Connect Alfriston with Slow Ways

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Alfriston

East Sussex


Slow Ways linking Alfriston and Eastbourne, Hailsham, Lewes, Newhaven, Polegate, Seaford

England / East Sussex / Alfriston

Alfriston’s six Slow Ways are 88% checked

Drawn: 6/6
reviewed: 6/6
verified: 5/6
and surveyed: 4/6

Help connect Alfriston

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Alfriston’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Alfriston from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Alfriston—Eastbourne
Alfeas one Survey me Distance 12km/8mi Ascent 351m Descent 351m
Alfriston—Hailsham
Alfhai one Double check Distance 11km/7mi Ascent 94m Descent 117m
Alfriston—Polegate
Alfpol one Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 176m Descent 184m
Lewes—Alfriston
Lewalf one Pioneer me Distance 15km/10mi Ascent 358m Descent 355m
Lewes—Alfriston
Lewalf two Enjoy me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent - Descent -
Lewes—Alfriston
Lewalf three Verify me Distance 19km/12mi Ascent - Descent -
Newhaven—Alfriston
Newalf one

Double check Distance 9km/5mi Ascent 249m Descent 241m
Newhaven—Alfriston
Newalf two Enjoy me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent - Descent -
Seaford—Alfriston
Seaalf one Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 198m Descent 197m
Seaford—Alfriston
Seaalf two Survey me Distance 12km/7mi Ascent 249m Descent 245m
Seaford—Alfriston
Seaalf three Review me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent - Descent -

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Alfriston and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

70% of Alfriston’s six route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

11/11

drawn

10/11

reviewed

4/11

surveyed

6/11

verified

10 people have contributed to Alfriston’s Slow Ways

5 people have pledged to walk and review a route

4 people have surveyed a route in Alfriston

114km out of 130km have been walked and reviewed

285km of reviews have been shared in Alfriston

Latest Updates

From there it's flat walking alongside the river ouse all the way to Lewes....

MPHoplling

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The paths out of Alfriston were a bit waterlogged so we kept to the east bank until Litlington and we had no trouble keeping our feet dry....

MPHoplling

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All well signposted and lots of pubs and cafes to choose from when we arrived in Alfriston....

MPHoplling

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MJRW12345 surveyed Newalf two

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Care is needed navigating through Denton and along the previously mentioned bridlepath - I managed to follow it but there is no evidence on the ground that it exists, bar a sign where the route diverges from the SDW. A bit muddy in January but nothing impassable!...

MJRW12345

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Charlie Peverett took this photo on Alfhai one

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There are some tricky sections, including a few stiles with no alternatives (e.g. crossing the train track) and some muddy sections with low overhanging branches....

Charlie Peverett

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The second half of the walk takes off from the car park along a bridle path heading directly towards Newhaven. On the map this is shown as a bridle path for about 500m directly across a field, and this has been used by the Slow Way plotter. From here the straight line path is still directly across a field but much more evident on the ground (foot and hoof prints have worn a path) though there isn't much in the way of signage....

Bostal Boy

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Alfriston—Hailsham

Charlie Peverett pledged to walk Alfhai one

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Dominic Le Garsmeur took this photo on Newalf two

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The walk along that and then into Alfriston is gentle and has a nice bit of variety - be sure to check out the long barrow....

Dominic Le Garsmeur

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porcovolente took this photo on Seaalf two

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We walked this route from Alfriston to Seaford on a bank holiday Sunday so naturally it was very busy. The path on the other side of the river, which is the marked South Downs/Vanguard Way, was very busy with walkers for the first couple of miles from Alfriston but the one we took on the west bank was less so....

porcovolente

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I walked it on the end of a sunny and hot day, with the sun coming down behind me as I walked into Eastbourne. I agree with the other reviews and would certainly walk it again. Everyone in Alfriston and Eastbourne should give it a go!...

danravenellison

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Once you venture away from newhaven there is initially a couple of hilly areas, once you get to the top though the ridge line is one of the best spots in Sussex. You join the south downs way and follow this down into alfriston where you can then lead onto several more possible walks....

tomatron

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This is defintely the more functional route between Alfriston and Seaford, avoiding the Cuckmere valley completely but it's still a lovely walk....

MJRW12345

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Much the same as the previous two reviews - this is a great walk, reasonably easy to follow and with a nice resting point half way at Folkington church!...

MJRW12345

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Newhaven—Alfriston

MJRW12345 added Newalf two, a new walk from Newhaven to Alfriston

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Great views along the River Ouse and South Downs Way at Firle Beacon! If you want to get more ascent, if coming from Alfriston, an option could be to turn off just after Firle Beacon towards Glynde and then join Lewalf 2 the rest of the way to Lewes....

Ingrina

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Lewes—Alfriston

Ingrina added Lewalf three, a new walk from Lewes to Alfriston

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Following mainly the South Downs Ways, the path is great for walking and running, solo and for groups. The paths are quite wide and plenty of room for sauntering and chatting and the route mostly easy to navigate. Alfriston is a great little town, and Eastbourne has a lot of options for refreshments, food, and other public facilities....

Ingrina

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It heads out the the centre of Eastbourne along roadside pavements through the old town, past some interesting medieval buildings. At this point the route connects with the South Downs Way and follows it all the way to Alfriston (apart from a short-cut across a field at Lullington) near to Alfriston....

Bostal Boy

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This route uses the west bank of the Cuckmere River from Alfriston to Exceat Bridge. From the Cuckmere Inn by Exceat Bridge you follow the England Coast Path signs to walk down to the coastguard cottages. The walk back to Seaford is over the cliffs of Seaford Head, past Hope Gap and along the edge of the golf course....

Bostal Boy

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This route uses the slightly quieter east bank of the Cuckmere River from Alfriston to Exceat Bridge. At Exceat Bridge you cross the river and the busy A259 by the Cuckmere Inn....

Bostal Boy

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The route goes right passed the Long Man of Wilmington and you can spot the White Horse too from this route too....

danravenellison

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danravenellison took this photo on Alfpol one

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In Alfriston some locals told us that this route used the old ways that people used to complete this journey....

danravenellison

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danravenellison took this photo on Lewalf two

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The section from Firle to Alfriston is along farm tracks which are surfaced with chalk and stones and completely free of obstacles. The lane between Firle and Alfriston is traffic-free, but is used by horses, cyclists and the occasional motorbike scrambler....

Bostal Boy

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The only issues are in the section from Foxhole Farm to the Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve. The final short section through the nature reserve was pleasant. However I think this section of the route needs to be redirected , avoiding Foxhole Farm (which I suspect suits them just fine), heading directly to the edge of Denton, then using pavements along the main road to Newhaven station....

Bostal Boy

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Bostal Boy surveyed Seaalf one

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Bostal Boy surveyed Alfpol one

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It heads to the right of an underground reservoir on a gentle climb up to the hamlet of Folkington, which has a pretty church but no other facilities. Carrying on over the hill, the path drops down into the Cuckmere Valley with more awesome views of Alfriston in the distance....

Bostal Boy

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The cut through the twittens at the start behind the main street in Alfriston is a little confusing and a bit unnecessary as the main street through the village is so attractive. Out of the valley there is a short, fairly stiff climb to the Comp track, then almost immediately starts the descent down to Seaford through the golf course....

Bostal Boy

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Yes it goes on two sides of a triangle, but the first leg takes in the best views of the famous Seven Sisters cliffs and the second leg is a pretty meander up the River Cuckmere to the village of Alfriston....

seafordperson

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MJRW12345 surveyed Lewalf two

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Expect to find all kinds of livestock on the route, I had to walk through fields with Cows, Sheep and Horses2...

MJRW12345

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Seaford—Alfriston

MJRW12345 added Seaalf three, a new walk from Seaford to Alfriston

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Alfriston

MJRW12345 surveyed Alfriston

View facilities
Lewes—Alfriston

MJRW12345 added Lewalf two, a new walk from Lewes to Alfriston

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Alfriston—Eastbourne

Slow Ways added Alfeas one, a new walk from Alfriston to Eastbourne

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Alfriston—Hailsham

Slow Ways added Alfhai one, a new walk from Alfriston to Hailsham

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Alfriston—Polegate

Slow Ways added Alfpol one, a new walk from Alfriston to Polegate

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Lewes—Alfriston

Slow Ways added Lewalf one, a new walk from Lewes to Alfriston

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Newhaven—Alfriston

Slow Ways added Newalf one, a new walk from Newhaven to Alfriston

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Seaford—Alfriston

Slow Ways added Seaalf one, a new walk from Seaford to Alfriston

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Seaford—Alfriston

Slow Ways added Seaalf two, a new walk from Seaford to Alfriston

Walk this route
1

Alfriston, Fri 26 April

Light rain

Alfriston’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

TQ5204003173

Lat / Lon

50.80816° / 0.15656°

Easting / Northing

552,040E / 103,173N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Alfriston and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Alfriston's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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