Lewes – the county town of East Sussex – is situated in a gap in the South Downs by the River Ouse, and is a place of much historic interest and character. Dominating the town is the Norman castle, and on the hillside to the west is the site of the 1264 Battle of Lewes, which led to the creation of the first recognized English Parliament. Notable buildings include the 15th century timber-framed Anne-of-Cleves House and The Fifteenth Century Bookshop. There are also the 11th-century remains of Lewes Priory. This varied route includes a splendid ridge-top stretch along the South Downs Way – affording fine views south towards the coast - with a gentle return beside the River Ouse.
[1] From Lewes train station (TQ416098), turn right up Station Road to the traffic lights, then left along the High Street, bearing right further up along Western Road to the junction with the A275. Go straight across the A275 and head up Spital Road (with the prison to your left), which soon brings you to the edge of the Downs. Follow the bridleway that climbs gradually north-west, passing the old racecourse, up to the 206m/676ft trig point on Blackcap. (The bridleway marked on the map runs just to the south of Blackcap, but it’s worth bearing right up to its top.)
This is the first of many fine viewpoints along the route. The Downs roll away gently to the south, with a steep scarp slope to the north, beyond which lies the Weald.
[2] Just west of Blackcap is a major junction of paths at a gate. Here you join the South Downs Way and turn left. At the next fork, bear left to head gently downhill over Balmer Down.
In the distance are Seaford Bay and the adjoining coastal towns of Seaford and Newhaven. You can also see a windmill, which is presently being constructed as a replica of the original six sweep (sail) post mill called Ashcombe Windmill, that was destroyed in a gale in 1916. It is not yet marked on OS maps.
Turn right at a junction (where a footpath continues ahead) and carry on downhill, then climb back up quite steeply through a wood, emerging to descend open slopes to the very busy A27.
[3] Turn right along the pavement to Housedean Farm, then left across the road bridge over the A27. Follow The South Downs Way as it runs left alongside the main road for a short distance, then goes right under the railway line to begin its ascent back to the crest of the Downs, passing Newmarket Plantation near the top.
The stretch marked Jugg’s Road on the Explorer map is an old route used to carry fish from Brighton to Lewes.
At a pair of dew ponds (used not for collecting dew, but water, for sheep and cattle) the South Downs Way bears right and continues in a south-easterly direction for the next few miles.
There are fine views over the Ouse valley and its surrounding plain below you to the left; Mount Caburn lies beyond (to the east of Lewes), an outlier of the Downs, crowned by an Iron Age hill-fort.
The South Downs Way descends to a valley.
[4] Turn turn left and continue along the valley towards Southease. When you reach the road, turn left towards Rodmell.
If you turn right here you come to the village of Southease
(A) Its lovely Norman round-towered church is worth a look, particularly its early 13th-century wall paintings.
At this stage you can shorten the walk by catching a train from Southease station back to Lewes (hourly trains) or retrace your steps to join the route towards Rodmell.
The onward route passes Rodmell and Monk's House.
(B) Monk's House is an 18th-century weatherboarded cottage, that was novelist Virginia Woolf's country retreat and is now owned by the National Trust.
It now carries on to the river. Turn left along the river bank path – which becomes the Sussex Ouse Valley Way – back to Lewes, bearing left soon after you’ve gone under the main road as you approach the town. You’ll join a lane which leads to Mountfield Road, where its a left bearing to the station.