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Directions

 

1. Lewes is the county town of East Sussex and is a traditional market town. It is famous for the Battle of Lewes in 1264 when Simon de Montford marched on Henry III in the Second Barons’ War. Its landmarks include Lewes Castle, Lewes Priory and Anne of Cleves House. It sits in a strategic position in the narrow gap formed by the River Ouse but this makes it exposed to flooding. In 2000 severe floods occurred which affected 800 houses and businesses. Following the flooding the Sussex Flow Initiative was established to deliver natural flood management across the catchment, working with and restoring natural processes to reduce flood risk.

2. Start on High Street at Cliffe Bridge. A few steps beyond the bridge as you head away from the town you reach North Court, a small alleyway on the L. Pick up the Sussex Ouse Valley Way (SOVW), which you will follow to Newick. Pass through the alley and follow the brick path passing Harvey’s Brewery. Continue along path winding L to meet the Ouse.

3. Follow riverside walk passing Tesco on R, until you reach Willeys Bridge. Cross bridge, turn R and follow riverbank. The railway is on your L. Pass through three gates until you reach a railway bridge on your L.

4. Follow the river round to R. On your L is marshy Pellbrook, a haven for amphibians.

5. Walk under pylons and continue onto road. Take second turning on L and follow for 200m until you see FP on R. Take this path for 2km initially through woods then across fields.

6. You will see a church on L. Ignore the footpath which leads to it and carry on, passing woods to L. The farmer here may have ploughed up the footpath and navigation can be tricky.

7. Cross road (which leads to Culver Farm) and follow path round to R, through more fields. Pass over several footbridges to meet road. 

8. Turn R, cross disused railway then fork L, walking through woods. You will have Barcombe Mill Farm on your L; follow the SOVW around to the R. This is Barcombe Mills, site of a number of mills dating back to the 11th century, and the tidal limit of the Ouse. Note the rather fine bug hotel.

9. Continue along R bank of river. This is a good place to swim in the summer. Cross river again at second of the footbridges and immediately turn R, passing some houses, and follow the path along to the historic Anchor Inn.

10. After having a drink at the Anchor, cross the river and follow R bank upstream. In the summer there is camping here on the land of Boathouse Farm. Cross the river after 1.5km. You will shortly see a sign for the Culpeper Nature Reserve, named for Nicholas Culpeper, who has been described as ‘a rebel who partnered with Mother Nature to revolutionise British medicine’.

11. Continue on L bank to reach Isfield Lock where the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust has partially restored the lock.  Continue on SOVW to bridge on R where the path abruptly turns L.

12. Follow FP past Vuggles farm on L then uphill to road. Turn R and then immediately L, continue uphill and proceed past Double Barns farm to another road. Turn R and follow this road into Newick, the centre of which is approximately 1.5km.

13. As you enter the village, see the historic St Mary’s Church (the nave dates from the 12th Century) on R. Finish your walk on the village green opposite the Bull pub.​

 

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