Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk makes a circuit from the Bo Peep car park. It follows the South Downs Way west along the top of the downs to the trig point and barrows on Firle Beacon (218 m), the highest point on the downs between the Ouse and the Cuckmere, then drops down the scarp to Firle village, with Firle Place and the Ram Inn. It comes back east along the foot of the downs by the Old Coach Road, with Charleston, the farmhouse of the Bloomsbury set, just along the lane, and climbs back up to Bo Peep.
It is 9.3 km with 207 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Easy: the ridge is gentle and the paths and tracks are clear, and the one real effort is the climb back up to Bo Peep at the end.
The ridge is open to the wind with little shelter. Expect gates and grazing stock on the downs, and keep dogs close near animals.
The Bo Peep car park is free. There is a mapped spring below the scarp on the way down to Firle. Berwick station is about 3½ km away in a straight line.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- West along the South Downs Way to the Beacon's trig point and barrows, down to Firle village, back below the scarp
- Firle Beacon is the highest point on the downs between the Ouse and the Cuckmere
- Firle Place and the Ram Inn in the village; Charleston farmhouse of the Bloomsbury set is just along the lane
- The Old Coach Road runs along the foot of the downs
Summits on the way
- Firle Beacon 218 m
Getting there
Start: Bo Peep car park · Free parking. 50.82564, 0.11996
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Berwick: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
