Alfriston, Lullington Church, Long Man, Wilmington and Cuckmere River

A walk down Alfriston village street is to step into the past. The market cross is in tiny Wellington Square, while to the right is a pub with two names — The Market Cross and The Smugglers — reflecting its associations with smuggling. Continuing further, you encounter the George and Star inns, featuring a fierce dragon-like figurehead from a ship wrecked near Cuckmere Haven.

The path between flint walls on the route is called a 'twitton' in Sussex, leading to a meadow called The Tye in front of St Andrew's Church (known as 'The Cathedral of the Downs' because of its size). The path continues down to the Cuckmere River before passing tiny Lullington Church (seating only 23 people, making it one of the smallest in the country).

A climb up onto the Downs reveals an exhilarating panorama, with Firle Beacon and Chanctonbury Ring prominent to the west, and the blue haze of the Weald to the north. Rounding Windover Hill, The Long Man of Wilmington comes into view.

A bridlepath descends to the village of Wilmington, home to the ruins of the 13th-century Benedictine Priory (now owned by the Landmark Trust) and the churchyard of St Mary and St Peter's with its massive ancient yew. Beyond, a field path leads to Milton Street, the Long Bridge across the Cuckmere, and a gentle stroll along the water meadows back to Alfriston.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.