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WALK 2

Butts Brow to Jevington and Friston

Start/Finish	Butts Brow car park, Willingdon (TQ 580 017)
Distance	7 miles (11km)
Maps	OS Explorer 123 Eastbourne & Beachy Head 1:25,000
Refreshments	Pub at Jevington
Access	Via Butts Lane, Willingdon
Parking	At Butts Brow (fee payable)

At the easternmost end of the South Downs, Butts Brow overlooks the narrow dry valley of Tas Combe which falls away to Willingdon on the outskirts of Eastbourne. From Butts Brow itself, and from neighbouring Combe Hill, an immense panorama reaches far out across the Weald in one direction, over the low-lying Pevensey Levels in another, and a succession of downland ridges elsewhere. This walk is a delight of big open views, neat valleys and forest rides, in which the true nature of the South Downs is revealed within the first few minutes.

Leave the car park by a kissing gate and follow a footpath signed to Combe Hill and Wannock, walking parallel with the road up which you’ve just travelled. Off to the right the coastline can be seen curving towards Bexhill and Hastings. Before long come to a bench seat by a dome of scrub. A short distance beyond this veer left where the path forks, and rise onto Combe Hill, over which the way then slopes down between gorse bushes, and crosses a stile. Over a second stile maintain direction down a long sloping spur of downland. On coming to an oak post bearing a Wealdway waymark continue ahead for about 80m to a second oak post. Leave the Wealdway here and veer left into trees and scrub where the path then strikes through an ‘avenue’ of gorse, before coming to a kissing gate. Maintain direction across a sloping field to a stile giving access to a woodland strip. Out of the trees descend to a white cottage beside which a gate leads onto a narrow lane that takes you into Jevington’s main street at TQ 563 014. For refreshments in Jevington turn right along the road to reach The Eight Bells pub.

Turn left for a short distance, then bear right at the entrance to a small car park where a bridleway heads up the slope, initially between trees and bushes. On reaching the brow of the hill enter Friston Forest and walk ahead on a broad ride signed to West Dean. Very shortly come to a major crossing track. Continue ahead, ignoring alternative paths and tracks, for a little over ½ mile (800m) until you come to a four-way crossing, which is marked by an oak post. Turn left in the direction of Friston.

Still within the forest on a bridleway, rise slightly to cross Snap Hill, then downhill to a crossing track. Up the slope ahead you leave the trees behind on gaining Friston Hill, with its broad open views and a racehorse training area. Take care when crossing the ride immediately ahead, and maintain direction down the slope towards more forest clothing Butchershole Bottom. At the foot of the slope keep ahead alongside the grounds of Friston Place, and eventually come to the Jevington–Friston road at TV 552 988.

The chalk-loving wild clematis in flower

Directly ahead on the opposite side of the road go through a bridle gate and bear right. Walk parallel with the road to a line of trees opposite the entrance to Friston Place, then turn left along a shallow sunken bridleway rising up the slope. Near the head of the slope go through another bridle gate and turn left along the narrow Willingdon Road on the edge of Friston.

Passing several fine properties that enjoy huge vistas, when the road ends continue ahead on a hedge-lined track known as Friston Dencher. There are splendid views every step of the way, including Jevington’s church seen in the valley to the north. The track is a bridleway which leads to a gateway near Willingdon Hill. Go through the gateway and curve to the right onto Willingdon Hill, where the panorama becomes even more extensive. To the south the former lighthouse of Belle Tout can be seen, as can Birling Gap and the clifftop of the Seven Sisters leading round to Seaford Head.

With flintstone ruins nearby turn left on a crossing track. Go through a gate where the way forks. Keep ahead on the left branch which remains on the track, and soon come to a second gate with a seat nearby overlooking Jevington. Through the gate cross a track used by the South Downs Way, and maintain direction, now following the route of the Wealdway which leads back to the car park on Butts Brow.

The Wealdway is a long-distance walk of 82 miles (132km) which begins at Gravesend on the south bank of the Thames, and strikes southward across the North Downs and Greensand Ridge in Kent, then follows the River Medway into Tonbridge. Leaving Tonbridge it crosses several High Weald ridges into East Sussex, goes over Ashdown Forest and reaches the South Downs at Wilmington, before ending on the edge of Eastbourne.

Jevington church, where Walk 3 begins