Objective: Cycle from Newhaven via Lewes to Barcombe Mills along the Sussex River Ouse, returning to Lewes along roads, and take the train back to Newhaven.
Trip Type: solo cycle
Distance: 23.6 miles
Time to complete: 3 hrs, 7.9 mph
Nicholson Guide: Guide 7, pp114-125
Costs: free parking in Newhaven. Train from Lewes to Newhaven £3.50.
Difficulty: moderate (easy from Newhaven to Lewes)
Adjacent Rides: none
Overview
The first half of the ride, from Newhaven to Lewes, is EASY, although there is one rough grass section. From then on it is moderate, and there is a big detour along roads, so it is questionable whether it is worth the trouble, but there is some nice scenery and you need to earn your pint back in Lewes so why not give it a go?
1. Newhaven to Lewes (7.5 miles)
Park your car on one of the streets on the west side of the river, on the opposite bank to Newhaven Town Station, or there are pay and display car parks including West Quay if you prefer.
From West Quay, cycle south down Fort Road to the fort, lighthouse and sea walls, have a look at the view then head back to the town on Fort Road and South Road. Turn left onto the one-way system and continue round it just past Lewes Road, where you can cut through to Elphick Road. Close to the end turn right on Robinson Road, then left onto the path signposted Egret Way, which is a good gravelled path along the river.
After half a mile turn left, still signposted Egret Way, towards Piddinghoe. At the end of the track turn right on a road and follow the street through the village. It’s worth a detour to the church which has in interesting round tower. Join Piddinghoe Road out of the village (turn right).
After 600m keep your eyes peeled for a gate through to a gravelled path, you’re back on Egret Way. Follow this to the outskirts of Lewes. It is mostly gravelled, but there is one grass section where the farmer won’t give permission to improve it (so the river workers told me). Stay on the left side of the river all the way.
The path leaves the river near the recycling site, passes through a wood, and emerges on a road. After 150m turn right on Ham Lane. By the sports stadium turn right on a track signposted Egret Way.
Go under the railway line and turn sharp left. Follow the track to Railway Lane and Lewes itself. The path emerges by the pedestrian bridge in the town centre. Lewes is lovely, so maybe stop for a coffee and a look round if you are continuing the ride (or even if you’re not).
2. Lewes to Barcombe Mills (8 miles)
Turn right over the pedestrian bridge (Cliffe High Street), then just past the outdoor shop turn left under the archway onto North Court. The path bends left then right under a road bridge (A2029) and continues through the park parallel to the river which is on your left.
At the end of the park turn left over the pedestrian bridge, then immediately right on the riverside path.
A couple of miles along, before a sharp bend in the river, there is a NO CYCLES sign. It is easiest to walk your bike along this section, as the alternative as shown on the sign board is to take footpaths and bumpy tracks around the land, and a farmer has inconveniently blocked off a track with a gate, which means you have to lift your bike over an awkward stepped stile.
Whichever route you take, once you are at Ivors Lane Bridge follow Meridian Way (Whitfield Lane) to Hamsey, which takes you away from the river. At Hamsey Lane turn right, then right again towards Barcombe. As you approach Barcombe turn right past St. Mary’s Church then right on Church Road, and right on Crink Hill to Barcombe Mills, where the road crosses the river.
Barcombe Mills is a popular picnic spot. The river is not navigable at this point (in fact, it is not navigable above Hamsey) and so although I was slightly tempted to push on to the Anchor Inn (where it becomes navigable again up to Isfield) I turned around here.
3. Barcombe Mills to Lewes (8 miles)
Return up Crink Hill, left on Church Road to Barcombe, past St. Mary’s Church again, and left at the junction towards Hamsey. Left on Hamsey Lane, continuing on The Drove to the main road, A275, turning left towards Lewes. There is a slightly overgrown footpath along this section. Where the road forks, bear left, A2029, Offham Road. Follow this to Fisher Street, where you turn right. This becomes Station Street which predictably leads you to the railway station (although there is a one-way section against you so be sensible), where 2 trains per hour can take you the short trip back to Newhaven.
But before you do that, just as you turn from Offham Road into Fisher Street, there is a little street called Mount Place, and 100m along it is The Lewes Arms, a spectacularly unspoiled traditional pub in a town full of good pubs.