There are a number of walks and trails you can do if you want to explore Alfriston and its heritage by foot.
The Cuckmere Pilgrim Path
This is an 18 km circular walk that starts in Alfriston and takes you via seven historic churches. The churches on route are: Alfriston (known as the cathedral of the South Downs), Berwick (where you’ll find incredible murals by the Bloomsbury Set), Alciston, Selmeston, Arlington, Wilmington and Lullington. There are lots of other points of interest along the way too, including a nature reserve and reservoir, the Long Man chalk figure, Wilmington Priory and a particularly interesting tree!
It’s well signed and you can pick up a map at most of the churches that feature on the walk or download one online.
Blue Plaques and heritage trails
If you search online for heritage trails, you’ll probably be directed to Rathfinny Wine Estate which in turn will redirect you to The Gun Room on the Tye in Alfriston. The Gun Room has some interesting information upstairs about its history and its role in English defences.
There are also a number of blue plaques in the village (although very little information about them online). We found plaques at:
- The Village Store
- The Old Farmhouse
- The Smugglers Inn
- United Reform Church
- The Star Inn
- Wingrove House
- The Flint Tower
Each plaque reveals a little more about the history of the village and it’s quite fun trying to find them.
The Rathfinny trail
The Rathfinny Wine Estate has devised two trails and you can get details from their website. There is a short 3 mile option or a longer 4.25 mile option, both within the Rathfinny estate.
The South Downs National Park Heritage Coast walks
The South Downs National Park has its own Alfriston and River Cuckmere Walk. This 10 km walk starts at the Seven Sisters Visitor Centre and heads north through Friston Forest via the South Downs Way all the way to Alfriston (which is roughly 5 km). The return part of the walk is along the banks of the River Cuckmere.
Look out for the White Horse carved into the hillside on this walk. You can find details of the route on the SDNP website.
The National Trust Alfriston Clergy House walk
This is a 10.5km walk starting at the Clergy House on the Tye in Alfriston. This walk takes you to the church at Berwick, following some of the Vanguard Way.
Look out for the Long Man, a Medieval dovecote and views across to Newhaven. Details on the National Trust website.
Go big or go home on the South Downs Way
The South Downs Way starts in Eastbourne but divides there with two different routes to Alfriston (where they rejoin). That means you can do a South Downs Way circular walk via Alfriston by way of the two different routes. It’s a total distance of about 29 km and takes you via the Seven Sisters so it is not for the faint hearted but … what a walk! Alternatively, you could stay overnight in Alfriston and make it a walk of two halves!
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