Wilmington Long Man Circuit, South Downs

We were over in Uckfield once more, and so Bertie and I got out of the way and went for a walk on the South Downs. I had chosen to go to Wilmington and walk from there to Alfriston, then follow the SDW to West Dean before turnign off to Friston, and back to Jevington, before returning over the Long Man.

We parked in the car park at the southern end of the village next to the Priory remains, with views over to the Long man himself (although his pride and Joy was rather subdued when the rest of him was cleaned up).
We detoured around through the churchyard (which had a huge Yew tree supported by numerous poles) to get onto a path towards Alfriston.

The path initially cut through some large wheat fields looking towards the SDW to the west and the Long Man to the south.

We crossed a back lane with a row of houses and into pasture and more wheat fields coming out at Milton Street Farm.

Having reached the flood plain of the Cuckmere river we made our way across the open access area to the outskirts of Alfriston, passing a number of pools where Bertie could get fully soaked, and several bridges across to the town.

The next part followed the river downstream on the opposite bank to our last walk around here (and also much less muddy) on a raised bank track - this was back on the SDW.

At the village of Litlington we followed the SDW away from the river and through the village.

Then up a bank past some very protective horse paddocks up onto a hillside.

We followed a hedge line past more wheat, with views over the hedge to a white horse cut into the opposite bank of the river, and wide views south to Charleston manor and its woods.

The manor itself was hidden in the trees, and around it we then came to some steep steps up the hillside to regain the height we lost dropping to the manor. After getting our breath back from the climb we continued into the woods of Friston Forest following a wide track.

There as little to see from the track, even when we came out at the rectory of West Dean, which we skirted around staying in the forest.

Beyond the rectory we turned East and continued it the woods with its limited views heading for Friston Place

We did get a view as we briefly left the woods on top of Friston Hill and a water tower above the village, then back in the tress to drop down.

Friston Place itself was like all the large houses today - hidden in the trees - so we did not get a sight as we circumnavigated it, continuing to climb up to the outskirts of the village, first on the drive then through a grass field.

We arrived, on top, at a road past lots of large houses over looking the hills north and west.

Following the road until it ended and became a track.

We continued on the track along the top of this wide ridge with occasional views to the hills across the valley.

The rounded nature of these slopes opened out as we continued along it to Willingdon Hill

We stopped for some lunch at a convenient bench looking over to Long Brow.

This was also the point where we dropped down into Jevington along the alternative SDW route .

We zigzaged through the village past the church, and up a lane.

The lane converted into a green track as we reached the open pastures of the top of the downs here.

We continued on a curving route along the tops, which we had seen from our lunch stop.

Coming up to the edge behind the Long man we passed an interesting deep valley, before reaching the edge beside Windover Hill and the drop off beyond.