Lewes to Brighton Marina

By Ben Perkins

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Across marshland to the summit of the Downs escarpment, then down to the coast where the longer route extends along from Telcombe Cliffs

This is a linear walk using public transport. It is conveniently arranged for anyone starting from Brighton, using a train to Lewes where the walk starts, and a bus back into Brighton from Telscombe Cliffs at the end of the shorter seven-mile walk or from Brighton Marina at the end of the longer ten-anda- half mile option.

The walk itself starts out across the low-lying drained marshland to the south of Lewes. It then climbs fairly steeply up to the summit of the Downs escarpment before heading south across the rolling dip slope of the Downs, a fine, airy, high-level route with spectacular views all the way.

After reaching the coast at Telscombe, you can either take a bus into Brighton or follow alternative paths, either above or below the chalk cliffs, to Brighton Marina via Saltdean and Rottingdean, both running close to the coast road, which is served by frequent buses back into Brighton

1. From the entrance to Lewes Station turn left and, at a mini-roundabout, go right along Priory Street. At a second mini-roundabout, continue ahead along Southover High Street.

Just past Southover Parish Church, turn left along Cockshut Lane. At a T-junction turn right along a No Through Road, following it round to the left beneath the Lewes bypass.

On the other side of the road tunnel, bear right for a few yards, then left through a swing gate and forward to a second gate. Once through this gate, turn right to follow a path along the top of a raised bank with a drainage channel on your right.

2. After about a quarter of a mile, at a waypost, where you have a choice of signed paths, go ahead across a ditch and bear half-left across a field to a swing gate in a hedge, and maintain direction across the next field.

From the other side of this field, go ahead along an enclosed path. At a concrete drive from a Water Treatment Works, turn right and, after a few yards, go left up steps to a stile and halfright across a field. At an isolated waypost, fork right across the field to join a road over a stile beside a gate.

3. Follow the No Through Road to Swanborough opposite. Where you have a choice of drives ahead, keep to the one on the left which heads for the Downs. At a waypost indicating a choice of bridleways, turn left along a concrete track which climbs a bank and then veers right to climb steadily up the scarp slope of the Downs.

Beyond a cattle grid, you enter a downland open-access area and can deviate from the hard track on to the adjacent grass for a pleasanter ascent.

4. At the top of the hill, turn left along the ridge with a fence on your right. This a superb viewpoint embracing Lewes and Mount Caburn across the valley, Firle Beacon and the line of the Downs to the east as well as a glimpse of Seaford Head and the first of the Seven Sisters on the coast.

After about 100 yards turn right through a bridle gate and, after another 60 yards, join and bear right, in effect almost directly ahead, along a concrete track which, beyond a barn, loses its concrete surface and continues as an unfenced track along a ridge, gradually losing height.

5. After the best part of a mile, at a T-junction, turn left still on an unfenced grassy track. You will soon pass, on the right, the sadly vandalised Harvey’s Cross, the memorial to a John Harvey who died here in 1819.

Shortly, ignoring a left fork, continue on a path beside a lefthand fence which takes an undulating route gradually climbing over the broad summit of Highdole Hill.

After another mile or so, when you are level with a covered reservoir away to your right, go ahead through a bridle gate and ahead with a fence on your right.

The isolated hamlet of Telscombe nestles in a hollow on your left, the view of the village being sadly marred by a disfiguring farm dump on the edge of the village.

At a T-junction with a drive from an isolated house, turn left through a gate to the left of a cattle grid and follow the drive.

6. At another junction where the road comes up from Telscombe to the left, turn right along the road. Where it becomes a track after a few yards, climb a chalk bank and head for the sea across the open grass area of Telscombe Tye. Keep fairly close and parallel to the right edge of this area, dropping down for more than a mile to join the coast road in the bottom right corner within a few yards of a bus stop where the seven-mile walk ends.

Cross this busy road with great care. If in need of refreshment, the Badger’s Rest pub is about 400 yards to the left.

7. For the longer walk option, go ahead down to the edge of the cliff and turn right along the clifftop path.

From Saltdean, after the first mile, you have a choice either to continue along the cliff top or to join the undercliff route as far as the Brighton Marina where the ten-and-a-half-mile walk ends.

The path beneath the cliffs should be avoided at times of combined high wind and tide. The last section has recently been re-opened after a long period of closure following a major cliff fall.

Access from the Undercliff to the bus route along the coast road is possible at Saltdean, Rottingdean and Ovingdean.

At the Marina you have a choice of buses into Brighton either from a bus stop at the top of the cliff or from within the Marina area where there is a good service from a bus stop at the eastern end of the multi-storey car park next to the McDonald’s Restaurant.