Lewes Rodmell circular

A brisk walk along the South Downs that will combine the joys of walking on the Downs with the spiritual nourishment of old churches and historic sites, and the liquid refreshment of a good pub.

We will climb through less well trodden paths to approach Mont Caburn Fort (a misnomer), along the ridge.  After taking in the iron age site and the views from it, we will descend into Glynde village in our approach to climbing Beddingham Hill onto the Downs. We will follow the ridge with views to the North and South before dropping down towards Southease where we will investigate the church which originates from 966, and named in the Domesday book with remaining pre-Conquest features.

From there we will move on to Rodmell where we will have our picnic lunch and also have time to visit our second, more modern (early 12th Century), church (also St Peters) as well as Monk's House, the home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf from where she took her own life in the river. There is an attractive pub for refreshment.

From Rodmell we will walk back up to the South Downs Way and follow the open path along the ridge with views towards Lewes and beyond to the High Weald and southwards into the downland, until we drop down past Swanborough Manor and through the nature reserve into Lewes.