Lewes via West Firle Circular walk

Long. A steep hill (views) to Glynde. Lunch in quiet West Firle, then the South Downs Way (chalk ridge), with a flat valley walk back to historic Lewes

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  • Berwick to Lewes, 5/10/23.
    amib, Oct-23

    A partial re-walk of a circular last done in 2011, but affected by the wind (some slight disturbance today, but not significant). Today's variant, however, is linear, from Berwick, and the section to West Firle (around 6 miles) wasn't previously walked. The weather was overcast, with some sunny intervals and a westerly breeze.

    The church interior at Berwick was an early highlight, being decorated by members of The Bloomsbury Group. They did something similar at Charleston Farmhouse, apparently, though this was not filmed.

    The 15th century manor house of Firle Place is passed, and then its church, Saint Peter's.

    The village of Glynde is soon reached, famous for its various concerts, followed by an ascent of the down land to the foot of 'Mount' Caburn.

    Lewes golf club is then passed for the last section of walking, via Cliffe, to journey's end.

    A decent walk through the Downs, transitioning from the Cuckmere floodplain up to loftier heights later. Good path surfaces today, but with two tricky crossings of the busy A27.

    (The cottage the walker was stood outside of when filming the floodplain view was the Walton cottage, not the Morgan one, as mentioned on commentary.

    The Pilgrim Path starts at Alfriston and does a 12 mile 'round' to Wilmington.

    The unnamed pub at Firle is, of course, 'The Ram').

  • Lewes via West Firle Circular. 25/9/11.
    amib, Oct-11

    About 14.5 miles of walking around the South Downs. Starting from the historic town of Lewes, the walker is soon climbing to obtain great views over it and its castle. Shortly after, further great views are had from the old fort of Mount Caburn.

    After lunch in Firle, there's a climb up towards Firle Beacon to join The South Downs way; walking Westwards along this towards Southease provides the walker with some further great views, both inland and towards the coast.

    From Southease, it's around 4 miles of level walking along the levee of the River Ouse back into Lewes.

    A very pleasant walk with some fine views.

    (Some wind interference on the commentary).