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, at TQ 559 038. Here you veer slightly right on a broad stony track which continues along the right-hand side of the vegetated wall surrounding the churchyard, taking the walk on the final 1½ mile (3.5km) stretch to Jevington. With the steep slope of Folkington Hill to the right, the track eventually narrows between trees and scrub. On coming to a crossing track, veer left and soon arrive at the northern end of Jevington’s main street opposite The Old Post Office. Turn right, and shortly after passing The Eight Bells pub, follow the footpath which rises slightly above the right-hand side of the road and brings you into the churchyard of St Andrew’s.
WALK 4
Jevington to Alfriston and Wilmington
| Start/Finish | St Andrew’s Church, Jevington (TQ 562 015) |
| Distance | 8½ miles (13.5km) |
| Maps | OS Explorer 123 Eastbourne & Beachy Head 1:25,000 |
| Refreshments | Pub in Jevington, pubs, cafés and shops in Alfriston, pubs in Milton Street and Wilmington |
| Access | By minor road between A27 (Polegate) and A259 (East Dean) |
| Parking | By Jevington church (avoid service times), or marked car park off Jevington High Street at TQ 563 014 |
A slightly longer variation of Walk 3, this route crosses the Downs between Jevington and Alfriston along the South Downs Way, then follows the Cuckmere for a short distance before crossing fields to Wilmington with fine views of the Long Man, and returning to Jevington via the bridleway which passes Folkington church.
With the church of St Andrew to your right, follow the fenced bridleway of the South Downs Way alongside paddocks, then rise into woodland, where you come to a four-way junction of paths. Maintain direction until emerging from the woods near the head of the slope, where the path forks. Turn right here, and after a few paces go through a bridle gate. Before long, as the path takes you onto the open Downs, a view to the right reveals the Pevensey Levels beyond Polegate.
Eventually the way curves left round the head of the deep combe of Deep Dene and goes through a gate. Continue round to the left to pass just below the summit of Windover Hill, on which there’s the remains of a long barrow. If you stray onto that mound a magnificent panoramic view opens before you. Losing height now, pass the flat-topped site of Windover Reservoir and continue down the broad twisting path to a narrow lane at TQ 532 032.
Wander directly ahead on a hedge-enclosed footpath, and when this spills out at a junction of lanes, cross half-left, go through a gate into a meadow, and follow the left-hand boundary with Alfriston church ahead, and the River Cuckmere off to your right. On reaching the far end of the meadow, go through some trees to a crossing path, turn right and cross a bridge over the Cuckmere.
For refreshments keep ahead to Alfriston High Street where there are shops, pubs and cafés.
For the continuing walk turn right on the west side of the river, and follow a raised footpath along the riverbank as far as a brick-built road bridge known as Long Bridge. Here you cross to the east bank and go through a kissing gate on the left. A footpath now takes you across two linking fields to a minor road near Milton Court Farm. Turn left, and after about 200 yards directly opposite Milton Court, cross a stile on the right. Bear left for a few paces into an adjoining open field, then take the footpath which cuts across it. On the far side cross the minor road again, and maintain direction through the next field to a gate seen well to the left of a house.
From Windover Hill above The Long Man, Wilmington can be seen in the flat land below
Keep ahead across a track, go through bushes and two gates, then through the next field, aiming for the right-hand end of farm buildings, where you come onto the road once again in Milton Street at TQ 535 041. (There’s a pub a short distance to the right.) Cross the road, and over a stile follow a footpath cutting across a large sloping field, with the spire of Wilmington church seen at the head of the slope. On the way across the field the Long Man of Wilmington comes into view (see the note about the Long Man in Walk 3 above).
The path leads directly to Wilmington churchyard. Note the ancient yew tree opposite the church porch. Reckoned to be about 1600 years old, it is one of the oldest trees in England. Wander through the churchyard and out to the village street. For pub refreshments walk left for about 500 yards. The continuing walk crosses the road and goes up a track used as a bridleway. Rising up a slope you come to a section of beechwood where the angle eases to skirt a hill before coming to a track by St Peter’s Church, Folkington, at TQ 559 038.
Alfriston peeps through the trees across Cuckmere water meadows
The 13th-century St Peter’s Church in Folkington has a squat shingle spire projecting from a flint-walled tower. Inside there are box pews, and among the memorials,