If you don’t like climbing over stiles this walk is ideal as it is stile-free. After following part of the River Ouse this walk takes Steve Kisko past the home of inter-war period writer Virginia Woolf and finds an isolated place where the Greenwich Meridian line is signposted.

1. From Southease station platform 1 take a road on the left which first bends left and in 100 yards bends right. In 300 yards reach the Southease swing bridge over the River Ouse. After crossing it take a footpath on your right through a gate and on to another gate in 50 yards. Now continue on the high bank with the river on your right. You may notice a gravel path on your left at the bottom of the bank which at the time of writing was signposted as a bridleway which was in use but not currently showing on the council’s definitive map. Follow the river for 700 yards, then as the river bears right go through a gate and continue on the bank. After a further 1,000 yards go through a gate and turn left down the riverbank and continue on taking the gravel road ahead, going away from the river (this is part of the Sussex Ouse Valley Way route).

2. A stream will appear on the left of the road. In 250 yards pass through a gate and in a further 250 yards pass through a further gate. Continue on to a gate with sewage works on your left. As you enter Rodmell village continue straight, ignoring the road coming in from the right, and pass National Trust’s Monk’s House on your left. Soon another road comes in from the right, then in 60 yards take a footpath on your right through a gate. Pass through another gate into a small field. Continue straight to the short wall on the other side and go over it using the brick steps. Go between the hedge and tennis court, on across grass to a fence, and on into the field beyond. Start veering left as the ground heads downhill to a gate in the left field boundary onto the main road. Turn right towards Northease. The left hand side verge of the road gives you more room although it can be recommended to walk on the side of oncoming traffic. After 450 yards turn left into the entrance of Northease Farm.

3. Continue straight as this road (known as White Way) passes through the farm and uphill. Later it will bear left then right as it climbs the Downs. At the top you will reach a T-junction where the South Downs Way (SDW) crosses the road. Turn left through a gate on to the SDW keeping to the left field boundary. In about 150 yards look out for a fingerpost marking the Prime Meridian line. At the corner of the field pass through a gate to an enclosed path between hedges and fences. As you exit continue in the same direction, through a gate and on to a marker post. After this you start to decline downhill with a fence on your left. At the bottom go through a gate and turn left. In 100 yards at the T-junction turn left.

4. Follow this track in the valley floor for 1,000 yards. At the T-junction below the main road turn right and soon through a gate. Follow the path uphill, first veering right then left across to a gate and onto a road. Turn left to the small grassed triangle and then right on the main road. In 70 yards turn left signposted to Southease. As you walk into the village notice the church on the right with its round tower, one of only 3 in Sussex (the others being St Michael’s in Lewes High Street and St Johns in Piddinghoe). Stay on this road which will bring you back to the swing bridge near the start. Cross over the river again and retrace your steps back to the station.

Distance/time: 6 miles: 2 and a quarter hours

Public transport: Southease railway station: Regular trains from Lewes and Newhaven. www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Bus no 123 by Compass Travel serves Southease village, www.compass-travel.co.uk

Car: Possible street parking in Southease

Underfoot: No stiles but plenty of gates. A few steady climbs. May be muddy near the river.

Thirsty work: Cafe at YHA South Downs, 200 yards from Southease station, down a lane off platform 2 side. The Abergavenny Arms pub on the main road through Rodmell.

Maps: OS Explorer 122