YHA Eastbourne - Circular via Eldon Bottom

Car : Eastbourne Youth Hostel is located on East Dean Road  (the A259) on the outskirts of Eastbourne approximately 1.5 miles from the town-centre, in the direction of East Dean and Seaford. There is free parking for 6-8 cars at the start of the walk, with additional parking in residential streets just down the road towards Eastbourne.

Train : Eastbourne is well served by regular trains from London Victoria and stations throughout the south east, including Brighton and East Croydon. The start of the walk is approximately 1.5 miles from the station (nearly all uphill). Alternatively there is a frequent bus service (see below). Further information on train times can be found at www.trainline.com . Southern Railway offer a combined daily rail and bus ticket called the Downlander - this must be purchased on-line at least 2 days in advance but offers considerable savings.

Bus : There is a bus stop by the car-park served by the Coaster 12 service. which runs between Eastbourne and Brighton every ten minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 15 minutes on Sundays (more frequently in summer).  Further information on bus times, routes and fares can be found at http://www.buses.co.uk/ or by telephoning 301273 886200.

Alternatively, you can plan your whole journey by train and bus at Travel Line Southeast

[1] Take the bridle-way from the far end of the car park outside Eastbourne Youth Hostel, leaving the A259 behind you. Continue steadily uphill and shortly after the path levels out bear left on to the wider of two paths, passing between a golf course green and a brick built seat. Be aware that you are now in the immediate proximity of an active golf course.  Turn right on to the gravel track and continue for about half a mile looking out for a water trough and concrete dew pond on your right. This is a section of the South Downs Way with far reaching views in all directions.

[2] 50 yards beyond the dew pond turn left over the stile (between two gates) into a field and then follow the line of the fence that is now on your right. The path goes downhill with a ruined barn a little way to the left, to another stile. Ahead, and to your left, will be a scrub covered hill.  Continue over this stile and then ahead along the valley floor.  Soon the path starts to curve to the left, following the contours of the hill. Once round the curve two metal gates will be visible ahead. Aim for the left-hand gate which has a stile beside it (see photo below).

[3] Once over this stile head diagonally left uphill, aiming for the scrub on the crest. (Do not be tempted go straight ahead along the valley on the path running parallel to the fence). There are two sets of scrub on the horizon.  Aim slightly to the left  of the centre of the one furthest away from you, at an angle of about 30 degrees to the left of the valley floor.  As you near the scrub look for a lump of concrete and foot-path sign at ground level. Pass to the left of these, through the scrub, to a stile. Once over the stile and into the field follow the fence to your left, first gently uphill and then steeply downhill to the stile at bottom.

[4] Cross the stile  onto the farm track on the other side. Follow the track to the left.  On reaching the farm buildings on your left (Ringwood) continue straight ahead joining a concrete farm road. This bends first right then left followed by a long straight uphill section alongside Eastbourne Downs Golf Club fairways and greens.

Be aware of that you are now in the immediate proximity of an active golf course.

[5] At the T- junction with the gravel track (South Downs Way) turn left and continue until you reach point [2] where you rejoin your outward route. Bear right to pass in front of the brick seat, then keep right and follow the same path/bridle-way as you started out on, downhill to the car-park.

(A) The South Downs National Park is England's newest National Park, having become fully operational on 1 April 2011. The park, covering an area of 628 square miles in southern England, stretches for over 90 miles from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east through the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex. The National Park covers not only the chalk ridge of the South Downs, with its celebrated chalk downland landscape that culminates in the iconic chalky white cliffs of Beachy Head, but also a substantial part of a separate physiographic region, the western Weald, with its heavily wooded sandstone and clay hills and vales. The South Downs Way spans the entire length of the park and is the only National Trail that lies wholly within a national park. The Ramblers and Others campaigned for many years for the Park.  Park status helps protect the land from insensitive development and attracts some government funding.

(B) Eastbourne Downs golf course was first laid out in 1908 by J.H. Taylor alongside the main road at the top of the hill. The old clubhouse  used to be located at the bottom of the hill' Mr Carew Davies-Gilbert took the opening drive at the opening ceremony on 2 August 1909. In 1974 the club moved to a new clubhouse, built on "the top" to move the club into a new era alongside many new course alterations. Eastbourne Downs has a special claim to fame as the home of Major Cyril Tolley, Amateur Champion of 1920 and 1929, who played seven times for Great Britain in the Walker Cup Matches against America, and adds to his many laurels the renown of being one of the most powerful hitters of his time. 

The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridle-way running along the South Downs between Eastbourne and Winchester, and is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. It is the only one of those trails to be entirely located in a single National Park and the route is said to have been used as far back as the Bronze Age. The path runs for 160 km (100 miles) with about 4,150 m (13,620 ft) of ascent and descent. This walk encompasses a short section of  bridle-way section (waypoints 1-3 and waypoints 5-1)

Access Land For 60 years the Ramblers Association campaigned for the right to roam freely on uncultivated land. In 2000 this right was achieved.  However it only applies to unimproved mountain moor and downland.  You can see the areas that you can explore using this right on Ordnance survey explorer maps. The boundaries are shaded in brown.  There is quite a lot of access land around Eastbourne Youth Hostel, including the woods to the right of this path between points 1 and 2.  You may want to explore it to extend your walk.

NOTES

The entire walk is covered by either OS Explorer Map 123 (recommended) or OS Landranger 199.

There are no refreshments or toilet/washroom facilities at the start or on the walk. The nearest are in Eastbourne town centre or at Beachy Head.

Dogs may need to be kept on a lead in some sections due to livestock grazing.

This route is not suitable for either wheelchairs or push-chairs.

Tourist Information : The Eastbourne Tourist information Office is close to the station, in Cornfield Road (tel 01323 411400, or 30871 663003  www.visiteastbourne.com). Additional tourist information is available at the Beachy Head Countryside Centre (tel : 01323 737273) and Seven Sisters Country Park www.sevensisters.org.uk or by telephoning 0345 6080193 or 301323 870280.

Eastbourne Youth Hostel for providing modern, en-suite accommodation and a base during the development of this walk.