Alfriston, South Downs
Alfriston and the Cuckmere valley
A six-and-a-half-mile loop through Friston Forest, Westdean and Litlington, back along the meandering River Cuckmere, with Alfriston's old inns at the end.
Photo: Brian Gillman (cropped), CC BY 3.0
- Distance
- 6.5 miles (10.3 km)
- Time
- 4–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Start
- Alfriston (cross the White Bridge to join the loop), or Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre
Parking: In Alfriston, or at Seven Sisters Country Park at Exceat (car parks locked overnight). Buses run between Seaford and Eastbourne.
The Cuckmere is one of the loveliest valleys in Sussex, and this South Downs National Park route shows off all of it: the South Downs Way over the hill into Friston Forest, down to the hamlet of Westdean, on to Litlington, and back along the river as it winds towards the sea.
Keep an eye out for the Litlington White Horse, a chalk figure cut into High and Over hill in 1924. Alfriston itself was once home to a notorious smuggling gang that used the Cuckmere to bring goods into the village, and Ye Olde Smugglers Inne is said to have been one of their meeting places.
Terrain
- A mix of quiet roads, forest tracks and uneven footpaths.
- Several short, steep climbs, and a series of steps down through Friston Forest.
- Plenty of stiles and kissing gates, especially on the riverside path.
With your dog
- Lots of stiles: fine for dogs who can hop over or squeeze through, harder for big or elderly dogs who need lifting.
- The riverbank path is long and open: keep dogs close near the water and on a lead near grazing animals.
- Litlington, about halfway, has the Plough and Harrow pub and the Litlington Tea Gardens if you need a break.
The pub at the end
Ye Olde Smugglers Inne
Ye Olde Smugglers Inne has a huge inglenook fireplace in the main bar, a walled garden and a sun-trap patio, and welcomes dogs.
See Ye Olde Smugglers Inne and more in AlfristonFull route
For turn-by-turn directions and a map, use the published route from South Downs National Park Authority. Take a map or app with you as well.
Open the South Downs National Park Authority routeThe weekend walk
A walk, a pub and a place to stay
One dog-friendly walk with a fireside pub at the end, straight to your inbox, plus new places as we find them.