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Lewes with some "right to roam" on the South Downs

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 2 hours 34 minutes

Length 8.3km / 5.2mi

Route developer: Chris Smith

Route checker: John Alsop

Start location Lewes railway station
Route Summary A walk with something for almost everyone; wonderful downland views, the historic town of Lewes, the village of Kingston, some right to roam land, a brand new traditional windmill, Anne of Cleve's House, a ruined priory and a farm park.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Trains to Lewes station - Direct services from Brighton, Seaford, Eastbourne, Hastings, Haywards Heath London and Ashford.

The 123 bus passes the station and also calls at waypoint 8 in Kingston Village.

http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk/se/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15

If arriving by car  there is a Pay-and-Display car park 200 yards to south of the station in Mountfield Road (in front of Lewes Football Club). The route returns alongside this car-park.

Description

[1] Walk south from the main entrance of Lewes station (left if you are coming from the trains). Turn right at the mini roundabout, pass by the King's Head pub, Southover Parish church and the historic (A) Anne of Cleve's House,  which is now a museum.

On reaching the Swan pub, bear left and then almost immediately right onto a tarmac lane (sign-posted to the South Downs Way).  Walk up this lane past Lewes' most secret park, Jubilee gardens, slowly gaining height.  Follow the road over the bridge across the bypass, after which the gradient increases. Just after "Finches Plat",  the road turns into a track.  This is Juggs Lane, an old route between Lewes and Brighton.  The track ends at a gate; pass through this and into a field. Keep straight ahead following an obvious path. 

(B) On your right you will see Kingston Windmill  built on the site, and in the traditional style of the old Ashcombe Windmill http://www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk/ashcombe.htm which was destroyed in a gale in 1916.  

Continue straight ahead to the road.

[3] Cross the road carefully as traffic can be fast here and difficult to see.  Continue straight ahead past houses and bungalows with large gardens. The road then turns into a chalk track. Keep straight ahead here.

If you wish to take the less strenuous, but less scenic alternative route, don't walk straight on, but turn left at the point at which the houses come to an end.  Walk downhill on a track until you come to the green. Walk diagonally across the green, aiming for the church.  Follow the path past the church and then turn left onto The Street.  You join the main route between [3] and [4], just before the Jugg's Arms pub.

Go through a gate, after which the route emerges from the fields on to open downland.  There are two clear tracks ahead.  Do not take either of them, but instead take a narrow footpath to the left, following the fence. 

This is on land which was opened up under the right to roam legislation, campaigned for, for so long, by the Ramblers. 

(C) There are fine views  across the Ouse Valley and Kingston Village, a village which expanded considerably in the 1960's and was famous for partner-swapping at that time.  

Small children may need supervising on this stretch as the hillside to your left is rather steep.

[3] Turn left (eastwards) at the stile and walk steeply downhill. The path joins a track coming in from the left and emerges into The Street, the main historic street of Kingston village, which you should now walk along. 

(D) The inside of the 13th century church of  St Pancras on your left is worth a look.

[4] At the end of the road, cross the road ahead (with the bus stop to the right) to a narrow path straight ahead between two houses. Follow this path which then emerges into a field. Keep straight ahead with the hedge on your right aiming for the farm in the distance.  This is Springbarn Farm, a farm park with a shop, cafe, animals and an adventure playground (charge).

Continue the walk through the farm park in the same direction as you approached it. Ignore the vehicle drive to your right and keep straight ahead past some farm buildings, to reach the Lewes to Newhaven road.  Turn left to walk along the pavement on the north side of the road.

[5] Just before the recreation ground, at a point where the road bends to the left, cross the road with care. Opposite is a footpath. Take this and turn left, following a line of trees and then a canal. Follow the canal towards the bypass.  At the bypass use the underpass.  On the other side the right of way goes up the bank, slightly to your left, then diagonally right across the car park, but it is often overgrown.  If it is, turn right on the track and then left past the entrance to the sports ground.  If it is not overgrown climb the bank, cut diagonally across the car park and then turn left. 

[6] Do not pass under the little tunnel ahead, but turn right into Priory Park alongside "Priory Cottage".

(E) The ruins of Lewes Priory http://www.lewespriory.org.uk/ are directly ahead of you. 

Walk through the priory, to the memorial to the Battle of Lewis (see photo).  Follow the path round to the left and through the gap in the wall.  Continue along this path round to the left and then to the right. After 100 yards turn sharp left,

Pass along side the car-park in front of the entrance to the Dripping Pan, the home of Lewes football club and turn left when you meet the road and then almost immediately right to return to the station.  

POI information

There are several names incorporating "Juggs" on the walk ; Jug or Jugg was a nickname for a Brighton fisherman. Juggs Road (otherwise known as Juggs Lane, or Juggs Way) which forms part of this walk is an example of an ancient ridgeway.  It was named after the Brighton fishwives who transported their fish for the market in Lewes by donkey in either baskets or earthenware jugs.

 

Notes

Visitor Infomation; Lewes Tourist Information Centre, 65 High St, Lewes, BN7 2LX, 01273 483448, http://www.lewes.gov.uk

Toilets: Station and north of station on same side of road.

Eating: Pubs and farm shopLewes town centre has a large number of places to eat and drink.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Sue Bradley for pointing this route out to me.

  • View from Juggs Lane
    View from Juggs Lane
    By - Chris Smith
  • The Downs from Springbarn Farm
    The Downs from Springbarn Farm
    By - Chris Smith
  • Our route goes along the bottom of these Downs
    Our route goes along the bottom of these Downs
    By - Chris Smith
  • Looking back over Kingston village with Lewes in the distance. The new windmill can be seen in the middle of the photograph. Photograph taken at (C)
    Looking back over Kingston village with Lewes in the distance. The new windmill can be seen in the middle of the photograph. Photograph taken at (C)
    By - John Alsop
  • Anne of Cleves house, now a museum. Right on the route shortly after the start.
    Anne of Cleves house, now a museum. Right on the route shortly after the start.
    By - John Alsop
  • Memorial to the Battle of Lewes
    Memorial to the Battle of Lewes
    By - John Alsop
  • The ruins of Lewes Priory
    The ruins of Lewes Priory
    By - John Alsop
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