more forest clothing Butchershole Bottom. At the foot of the slope keep ahead alongside the grounds of Friston Place, and eventually come to the Jevington–Friston road at TV 552 988.
The chalk-loving wild clematis in flower
Directly ahead on the opposite side of the road go through a bridle gate and bear right. Walk parallel with the road to a line of trees opposite the entrance to Friston Place, then turn left along a shallow sunken bridleway rising up the slope. Near the head of the slope go through another bridle gate and turn left along the narrow Willingdon Road on the edge of Friston.
Passing several fine properties that enjoy huge vistas, when the road ends continue ahead on a hedge-lined track known as Friston Dencher. There are splendid views every step of the way, including Jevington’s church seen in the valley to the north. The track is a bridleway which leads to a gateway near Willingdon Hill. Go through the gateway and curve to the right onto Willingdon Hill, where the panorama becomes even more extensive. To the south the former lighthouse of Belle Tout can be seen, as can Birling Gap and the clifftop of the Seven Sisters leading round to Seaford Head.
With flintstone ruins nearby turn left on a crossing track. Go through a gate where the way forks. Keep ahead on the left branch which remains on the track, and soon come to a second gate with a seat nearby overlooking Jevington. Through the gate cross a track used by the South Downs Way, and maintain direction, now following the route of the Wealdway which leads back to the car park on Butts Brow.
The Wealdway is a long-distance walk of 82 miles (132km) which begins at Gravesend on the south bank of the Thames, and strikes southward across the North Downs and Greensand Ridge in Kent, then follows the River Medway into Tonbridge. Leaving Tonbridge it crosses several High Weald ridges into East Sussex, goes over Ashdown Forest and reaches the South Downs at Wilmington, before ending on the edge of Eastbourne.
Jevington church, where Walk 3 begins
WALK 3
Jevington to Friston Forest and the Long Man
| Start/Finish | St Andrew’s Church, Jevington (TQ 562 015) |
| Distance | 7½ miles (12km) |
| Maps | OS Explorer 123 Eastbourne & Beachy Head 1:25,000 |
| Refreshments | Pub in Jevington |
| Access | By minor road between A27 (Polegate) and A259 (East Dean) |
| Parking | Either by Jevington church (avoid service times), or marked car park off Jevington High Street at TQ 563 014 |
The contrast of broadleaved woods and open downland adds to the diversity of this walk. There’s also a nature reserve; a close view of Britain’s tallest chalk figure; big panoramic views that take in the spreading Downs, the rich tartan-patterned Weald, and a long stretch of coast. There’s a small hamlet and an attractive village, and the walk also links sections of the South Downs Way and the Wealdway. Take a packed lunch and something to drink, and make a day of it.
Begin the walk on the route taken by the South Downs Way where it passes along the left-hand side of the attractive church of St Andrew in Jevington. There’s a small car park (please do not use during service times) at the start of the narrow, tree-lined bridleway which rises alongside a series of paddocks. The gradient steepens among mature horse chestnut trees shortly before you come to a signed four-way junction. Leave the SDW here and turn left on another bridleway angling gently across the wooded downland flank.
Jevington is said to be a one-time smugglers’ haunt, and The Eight Bells pub was once owned by a renowned smuggler, James Pettit (known as Jevington Jigg) who was sentenced to serve 17 years in Botany Bay. The lovely old church of St Andrew has a squat Saxon tower thought to date from around AD900–950. Today the village has close links with the world of horse racing.
Emerge from the trees at a bridle gate and cross an open meadow to a second gate. Through this walk towards a marker post and bear left. Come to a major crossing path/track by a bench seat on the edge of Friston Forest, and turn right along a broad ride signed to West Dean. Continue ahead at a crossing track shortly after, and ignoring alternative paths and tracks maintain direction for a little over ½ mile (800m) until you reach a four-way crossing, marked by an oak finger post at TQ 545 005. Turn right to descend the slope on the route signed to the ‘Long Man’.
Halfway down the slope the way forks. Continue directly ahead, and at the foot of the hill you’ll reach a junction of tracks. Bear left, then almost immediately veer right on the continuing broad track to the Long Man. This rises gently between trees and scrub, and near the head of the slope enters Lullington Heath Nature Reserve where the way is flanked by gorse. In springtime the blackthorn bushes are fluffed with blossom, the speckled hills rolling away to the right appearing even more attractive than usual. Keep ahead to arrive at another junction of chalk and flint tracks, from where you gain a lovely view left to the westward continuation of the Downs, with Alfriston seen below in the Cuckmere valley. Go ahead to a second track which you then follow to the right. This soon curves left and takes you through a gateway into an open hilltop field. Across this you come to a bridle gate. Before going through this gate, pause to enjoy the backward view – an uplifting panorama that includes the coastline virtually from Beachy Head to Seaford Head; the large chalk outline of a white horse on the slopes of High and Over; Alfriston once more, with Bostal Hill above it; and projecting spurs of the South Downs stretching off to the west.
Looking back to Jevington from the tree-lined bridleway
Through the bridle gate follow the left-hand fenceline studded with gorse, and soon rejoin the South Downs Way where the route curves left above the dry valley of Deep Dean. Arrive at another bridle gate on Windover Hill. At this point you’re directly above the head of the unseen Long Man of Wilmington, and if you walk forward a few paces from the path, you’ll gain a dramatic view of Arlington Reservoir and the Weald stretching beyond Wilmington village.
The South Downs Way bears left, then curves right as it slopes down a sunken track. As you descend this and veer left, a minor chalk path goes off ahead. Follow this, and descend through a steep and narrow gully. Halfway down the slope, with Milton Street seen in the valley below, come to a crossing path and turn right through another bridle gate. The path now curves along the flank of the Downs with glorious views ahead, and takes you directly below the Long Man of Wilmington.
THE LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON
The Long Man of Wilmington is said to be Britain’s largest chalk figure. Set on the flank of Wilmington Hill he gazes north across the Weald, he is 226ft (69m) long, holding a 250ft (76m) stave in each hand. His origin is unknown, but speculation suggests he could have been created in the Bronze Age, about 4000 years ago; or perhaps he was a product of the Saxons. Who knows? But whoever was responsible for this most famous of downland chalk figures, he was so cleverly created that from whichever angle he is viewed, he is never seriously foreshortened, despite the steepness of the hill.
At the foot of the Long Man there’s a concrete dew pond, and a gate taking a path between fields to Wilmington village. Ignore this and continue ahead, now on the route of the Wealdway. Eventually go through yet another gate to join a more prominent track (muddy after prolonged rain) which eases along the lower edge of beechwoods. Beech gives way to sycamore, ash and horse chestnut, and masses of wild garlic in springtime.
Come to the head of a narrow road by the secluded 13th-century church of St Peter, Folkington,
