England

Swanborough Hill, South Downs South West of Lewes, East Sussex

Character: A short walk to the south west of Lewes, East Sussex. Wonderful views from the top of the South Downs when you join the South Downs Way

Ascent: ~600 feet

Time: 2hours

Map: Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 198 (1:50:000) or Explorer Sheet 122 (Brighton and Hove, 1:25:000). Try this link to the map on the Ordnance Survey web site for Lewes, then zoom in on the South West quadrant at: Swanborough Hill

Transport: Can walk straight out of your accommodation in Lewes! No car required from Lewes. There are trains from Brighton to Lewes

Accommodation: Lewes (the White Hart is wonderful)

Swanborough Hill, 630 feet

The town of Lewes is the county town of East Sussex. Surprising, demographically, when you consider that East Sussex includes the large town of Brighton. But not so surprising historically, when you consider that Brighton only became popular in the Regency period when it grew exponentially.

This walk can be started from Lewes, and is a short morning out. We stayed at the historic White Hart. After a hearty breakfast, I strolled along the High Street to the west and then down hill steeply on St Mary's Lane towards the south. This map gives you a good idea of how to start this walk.

A stile starts your walk as you leave Lewes

Then follow Priory Street and Southover High Street taking a left when you meet Cocksholt Street, past the Priory. This goes under the railway, then the A27. You are now in countryside, and want to go over the stile / gate (above) on the obvious walking path which leads W roughly along the river bank, towards Kingston, then turns more to the SW. Just before it hits the road between Kingston and Lewes, head south along a path that may be indistinct across the fields and through a gated hedge, (below).

You end up almost inside a hedgerow as you continue to the south and head around the western side of the sewage works. I know, I take you to all the best places!

Past the sewage works I had wanted to continue on the path to the south, but it was completely invisible where a farmer had ploughed this field, so instead I headed west up the lane to the busy B road and headed south to Swanborough Manor. From here you turn right and head up through the very pretty little hamlet. This slowly peters out and you get into the more open land at the foot of the Downs, with the hills looking fairly impressive in front of you.

Swanborough Hill

This OS Link gives you a good feel for where we are now on the walk. From this you will see that the green dotted footpath splits. I took the more southerly branch to give me a bit more walking on the top when it is hit, and not to miss Swanborough Hill. This is marked as Denscher Road on the map.

There is quite a steep pull onto the ridge, but I was disappointed that the actual summit is in private land and did not seem readily accessible, having been fenced off. The view back down the path gives an idea of its steepness. You are now on the South Downs Way!

View towards the hamlet at Swanborough Manor

Views in all directions are good: you can see Kingston and Lewes, and down land all around. I wondered if views to Brighton and the sea might be possible, but the land to the south and south west is too high and hilly

View south westerly

Kingston

Kingston seen over the brow of the hill

View south westerly

The track continues north westerly on the South Downs Way

Views to the South West

And below is a view of the final little summit, with its gorse covered tumulus.

Final top with tumulus

The descent to the north east is on the path clearly marked on the map, as shown here on the OS web site . This is a wide chalky tractor track that heads down into Kingston.

View back to top of the north west end of the ridge

You continue right through the quiet roads of Kingston, heading out and up on the road marked as Juggs Road (track) which indeed very quickly does turn into track on top of a little whale backed ridge. Looking back you get fine views of Swanborough Hill and the Downs ridge you have traversed, and the clear choice of descents off the final top

Clear choice of descent tracks of the final top

Walking inside a hedge (2)!

You eventually start to drop as Lewes is approached. A bridge takes you high over the A27 (T) and you are back in the town. After passing Anne of Cleves House, I realised that a more picturesque route back to the hotel is through the wonderful Lewes House gardens. The photo below gives you an idea of what can be done with various bulbs in March!

Lewes House gardens