Beddingham Towers
The start of the walk
Summary
A short high level walk, without the struggle up the hill.
Distance, Terrain and Time
About 3 miles/5 kilometres
Introduction
A joyful promenade across the top of the downs and a gentle downhill to a café. Fine views in many directions, so not recommended for a day of low cloud. One of the best parts of the South Downs Way.
Obstacles
none
Start and finish points
Start at the Firle Beacon car park. Finish at Southease youth hostel
Getting there
Book a flexibus.
You can do this for any time in the day Monday to Saturday. You can book a week in advance. See the link above for how to do this. You can start from and return to one of four places in Lewes town: The railway station, the Gallops (for Victoria Hospital), the bottom of School Hill or Tesco’s bus stop. Book to Firle Beacon car park.
Either book a return flexibus from the youth hostel to Lewes at least 2 hours after the departure of your outward bus. Wait at the edge of the A26 at the hostel entrance track,
Or take the hourly train from Southease station to Lewes, a very short walk from the hostel.
You can wait for your transport in the café.
For bus and train times see Traveline South East
Date researched
25/11/23
Ordnance Survey maps
Explorer series number 123 Landranger series 198
Refreshments
At Southease youth hostel from 12 noon.
Public toilets
At the hostel.
Route instructions
Copyright Ordnance Survey. reproduced with permission
Its hard to get lost on this walk. The flexibus will drive you up to the car park. As you get off you will see bridleways in all directions.
The one you want is the one going west, on the right side of the bus as it stops. (the opposite side of the road from the car park. It goes towards the radio towers.
Pass the towers and continue to follow the track, which keeps more or less to the highest ground. Where there is no actual track follow the path trod out by thousands of feet.
The route gradually starts to descend and then bears left descending more steeply.
It then turns gently to the right until facing north towards Lewes. Continue to follow the track down until you are nearly at the road. You will then see a track forking left over a bridge. Take this to avoid having to cross the busy A26 on the level.
After the bridge the tracks turns right and meets a further road or track. Turn left for Southease station or right for the youth hostel café.
Text © Copyright Chris Smith except where otherwise stated and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence