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WALK 3

Jevington to Friston Forest and the Long Man

Start/Finish	St Andrew’s Church, Jevington (TQ 562 015)
Distance	7½ miles (12km)
Maps	OS Explorer 123 Eastbourne & Beachy Head 1:25,000
Refreshments	Pub in Jevington
Access	By minor road between A27 (Polegate) and A259 (East Dean)
Parking	Either by Jevington church (avoid service times), or marked car park off Jevington High Street at TQ 563 014

The contrast of broadleaved woods and open downland adds to the diversity of this walk. There’s also a nature reserve; a close view of Britain’s tallest chalk figure; big panoramic views that take in the spreading Downs, the rich tartan-patterned Weald, and a long stretch of coast. There’s a small hamlet and an attractive village, and the walk also links sections of the South Downs Way and the Wealdway. Take a packed lunch and something to drink, and make a day of it.

Begin the walk on the route taken by the South Downs Way where it passes along the left-hand side of the attractive church of St Andrew in Jevington. There’s a small car park (please do not use during service times) at the start of the narrow, tree-lined bridleway which rises alongside a series of paddocks. The gradient steepens among mature horse chestnut trees shortly before you come to a signed four-way junction. Leave the SDW here and turn left on another bridleway angling gently across the wooded downland flank.

Jevington is said to be a one-time smugglers’ haunt, and The Eight Bells pub was once owned by a renowned smuggler, James Pettit (known as Jevington Jigg) who was sentenced to serve 17 years in Botany Bay. The lovely old church of St Andrew has a squat Saxon tower thought to date from around AD900–950. Today the village has close links with the world of horse racing.

Emerge from the trees at a bridle gate and cross an open meadow to a second gate. Through this walk towards a marker post and bear left. Come to a major crossing path/track by a bench seat on the edge of Friston Forest, and turn right along a broad ride signed to West Dean. Continue ahead at a crossing track shortly after, and ignoring alternative paths and tracks maintain direction for a little over ½ mile (800m) until you reach a four-way crossing, marked by an oak finger post at TQ 545 005. Turn right to descend the slope on the route signed to the ‘Long Man’.

Halfway down the slope the way forks. Continue directly ahead, and at the foot of the hill you’ll reach a junction of tracks. Bear left, then almost immediately veer right on the continuing broad track to the Long Man. This rises gently between trees and scrub, and near the head of the slope enters Lullington Heath Nature Reserve where the way is flanked by gorse. In springtime the blackthorn bushes are fluffed with blossom, the speckled hills rolling away to the right appearing even more attractive than usual. Keep ahead to arrive at another junction of chalk and flint tracks, from where you gain a lovely view left to the westward continuation of the Downs, with Alfriston seen below in the Cuckmere valley. Go ahead to a second track which you then follow to the right. This soon curves left and takes you through a gateway into an open hilltop field. Across this you come to a bridle gate. Before going through this gate, pause to enjoy the backward view – an uplifting panorama that includes the coastline virtually from Beachy Head to Seaford Head; the large chalk outline of a white horse on the slopes of High and Over; Alfriston once more, with Bostal Hill above it; and projecting spurs of the South Downs stretching off to the west.

Looking back to Jevington from the tree-lined bridleway

Through the bridle gate follow the left-hand fenceline studded with gorse, and soon rejoin the South Downs Way where the route curves left above the dry valley of Deep Dean. Arrive at another bridle gate on Windover Hill. At this point you’re directly above the head of the unseen Long Man of Wilmington, and if you walk forward a few paces from the path, you’ll gain a dramatic view of Arlington Reservoir and the Weald stretching beyond Wilmington village.

The South Downs Way bears left, then curves right as it slopes down a sunken track. As you descend this and veer left, a minor chalk path goes off ahead. Follow this, and descend through a steep and narrow gully. Halfway down the slope, with Milton Street seen in the valley below, come to a crossing path and turn right through another bridle gate. The path now curves along the flank of the Downs with glorious views ahead, and takes you directly below the Long Man of Wilmington.

THE LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON

The Long Man of Wilmington is said to be Britain’s largest chalk figure. Set on the flank of Wilmington Hill he gazes north across the Weald, he is 226ft (69m) long, holding a 250ft (76m) stave in each hand. His origin is unknown, but speculation suggests he could have been created in the Bronze Age, about 4000 years ago; or perhaps he was a product of the Saxons. Who knows? But whoever was responsible for this most famous of downland chalk figures, he was so cleverly created that from whichever angle he is viewed, he is never seriously foreshortened, despite the steepness of the hill.

At the foot of the Long Man there’s a concrete dew pond, and a gate taking a path between fields to Wilmington village. Ignore this and continue ahead, now on the route of the Wealdway. Eventually go through yet another gate to join a more prominent track (muddy after prolonged rain) which eases along the lower edge of beechwoods. Beech gives way to sycamore, ash and horse chestnut, and masses of wild garlic in springtime.

Come to the head of a narrow road by the secluded 13th-century church of St Peter, Folkington, at TQ 559 038. Here you veer slightly right on a broad stony track which continues along the right-hand side of the vegetated wall surrounding the churchyard, taking the walk on the final 1½ mile (3.5km) stretch to Jevington. With the steep slope of Folkington Hill to the right, the track eventually narrows between trees and scrub. On coming to a crossing track, veer left and soon arrive at the northern end of Jevington’s main street opposite The Old Post Office. Turn right, and shortly after passing The Eight Bells pub, follow the footpath which rises slightly above the right-hand side of the road and brings you into the churchyard of St Andrew’s.