Riverside Walks

"When walking by a river or stream you are invited to follow"

Our Walks

Select a walk

Walk 1 - Isfield Old Carriage Road

Walk 2 - Lewes Pells to Hamsey Island

Walk 3 - Isfield, Vuggles Farm & River Uck

Walk 4 - Upper River Uck, High Hurstwood

Walk 5 - Slaugham Furnace & Mill ponds

Walk 6 - Lewes Brooks circular walk

Our advice is to wear some suitable walking boots or shoes as the ground can be very uneven and muddy especially during the winter months. Take the appropriate OS map for the walk and a printed copy of the directions.

This is a delightful riverside walk of 4 ½ miles that passes through woodland. On a clear day it also affords spectacular panoramic views of the South Downs. On the way you pass a number of pill boxes which are a feature of this area. They were built during WWII as both look out and machine gun posts, and so named because their shape resembled the boxes that pills were dispensed in at that time.

OS Map	Explorer 122
Distance	4 ½ miles

Please note that the Waypoints given in the directions refer to the numbered dots on the map to the right. The grid references indicated by the blue text were recorded using a GPS, it may prove useful to plot these on your map prior to commencing the walk. Download a printer friendly version of this walk...

Directions

Start - TQ449175, From Isfield Post Office turn right onto the road. Look out for track immediately on the right.

Waypoint 1 - TQ449174, Turn immediately right onto bridleway following the track down to the river & over the wooden bridge (White Bridge).

White Bridge

Waypoint 2 - TQ444174, Turn right over a stile & follow footpath going North North West across the field. You are now on the Sussex Ouse Valley Way. As you walk you pass a large hole to the right of the path – the crater left from a German bomb during WWII. As the path meets with the second meander of the River Ouse you pass the confluence of the River with the River Uck at an area known as Bell Hole. This is marked by a large oak tree on the far bank. Continue along the footpath which passes close to the riverbank. At the stile you can see Isfield church off to the right. The Isfield Mill Stream also joins the River Ouse at this point. Follow footpath to edge of wood, over the stile and onto the old carriage road.

Waypoint 3 - TQ441181, Turn left & follow path heading South South West into Agmond’s Wood. As you enter the wood pause for a few minutes to listen to the numerous bird calls. You pass a small pond on the right which in early summer is surrounded by a riot of colour from the wild flowers. The concrete and metal bridge takes you over the Longford Stream, an important Sea Trout nursery stream on the Ouse catchment.

The Old Carriage Road

Waypoint 4 - TQ438178, Continue following path South South West through the wood (marked Dallas Lane on map) to a 4 way crossing of foothpaths. The path is bordered by many tall mature Scots Pine trees.

Waypoint 5 - TQ432171, Turn left (there is a small pond immediately on your left) and follow foothpath along the field boundaries.It passes east then a short way south to a junction of footpaths.

Waypoint 6 - TQ434170, Turn left onto footpath by the watertrough heading east along north edge of wood then follow field boundaries to junction of footpaths. Along this part of the walk on a clear day there is a wonderful panorama of the South Downs.

In the sping there is an abundance of wild flowers to enjoy on this walk.

Woodland Primroses

Waypoint 7 - TQ439171, Turn right by an old stile & follow footpath South South West to wood north of Gallops Farm (stay on the right hand side of the barbed wire fence). At this point you are following the course of the old Lewes to London Roman Road. Continue to follow footpath along eastern boundary of wood. At the bottom corner cross over the ditch to the left using the sleeper bridge. Pass the ponds at Gallops Farm to T junction of footpaths at Blunt’s Lane on the OS map. At the green gate in the field corner cross the stile by a small stream. Keep to the right.

Waypoint 8 - TQ430165, Turn right along Blunt’s Lane and follow the bridleway between two hedges. Continue South along field boundary, through the green gate to Anchor Lane.

Waypoint 9 - TQ439162, Turn Left following lane across old railway crossing past the Anchor Inn then across a concrete bridge. Maybe time to have a rest and enjoy a drink? At the bridge in the summer months large numbers of fish can be seen rising to the surface for flies.

The Anchor Inn

Waypoint 10 - TQ442160, Turn left & follow river Northwards, walking along the Eastern bank. Follow this path passing underneath disused railway bridge. This railway bridge was part of the Uckfield to Lewes line closed in 1969. Despite happening at the same time as the Beeching reforms of the railways, this line was not a Beeching victim. As you walk you pass the confluence of the Longford Stream with the River Ouse (the Ouse being the right hand of the two water ways). After approx ¾ mile you will reach White Bridge once more.

Waypoint 2 - TQ444174, At White Bridge turn right and retrace track back to starting point.