South Downs Cycle Rides Near Lewes and Falmer
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Cycle rides near Lewes and Falmer Falmer, Stanmer Key: Route Instructions and Ditchling Discover another way to visit the South Downs Exit Falmer station and take the Access land www.traveline.co.uk Distance: 9miles/14km subway underneath the A27. National Park. Go to or Incline call 0871 200 22 33 to find public transport Take the next left and follow the Time: 1–1.5 hours Walk information. For train timetables, visit road until you reach Sportscentre Footpath www.nationalrail.co.uk 08457 484950 Train: Road, turn left. or call . Bridleway Regular services from Take the next right on to Stony South Downs National Park London/south coast Mere Way and enter Stanmer Park. The South Downs National Park is Britain’s Follow the road past Stanmer Cycle rides near Lewes Access: newest National Park, rich in landscape, culture House, turning right at the t-junction, and wildlife. Discover ancient woodland and enjoy and Falmer Mainly off-road with some then after the church take the next left spectacular views as you explore the open downs gates into Stanmer Village. and heathlands. Within these landscapes lie bustling At the end of the village go straight market towns and peaceful rural villages, historic ahead and pass through a gate. Follow houses and the remains of ancient settlements. the bridleway until you reach the large Streat Hill pylon and junction. Plumpton Plain Ditchling Continue straight ahead, following Beacon Blackcap South Downs Way the bridleway through 3 gates, then y a turn left at the t-junction. W Contact us s n w o Follow the bridleway until you reach D South Downs National Park Authority h t u the South Downs Way (SDW). (At this o S Buckland Bank point you can turn left onto the SDW Tel: 0300 303 1053 and cycle up to Ditchling Beacon). Turn Web: www.southdowns.gov.uk right onto the SDW and head towards Twitter: @SDNPA Facebook: SDNPA S Streat Hill and Plumpton Plain. o u Please follow the Countryside Code: t h D Continue on the SDW until you o Leave gates as you find them and keep dogs w n s W reach National Trust land at Blackcap, under close control or on a lead. a Balmer y Huff turn right and follow the SDW. Where in the South Downs National Park: Stanmer When you reach the t-junction Park with the SDW and Buckland Bank go straight ahead towards Balmer Huff & R Ridge Farm. Stanmer S id to n g y e Stanmer University R M o Continue on Ridge Road taking the House e a r of Sussex d e W next right on to Mill Street. a Mill y Start/Finish Street Falmer Lewes A2A 7 At the t-junction turn left and take A27 the next right at the roundabout down Falmer Hill cycle path towards the Falmer subway under the A27, then head back Details correct at time of going to print. Please be aware that routes are shared with A270 other users (vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, horses etc) and users of the SDNPA Walk and 1mile Adrian Downie © Photo to Falmer Station. Ride Leaflet Series do so at their own risk. We do not accept any responsibility for loss, 1km damage or injury, however caused, arising directly or indirectly from use of this leaflet. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013. Leave your car at home, take the train Lewes & Kingston Shorter route Route Instructions Continue on to Spital Road, then at the junction Exit Lewes station and turn left along Station Road. of Neville Road continue straight onto Lewes High Distance: 14miles/22kmB2116 Distance: 9miles/15km At the roundabout turn right onto the B2193 Street. Time: 3–4 hours Time: 2–2.5 hours B2116 (Priory Road) then go straight across the next When you reach the Old Law Courts turn right roundabout. into Watergate Lane then turn left at the t-junction Train: Blackcap and then right onto Station Road back to Lewes Plumpton Plain At next roundabout go straight ahead then at the Regular services from next junction follow the bridleway sign straight ahead Railway Station. London/south coast for Juggs Road and Kingston. Lewes & Kingston ride Access: Follow the tarmac road over the bridge crossing Lewes, the county town of East Sussex, is famed the A27 and continue up the hill. Follow the bridleway for its many historic buildings and vibrant On-road, some bridleway until you join the road at Ashcombe Lane. community. The Norman castle still dominates the A275 Old Race Cross over Ashcombe Lane and continue along town that also saw the Battle of Lewes between Key: Course Bldgs S o the tarmac road which turns into a bridleway, King Henry III and Simon de Montford in 1264, u A2029 th Nature reserve D continue straight ahead through a metal gate. Where the burning of 17 martyrs during the reign of o w n Access land s the track forks bear left to the top of the hill. Queen Mary and the Great Avalanche of 1836. W a Incline y At the top of the hill turn left along the South y On the route from Kingston to Lewes you Wa Ride South Lewes Downs Way (SDW) through a wooden gate. After Downs HM Prison will pass the recently built Ashcombe windmill, Footpath Start/Finish 100 metres turn right through the gate next to a this is a replica located on the original site of A277 Bridleway cattle grid. this unusual mill which had six sweeps. The Shorter route Follow the bridleway down the hill passing a barn foundations of the original mill can still be seen A27 on your right. When you arrive at the next barn bear Shor under the new building. ter route A27 right, go through the gate and follow the bridleway. ad Blackcap was an important bronze age burial site Ro ggs Pass through the gate and continue up the hill Ju and later was used by Simon de Montford’s army Ashcombe through Castle Hill Nature Reserve. to gather prior to the Battle of Lewes. Today the y Windmill Wa Kingston At the top of the reserve go through the gate and area is an important wildlife site that’s owned and South near Lewes turn right. At the next junction follow the signs left Downs managed by the National Trust. On Mount Harry for SDW and continue to the A27. to the east of Blackcap you can see the replica Beacon erected to commemorate the Millennium. Sou At the A27 follow the SDW over the bridge. (For th D ow n a shorter route leave the SDW at this point and s W ay follow the A27 and A277 cycle route back to Lewes Falmer, Stanmer and Ditchling ride High Street, turn down Watergate Lane, turn left at Stanmer Park has over 5000 acres of open and the t-junction and then right onto Station Road back wooded land mostly open access for walkers. Castle Hill National to Lewes Railway Station). The village, with its flint-knapped cottages, was Nature Reserve Follow the SDW signs until you reach the water built in the mid-eighteenth century by the Earl of tap. Turn left up the short flight of steps and continue Chichester. South Downs to Plumpton Plain t-junction. Wa Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East y Turn right towards Lewes and follow the 1mile Sussex and is the site of an early iron-age hill fort. 1km bridleway keeping the old race course buildings and A wide variety of flowers can be found here in Lewes Prison on your right. the summer months..