Berwick, Alciston and Selmeston

By Ben Perkins

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Ben Perkins walking the gentle descent towards Alciston village, in a landscape typical of Sussex

Soon after the start of this walk, there is a new route to the Downs, made available for public use for the first time under recent legislation.

It is one of the many so-called "bostal" paths which are such an attractive characteristic of the north escarpment of the Downs. A fine stretch along the South Downs Way follows before a similar terraced path brings us down to the village of Alciston, with its medieval tithe barn and dovecote - not to mention a welcome pub.

The second half of the walk heads out along field paths into the Weald, passing Selmeston - and another pub - before returning to Berwick along a section of the Vanguard Way, a long-distance path between East Croydon and Eastbourne.

Most of the paths are wellestablished and easy to follow but you may, depending on the season, encounter problems with ploughing and planting of crops across the right-of-way beyond point six.

1. To start the walk, continue along Berwick Hight Street away from the A27. Where the lane divides, fork left to the church. Follow the path and, just short of the churchyard entrance, turn right along a path, leaving the church to your left.

Where the path comes out into the open, turn left along a track beside a high left-hand hedge and, after 40 yards, go right along an unfenced grassy strip which takes a straight, undulating route through several fields until you can join and go along a gravel drive.

2. Shortly, at a junction with a lane on a corner, turn right along an unmade track, passing a house called Sanctuary on your left and head for the Downs.

At the foot of the escarpment, ignoring the twin main tracks ahead, go through a swing gate where a notice indicates you are entering one of the new public-access areas.

The track ahead bears right and climbs obliquely up to the summit of the Downs. At the top, bear left with the track which descends a few feet to a junction with the South Downs Way, where you should turn right.

3. Follow the ridge path for about half a mile. At a four-arm finger post, turn squarely right across rough grass where there is no defined path. As you approach the edge of the scarp slope, a stile comes into sight ahead.

Over the stile, where you enter open-access land once again, bear left along another grassy bostal path which drops obliquely down the scarp slope.

Go over a stile and bear right downhill, along a sunken, tree-lined path, once reputedly used by smugglers to carry contraband over the Downs.

The path emerges to follow a right field edge which joins a track - part of the old coach road between Firle and Jevington.

Turn right here and, after a few yards, where there is a combined seat and information sign, fork left along a track which becomes a lane and takes you to Alciston.

On the way, you will pass the 14th-Century tithe barn and, further on, in the farm area to the right, a medieval dovecote.

Continue past the charming flint church to the Rose Cottage pub on the left.

4. About 200 yards after the pub, just past a house on the left called Greywether's, turn left along a track to a stile beside a gate. Continue along a right field edge to another stile with a fine view south to Firle Beacon and the ridge of the Downs.

In the next field, go ahead along the left field edge at first, veering half-right down to a stile in the far-right corner. Climb along the right edge of the next field to join a lane.

5. Turn right for ten yards then turn left along a path, signposted Selmeston, enclosed at first, then across a field to the A27. The Barley Mow pub is about 100 yards along the A27 to the left.

To continue the walk, cross the main road and follow the lane opposite, signposted Selmeston. After about a quarter of a mile, just short of Selmeston Church, turn right along a metal drive. Beyond The Green House, it narrows to a path. Ignoring signed paths to the left and right, continue along an enclosed path for a quarter of a mile - as far as Stonery Farm.

6. Just short of the farm, turn right along the access drive and follow it as it veers left and then right, until reaching a lane.

The next path starts almost opposite. Once through the hedge, head half-left across a field to find a far-from-obvious gap in the next hedge where there is a plank bridge. In the next field, head half-left, aiming for the far-left field corner.

Go through a gap about 30 yards to the right of this corner and cross the corner of the next field to a stile. Continue in the same direction, across two more fields, with a culverted ditch between them.

Cross a stile, go through a gap in a hedge between two power poles and follow a right field edge with the spire of Berwick Church ahead. In the field corner, go over a footbridge and veer slightly left across pasture to join the A27 over a stile beside a gate in the field corner.

Go left for a few yards, then right across the road and along a lane back to the start. back at the bridge, turn left and cross to the opposite side of the church or either of the two pubs - whichever your spirits are more in need of.