South Downs Way 8 : Southease to Eastbourne Walk

2 Long Ridge walks over open downs, beautiful Alfriston for lunch, and Eastbourne pier and seafront to finish.

Length	27.3 km/17.0 mi
Toughness	8 out of 10
Maps	OS Explorer OL25 Eastbourne and Beachy Head
Features	This walk along the South Downs Way (SDW) consists of spectacular ridge walks with three steep ascents and a picturesque village in the middle for lunch and another one for tea, and with Beachy Head, Eastbourne promenade, beach and pier at the finish. It's a long but very rewarding walk. The route is well waymarked, the paths are easy walking, and the route is easy to follow. The South Downs are treeless and open, so there are good views throughout (weather permitting). The walk starts at Southease Station, right on the SDW, and climbs the first ridge straight away, up to Itford Hill and then along the ridge to Firle Beacon, the highest point of the walk. There is an alternative start in Glynde in case the trains to Southease don't connect well. At the end of the ridge you descend into Alfriston, a pretty village in the scenic Cuckmere Valley, with a village green dominated by a large church. Several good pubs and tea rooms and a village shop vie for your lunch business. After lunch, follow the northern leg of the SDW up and over Windover Hill and down to Jevington (tea room [summer only] and pub) before a final climb to head south along another ridge towards the coast. There is an inland shortcut into Eastbourne if you're tired, but the suggested route is to continue along the ridge to the coast, near Beachy Head. From here, head downhill into Eastbourne to join up with the SDW's Coastal Route and follow the promenade along the beach into town towards the pier.
Walk Options	Start in Glynde (station) - similar distance - better if you have a car as there is free parking, and it's a direct train back from Eastbourne. From Alfriston, follow the southern (coastal) leg of the SDW down to Cuckmere Haven, then over the 7 Sisters cliffs 33.3 km/20.5 mi Toughness: 10/10 (longer, and more hilly in the afternoon) Reverse the walk. Start in Eastbourne, and finish at Glynde (more trains than Southease). Check the times of the last train! Bus into Eastbourne from the A259 (cut 5.5 km) Shortcut into Eastbourne. Descend earlier into Eastbourne and follow roads to the station rather than the seaside promenade (cut 2.5 km) Break the walk in Alfriston using Berwick Station: from Alfriston, there is a waymarked valley route to Berwick Station, so you could walk the route over two days, i.e.: The first part: Southease to Alfriston (then, on to Berwick) (Berwick to Alfriston), then, then second part: Alfriston to Eastbourne
Transport	Eastbourne : 2 trains an hour (1 Sunday evening), about 1 hr 30 from Victoria Glynde : 1 train an hour (change at Lewes) from Victoria, also about 1 hr 30 Southease : 1 train an hour (change at Lewes) from Victoria, also about 1 hr 30. By Car: Park at Glynde Station (free), direct train back from Eastbourne. Saturday Walkers' Club: Take the train closest to 9:15 from Victoria.
Lunch/Tea	Southease: YHA tea room - closes early. Glynde: small village shop (the pub has closed). Alfriston (lunch): excellent pubs, tea rooms, village shop, large green by the church for a picnic Jevington (afternoon tea) : pub, tea room (summer only). Eastbourne (the end) : many places.

South Downs Way	This walk is one of 9 stages of the South Downs Way - a 109 mile national long distance path - that traverses the South Downs National Park in South East England. Entire Route 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 south 8 north
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By Train	Out (not a train station) Back (not a train station)
By Car	Start Map Directions Return to the start: Finish Map Directions Travel to the start:
Map Walk	This walk requires an OS map and a compass or GPS for navigation. You can print out OS maps using the link above.
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Walk Directions

The directions for this walk are also in a PDF (link above) which you can download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

Start at Southease Station
- SDW: Head east - cross the road (using the bridge), and climb Itford Hill.
- SDW: Follow the ridge past the radio station on Beddingham Hill to Firle Beacon, the highest point of the walk.
Start at Glynde Station
- Head south along the small road, cross the busy A27 (there's a median), and continue south up the car wide track.
- SDW: On the ridge, head east along the SDW towards Firle Beacon
SDW: Follow the waymarked path along the ridge over Bostal Hill and past Long Burgh Long Barrow, before descending into Alfriston village.
There are pubs, a tea room, and a village shop in the village. Visit the church on its picturesque green.
SDW: Cross the Cuckmere River, and tackle the northerly SDW route up to Windover Hill (there is a shortcut route through a field on the initial part of the ascent)
SDW: Take one of three paths over or around the summit of Windover Hill.
Apart from the direct route over it, there is also the car wide southerly track (a bridleway) curving around the summit, and a northerly footpath passing along the fence at the top of The Long Man of Wilmington (a chalk figure, side-on views only!).
SDW: Follow the SDW down into Jevington (tea room and pub)
SDW: Head a few metres south along the lane, and climb back up to Bourne Hill along a shaded track
SDW: Turn south along the ridge, with views of Eastbourne and the sea
Cross the A259 and in another 400 metres a left forking signposted bridleway is a shortcut to the station (at GR TV 5878 9824). [Map required once in Eastbourne.]
Stay on the ridge, immediately passing a trig point and a dew pond on the left, cross the B2103 and in another 700 metres, by a signpost on the right (at GR TV 5940 9691), turn down left with the SDW off the ridge towards town.
Near the bottom of the drop you meet up with the southerly (coastal) branch of the SDW, and head east through Eastbourne, initially along a busy road.
After 330m of road walking, fork down to the right along a tarmac path (Holywell Drive, signed for 'Holywell Promenade') above the Italian Gardens to the seafront.
Follow the seafront promenade towards the pier
Pass the Wish Tower (a Martello Tower).
For a direct route to the station, turn left along Devonshire Place (by a large bandstand, i.e. before the pier)
Continue to the pier.
For the station, from the pier's road junction, go inland on Elms Avenue, then Elms Road. At the end, turn left along the A259, then right along the (mostly) pedestrianised shopping street (Terminus Road) all the way to the station.

South Downs Way 8 : Southease to Eastbourne Walk

Deep Dean, near Windover Hill

Eastbourne Pier (II)

Groynes and Cliffs

Bedddingham Hill, from Windover Hill

Sheep in an orderly line

Walk Directions