valley route and also making the approach to Mount Caburn hillfort more dramatic. But also the descent to and through Bishopstone was new to me and much liked.

The fast 7 narrowly missed a train, so took the time to have tea and cakes at Salts Cafe, and then linked up with the slighly slower next sub-group for the 16.25 train, but some of us got inexplicably 'lost' en route to the station and missed that train.

A walk well-liked by all that were there (incl. 2 first-timers).

Thank you Thomas for organising a most enjoyable walk with lovely views and very little mud.

One starter from Glynde and also myself got a later train.

Kevin

It was a great walk and a beautiful sunny day, warm enough to eat lunch outside in the sun! I have found the South Downs too blowy on other occasions, but it was really perfect on Saturday.

I started at Glynde. I would suggest to other walkers to have an earlier start on this short-cut route if they want to hook up with walkers on the full walk. Great pub, definitely worth booking in advance and arriving before the lunch rush.

Thank you Thomas for finding me in the Ram to explain the afternoon directions, it was very much appreciated. Also to the walker whose GPS helped navigate the final part.

Lucy

Very much enjoyed this walk. Lovely views. Kudos to the walk writer!

This is in fact SWC walk 47, clockwise direction: complete directions for whole walk in one document, plus details of all lunch and tea options, can be found on pages 1-4 of this pdf

http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_3/walk_47/SWC_Walk_47_Lewes_Circular_via_Glynde_and_Southease.pdf

It is the CHRISTMAS PARTY on Thursday - don't forget!! See listing below

Am aiming to get the early train and do Lewes to Seaford walk.

Just 3 on the short walk with the weather windy some driving rain but very mild . After the climb out of Lewes we took the long ridge route rather than the valley and hill path as I know from experience the later can be very muddy from cattle churn near a field gate. Our reward was some driving wind and rain and we were glad to reach the Trevor Arms, which impresses me more each time I visit, for an excellent nut and a traditional roast which was served very quickly by friendly and chatty staff.

The weather looked to be closing in again so we did not linger in the pub but set off for Southease which we reached around 2.30pm to enjoy tea, coffee and delicious cakes at the Courtyard cafe. (Just £3 each so terrific value.) We dried out and caught the 15.09 train from Southease.

Winter walks on the South Downs are a bit of an "acquired taste" but I love the bleakness of the area in winter so I found it an exhilirating day. Other plus points were no mud, no stiles and my boots were far cleaner at the end of the walk than at the outset! Result.