Alfriston & Friston Forest
By Anthony Bishop & James Murnaghan
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| Physical | Technical | Fun | Scenery | Singletrack |
Rideability |
| *** | ** | *** | *** | ** |
**** |
You can start this ride from any point on the route, however, I suggest you start at the pay and display car park just north of Alfriston centre as you will get the 2 big climbs out the way early on so you can enjoy the rest of the ride. There is lots to see around this area, Alfriston itself is a bit of a tourist attraction during the summer months, but attractive never the less. The coastline here is made up of huge chalk cliffs that are impressive and well worth a stop and look at Birling Gap. Fristion forest is a bit of a mountain bike mecca in the area, with its own cross country trail mapped out and a downhill course, worth a look if you're around this area for a bit. The "Long Man of Wilmington" chalk figure may be seen from the village of Wilmington, which isn't actually on the route but is overlooked by the route as you climb Windover Hill. Lots of nice hills on this route to keep you smiling or crying so enjoy.
Getting There
Join the A27 either in Lewes or Eastbourne and travel along it, following signs for Alfriston and Drusillas Zoo. At the roundabout signposted Alfriston and Drusillas Zoo, follow the road into Alfriston where you should park. Just on the way into Alfriston is a large pay and display car park on your left which is ideally located for the start of this ride.
Trains run to Berwick station from Eastbourne and Brighton. From the station take the small road south to Alfriston (about 2 miles) and join the ride there.
Where's the Café
Places to stop for food or drink are Jevington where you will find a pub, Birling Gap has a small café, East Dean has several pubs and a small shop and Alfriston has a whole host of pubs, cafes, tearooms and shops.
The Route
Total Distance - 23 Miles
Duration - 2 - 3 Hours
You will need OS Landranger Map 199 or Explorer Map 123
Click Here to see the map for the start point (GR 522 033 - Alfriston car park) You may use the arrows at the side of this map to follow the route as you read it.
- GR 522 033 - Start at the car on the edge of Alfriston. Head out of the village in a northerly direction on the road leading to the A27, on reaching a right turn follow it until you reach a T-junction. At this point (GR 526 035) follow the bridleway straight ahead up a narrow, enclosed path. Cross the road by the car park and continue to climb Windover Hill. At the hill top go through a gate, turn right and follow the South Downs Way, soon forking left across a field. Continue through a gate and at the bridleway crossroads turn left and a little way down the hill follow the South Downs Way sign to the right and descend to Jevington.
- GR 563 013 - Turn right on to the road through Jevington and then turn left almost immediately, ensuring you are still following the South Downs Way. Climb up out of the village on this wide track until you reach another crossing of paths, keep going straight on and continuing to follow the South Downs Way. On reaching the golf course, keep on the South Downs Way. Cross the road and continue straight on up to a trig point, here keep right to meet a road.
- GR 587 978 - Cross the road (into a car park) and go right for 50m to a gate. Follow this downhill to the valley bottom and continue on to a farm. Keep Straight ahead here and turn right onto another bridleway and follow this to the "Sheep Centre" GR 557970 (you can turn left here to Birling Gap (GR 553 960) to look at the cliffs). Turn right onto the road and fork left to East Dean village. Follow the road around to the A259.
- GR 558 979 - Turn left onto the A259 and climb to a right turn to Jevington. Descend on this road until you reach a bridleway on your left leading up into Friston Forest at GR 552 988.
- GR 552 988 - Follow this forest path through a clearing and to a crossing of path at GR 547998. At this point, go straight on and to the next crossing of paths at GR 545 004 where you should keep going for a further 150 metres or so to GR 544 006. Here, you should take a bridleway to your left, which climbs and then descend to GR 540 004. Climb out of the valley on the path to your right and follow it all the way down into Littlington.
- GR 523 015 - In Litlington, you should follow any path signposted for Frog Firle. If I can remember correctly there is one down the side of the pub (Hack & Spade - I think?) Following a path that crosses the river, you should emerge by the road on the other side, next to the Alfriston Youth Hostel at GR 518 019
- GR 518 019 - Turn left on to the road at the youth hostel and follow the road for about 1km to a wooded area on the top of Cradle Hill. Take the Bridleway from here (GR 512 013), off to the right. Be sure to take the Bridleway and not the footpath at this point.
- GR 512 013 - Follow this path along the edge of the wooded area, past a trig point and on to a crossing of paths at GR 488 025. Take the right turn through a small gate and prepare for a long climb up to the South Downs Way on Bostal Hill.
- GR 499 044 - Turn right on to the South Downs Way and follow the Way across the 6 way junction and down into Alfriston on a rough, steep and chalky track. The track soon becomes a road, which leads into the centre of Alfriston where you will need to turn left to find your way back to the start. GR 522 033.
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