We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 15 people, including the leader.
Join us for a daytrip to the South Downs National Park and the seaside! We'll take the train South to Brighton, then East to nearby Lewes, and make our way back to Brighton through the rolling South Downs.
Passing through the village of Kingston Near Lewes we climb up onto the Downs at Swanborough Hill, then head south down green slopes almost to the sea at Rottingdean where we will have lunch and a pub stop on the beach.
Refreshed, we pass a windmill on the cliff, and conquer Beacon Hill, Cattle Hill and bag the trig on Red Hill before descending through the Blackrock Valley to join the Brighton seafront at Kemp Town.
Following this to the pier we turn in to the town past the famous Taj Mahal-style Royal Pavillion back up to the station to return home - but not before having dinner! This may be fish & chips on the beach or something else depending on time (ETA in Brighton ~6pm), weather & numbers.
GETTING THERE ON THE CAMBRIDGE LINE
08:53 Cambridge
09:07 Royston
09:12 Ashwell & Morden
09:17 Baldock
09:21 Letchworth Garden City
09:25 Hitchin - £29.10, or £19.20 with a railcard.
09:31 Stevenage
...
11:18 Brighton
ALTERNATIVE GETTING THERE ON THE BEDFORD LINE
08:48 Bedford
08:59 Flitwick
09:03 Harlington (Bedfordshire)
09:08 Leagrave
09:13 Luton
09:16 Luton Airport Parkway
09:22 Harpenden
09:27 St Albans City
...
11:13 Brighton - then go and wait 5 mins for the Cambridge train to arrive
PAY ATTENTION AND READ THIS Whichever train you come down on, in addition to your return ticket, AT THE SAME TIME PLEASE PURCHASE a single ticket from Brighton to Lewes.This costs £5.30 or £3.45 with a railcard, so that we dont waste time having to do this on arrival in Brighton, and can then hopefully catch the 11:26 train to Lewes if everyone is organized.
GETTING BACK Trains back to Hitchin from Brighton leave at xx:14 and xx:39. The :14 is a direct train that takes 1h50m to get to Hitchin. The :39 requires a change at Gatwick Airport and takes a total of 2h10m. I am thinking we will probably catch the 20:14, which gets to Hitchin at 22:04; but it could be earlier if we walk and eat faster or if you decide to skip dinner and head straight to the station.
The direct trains returning to Bedford leave at xx:28 and xx:58; and ones with one change leave at xx:14 and xx:44.
This walk is not suitable for dogs.
Booking your place: If you would like to join, you must book in advance using the Stag Walkers Meetup group - see Notes for how to book & what to bring. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking so that someone else can take your place.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited. Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
Please car-share or use public transport if possible. To offer a lift or ask for one from a fellow walker, please use the Meetup event page.
If you have any questions, or need to contact the walk leader urgently on the day of the walk, please post to the Meetup event chat.
This is a linear walk.
Please be aware of the walk grade: walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous
Use our Meetup group to book your place on the walk: https://www.meetup.com/StagWalkers/
Book your place by clicking the ‘Attend’ button when RSVPs are open. RSVPs open 6pm four weeks before the walk takes place. If the walk is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available.
Please:
DO NOT book onto a walk unless you are pretty sure you will be able to make it.
UPDATE YOUR RSVP. We understand ‘life happens’ so if you need to change your RSVP please do this at least 24 hours before the walk and before booking closes to enable someone else to take your place.
DON’T NO-SHOW on the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable (we do understand ‘life happens’) because it prevents others from enjoying a walk if it is fully booked.
*TAKE NOTE that if you no-show and/or cancel after the booking closing deadline three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.*
Bring a packed lunch/snacks and drinks, appropriate clothing for the conditions and optionally a basic first aid kit & hand sanitiser.
For more information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
We are a Ramblers group, non members are welcome to try us out for two or three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they become a full member. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Lewes Railway Station, Lewes, East Sussex. Please arrive at the start point by train. Refer to the details on how to get there in the walk description.
Brighton Railway Station, Brighton, East Sussex. Trains from here back to Herts, Beds and Cambs. Refer to the walk description for full details.
