Hills are not enough | free tough hike | 34km (21.1mi)
Details
📈 GRADE: 💪💪💪💪💪 Level 5/5 Strenuous+
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Join us for a challenging South Downs adventure from historic Lewes to Eastbourne, featuring steep climbs, sweeping views, chalk downland and classic countryside scenery.
Starting in Lewes, we’ll climb Mount Caburn before heading through Glynde and over Beddingham Hill.
Lunch will be proper hiker style, beneath wide-open skies, so please bring a sit mat.
We’ll continue across open trails to Alfriston, approximately 19 km into the route, where we’ll take a short additional break for refreshments and public facilities.
We then continue walking beneath Wilmington Hill and the famous Long Man of Wilmington before continuing through woodland, fields and exposed chalk paths to Eastbourne railway station. At the end of the hike, a well-deserved pub drink will be waiting.
Expect gravel tracks, woodland trails, open fields, chalk paths and plenty of undulating hills, with limited shelter from the weather.
🌅 Sunset is around 18:30, so please bring a head torch in case we are delayed.
🚨 PLEASE NOTE: This is a tough hike for experienced, fit walkers. You should be comfortable maintaining a steady pace over long distances, with limited stops, and tackling sustained climbs. Please only sign up if you are confident you can complete the route safely and do not have any injury or health condition that could affect your walking ability. This helps ensure the hike is suitable and fair for everyone attending.
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Please install Outdooractive or AllTrails on your phone so you can navigate independently if you become separated from the group.
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HIGHLIGHTS
🏞️ Sweeping South Downs views and classic chalk downland
⛰️ Serious climbs over Mount Caburn and Beddingham Hill
🌿 Scenic trails through Glynde and the Sussex countryside
🥪 Hiker-style lunch break beneath wide-open skies
🏘️ Refreshment stop in the historic village of Alfriston
🗿 Pass beneath Wilmington Hill and the famous Long Man
🌳 Woodland trails, open fields and exposed chalk paths
💪 A tough 34 km challenge for experienced walkers
🤝 Great opportunity to socialise and meet fellow hikers
🍻 Optional well-earned drink at the finish
🚆 Finish beside Eastbourne railway station
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 34 km (approximately 21.1 miles)
🥾 Difficulty: Strenuous
📈📉 Elevation: 677 m ascent and 686 m descent
🚶 Pace: 5–5.5 km/h. This is a steady, moderate-to-brisk pace, not a leisurely stroll. On some flatter sections, we may walk slightly faster.
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 09:30 Entrance to Lewes train station [what3words]
▶️ The hike will start once check-in is complete.
🏁 Finish: approximately 18:30 at Eastbourne train station
⏱️ Estimated moving time: 7–8 hours
🕒 Estimated total duration: approximately 9 hours, including lunch, breaks and regrouping stops.
Times are approximate and may vary depending on the group’s pace, breaks and trail conditions.
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📍 OPTIONAL LONDON GROUP TRAVEL
08:00 Meet at the London Victoria ticket office
08:15 Walk to the platform
08:24 Train departs London Victoria
09:26 Arrive at Lewes
🎟️ Buy a return ticket to Eastbourne. The hike starts in Lewes and finishes in Eastbourne. The fare is £29.20 with a Network Railcard.
🎟️ Alternatively, use the event chat to coordinate and purchase DAYSAVE group tickets. These cost £13 per person and require a group of four.
🎟️ Alternatively, sign-up **HERE **and the organiser will pre-purchase the group tickets in bulk.
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🚗 BY CAR
Parking is available at Lewes and Eastbourne
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🍽️ FOOD AND FACILITIES
Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water and snacks. Toilets and refreshment facilities are available in Alfriston, approximately 19 km into the hike.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch and snacks
At least two litres of water, or more in hot weather
Proper hiking boots or shoes with good grip
Weather-appropriate layers and waterproofs
A fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first-aid supplies
Optional trekking poles
Extra snacks, more than you think you need
A smile, good vibes and a sense of adventure
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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📅 RSVP AND ATTENDANCE
Please RSVP only if you genuinely plan to attend. If you can no longer come, cancel as early as possible so someone else can take your place. A no-show means RSVPing but not attending, or cancelling shortly before the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal from the group.
ℹ️ If you are stuck on the waitlist and committed to attending, please message the event host directly. Do not rely on the waitlist moving automatically.
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👣 GROUP PACE AND PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a social group hike, and everyone is expected to stay reasonably connected with the group rather than rushing far ahead or falling behind.
Please keep the group in sight and remain within a reasonable distance, as a back marker may not always be present. Faster walkers should wait at junctions, and organisers may stop at suitable points to allow the group to regroup. If you choose to leave the group structure or continue at a significantly different pace, you will be considered to be hiking independently and will be responsible for your own route and safety. By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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🚪 EXIT POINTS
Glynde railway station, Alfriston, Wilmington (Taxi to Berwick)
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📞 CONTACT: For questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
You are responsible for deciding whether this hike is suitable for you and for taking reasonable care of your own safety. Please read the group policy before attending. The host and group accept no responsibility for injury, loss or damage.