🏞️ FREE HIKE 25km | Tough hilly Lewes Circulare

📈 GRADE: 🥾🥾🥾🥾 Level 4/5, moderate to strenuous hike with long, steep ascents and descents
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Join us for a challenging South Downs workout, where tough climbs are rewarded with expansive views and a real sense of achievement. This Lewes circular showcases classic chalk landscapes, Iron Age hill forts, and sweeping ridgelines, with highlights including the ascent of Mount Caburn and stretches along the South Downs Way.
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🛑 IMPORTANT
Please ensure you read the event requirements carefully before signing up. The hike is not suitable for beginners. This is a moderate-paced hike, and participants must be able to maintain the required group pace. Those unable to maintain the group pace may be asked to continue independently. The ridge sections are fully exposed to wind and weather. Several ascents are long and steep. You must wear appropriate clothing in case the weather turns bad. Proper hiking boots or walking shoes with ankle support and good grip are mandatory. Trainers are not permitted.
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Starting in Lewes, we climb steadily to Mount Caburn, crowned by an Iron Age fort and one of the finest viewpoints on the Downs. After soaking in the panorama, the route drops to Glynde, crosses the River Ouse, and continues to Southease, known for its distinctive round-towered church.

From here, we tackle a long, steady climb onto the chalk ridge. The effort pays off with classic South Downs ridge walking over Mill Hill, Front Hill, and Ilford Hill, where wide open skies and far-reaching views stretch across the Downs, the Ouse Valley, and, on clear days, the English Channel.

The route then loops back towards Lewes, descending gradually into town, perfectly timed for a well-earned drink, which will taste significantly better after 25 km on the Downs.

Expect steep gravel climbs and descents, grassy stretches, and uneven chalk paths that can be slippery after rain. Confident footing is essential, particularly on wet or steeper chalk sections. Gravity is very reliable on chalk.
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 25 km (≈15.5 miles)
💪 Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
⛰️ Approx. 500 m ascent and descent
⏱️ Walking time: approx. 6 hours
🕒 Total time: approx. 7 hours
🚶 Pace: brisk, not a Sunday stroll, expect steady, continuous walking (approximately 4.5 to 5 km/h).
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 09:50 Meet at Lewes railway station, main entrance
🚶 10:00 Start
🏁 17:00 End at Lewes railway station, main entrance
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📍 LONDON GROUP TRAVEL (OPTIONAL)
Buy a return ticket from London Victoria to Lewes for £25.30 with a Network Railcard or GroupSave on the day. Alternatively, an advance purchase Group DaySave ticket is available from £13 per person when travelling in a group of four. AdrianB will be at meeting point.

08:15 London Victoria ticket office
08:30 Leave meeting point and board the train
08:46 Train departs London Victoria
09:50 Train arrives at Lewes
Go up the stairs and exit via the main entrance.
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🚂 TRAINS
Regular trains from Eastbourne and Brighton to Lewes
Regular trains from Lewes towards London, Brighton, and Eastbourne
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🅿️ BY CAR
Parking is available at Lewes Station Car Park.
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FOOD AND FACILITIES
🍔 Lunch: Bring a packed lunch. We plan to stop at a café with picnic tables that usually serves drinks and light snacks.
🚻 Facilities: Café at lunch stop.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch, snacks, and sufficient water
Proper hiking boots with grips. No trainers
Weather-appropriate layers and proper waterproofs
Fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first aid
Trekking poles recommended for slippery ascents and descents
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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👣 STAYING TOGETHER
Please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions.
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⬅️ EXIT POINTS
Glynde railway station (7 km, 1.5 to 2 hours)
Southease railway station (13 km, 3 to 4 hours)
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CONTACT
📞 For pre-event questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, if required, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety. Neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.