Southease to Seaford Walk

Standard walk 18.1km (11.3 miles), 5 hours 40 minutes. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals allow at least 10 hours.

Without loop to lunch at Rodmell 12.3km (7.6 miles), 3 hours 50 minutes.

Ending at Bishopstone cuts 1.8km (1.1 miles) of any of the walks

Lewes to Seaford 24.8km(15.4 miles) 6 hours 30 minutes.

Cutting out lunch at Rodmell: Instead of heading west to Rodmell for lunch, you follow the route directly east from Southease station to Seaford, reducing the walk to 12.3km (7.6 miles). If you do this there is no refreshment stop until the end of the walk however

Ending at Bishopstone station cuts 1.8km (1.1 miles) off any of the other walk options

Lewes to Seaford : Using the morning of Walk 24, Lewes to Saltdean, as far as its lunchtime pub, the Abergavenny Arms, and then switching to this walk at point [2] makes a grand Lewes to Seaford walk of 24.8km (15.3 miles)

Rodmell's best known landmark is the Monk's House (tel 01372 453 401).This was the summer home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf from 1919 onwards, and it was while staying here that Virgina committed suicide in March 1941 (when she filled her pockets with stones and drowned herself in the Ouse, her body being found up against the piers of the bridge at Southease). Her ashes are buried in the garden. Leonard remained here until he died in 1969. Visitors to the house during the years they spent here included Vita Sackville-West, Lytton Strachey, E. M. Forster, Maynard Keynes, T. S. Eliot and Roger Fry. The house is now owned by the National Trust and open to visitors on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons only, April to the end of October 2pm to 5.30pm.

Bishopstone is so called because the Bishops of Chichester stayed here until the 1600's. St Andrew's church has some of the earliest Saxon works in Sussex and parts of the eighth century structure remain. The church hosts two Summer fetes, on the first Saturday of May and the first Saturday of August, and it is worth considering these dates when planning to go on this walk as both events provide welcome refreshments. Otherwise please note there is nothing available between Rodmell and Seaford.

Two trains an hour run from London Victoria to Lewes, where you change for Southease (journey time 1 hour 17 minutes). Take the first train after 10am from Victoria to get to lunch in Rodmell in time. Trains back from Seaford run twice hourly (one per hour on Sundays): change at Lewes for London (journey time about 1 hour 30 minutes).

By car: park at or near Lewes station, and travel one stop to Southease station. There is no parking in the environs of Southease station

The Abergavenny Arms (tel 01273 472416), Newhaven Road, Rodmell serves food from midday to 3pm Monday to Saturday and to 4pm on Sunday. This is a large friendly pub with a log fire, and wide menu advertising 'traditional english wholesome home made food'.

Picnic Virtually anywhere along the South Downs would be a good picnic spot, or perhaps on the green outside St. Andrew's Church at Bishopstone.Note under 'Walk Options' that if you are planning to picnic rather than lunch at the pub, you could dispense with the detour to Rodmell and continue directly east to Seaford. However, even if you don't want lunch at Rodmell, it is still worth going there for the walk along the river and to visit Monk's House when it is open.

Seaford does have various cafés, but most tend to close too early to be of use on this walk.

Papachino's At The Galley Club House, Marine Parade, Seaford BN25 2QR (01323 890077), café serving breakfasts, lunches and teas. In season stays open late. Located by the seafront. (Open to non-members. 150 metres further on from the railway bridge at Bishopstone station.) IG

The Old Plough pub (01323 872921), near the church in the centre of Seaford, is a reliable alternative, serving tea and coffee in large pots, as well as tasty desserts.

Salts Café, Salts Recreation Ground. (01323 490727). Seasonal opening times.

Trawlers Fish & Chip Restaurant, near the station, is a quality fish and chip shop, and a firm favourite with SWC walkers

On the seafront, the Beachcomber Bar (01323 892719) on the corner of Dane Road serves tea and coffee all afternoon. Closed, demolished and redeveloped as retirement flats.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Sep-23 DAC