Sussex Downland and pretty villages

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Lowland and Hill Walks
Jun 17
2017

18 people attending

2 places left

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14.5 miles6.5 hours, including breaks
  • A somewhat longer walk than I usually lead, with some hills too.  This is a linear walk from Polegate to Lewes.

A beautiful walk amongst the green fields at the foot of the South Downs.  From Polegate, north of Eastbourne to Lewes, through the villages of Folkington, Wilmington, Firle and Glynde. Passing the Long Man of Wilmington, Charleston Farmhouse and Firle Place and ending the walk with a climb to 146m on Mount Caburn, before descending to the county town of Lewes.

The Long Man of Wilmington: a hill figure on the steep slopes of Windover Hill. The Long Man stands 69.2 meters (227 feet) tall and is designed to look in proportion when viewed from below. It was formerly thought to originate from the Iron Age or even the Neolithic period, but more recent archaeological work has shown that the figure may have been cut in the 16th or 17th century AD.

Charleston Farmhouse: In 1916 the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Charleston Farmhouse and over the following half century Charleston became the country meeting place for the group of artists, writers and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Set.

Firle Estate: Firle derives from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Fierol’ meaning ‘oak covered land’. The Estate sits on ancient downland chalk landscapes, spread across four villages at the foot of The Firle Beacon.  The main house and Estate are owned by the Gage family.

Mount Caburn: a 146m hill, one of the highest landmarks in East Sussex, about a mile east of Lewes overlooking the village of Glynde. It is an isolated part of the South Downs, separated by Glynde Reach, a tributary of the River Ouse.  It commands magnificent views over the surrounding countryside and is a popular launching point for hang-gliders.

Lewes: the county town of East Sussex (and historically of the whole of Sussex). A popular market town, with many antique shops and pubs.  The town was the site of the Battle of Lewes in 1264, and landmarks include Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory and Anne of Cleves House.

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