POLEGATE RAMBLING CLUB
WALKS PROGRAMME – May to August 2026
Welcome to our walking programme. Before you go on a walk, you will need to book with the walk leader. Please contact the leader no sooner than 9.00 am. on the preceding Friday. Bookings made before that time will be ignored. This allows the leader to hold a record of all walkers and to limit the amount of walkers if necessary and to make changes accordingly. Booking is not required for the Leisure Walks.
All walks start from the Rec. at 9.30 am prompt unless otherwise stated. Car parking charge to be shared between car occupants. SVP – Suggested Voluntary payment – is payable to the driver by each passenger as it is a reasonable contribution to the fuel used. Leisure walkers please check bus timetables and remember to take your bus passes. Books of walks and maps are available to borrow from the Walks’ Secretary.
In order to keep to safe walking practices, we ask you to comply with the following advice:
- Please ensure you book on with the leader of the walk from 09:00 Friday preceding the walk, no bookings will be taken beforehand and any before Friday 09:00 will be discounted.
- Please inform the leader if you are booked on but cannot make the walk thereby freeing up a space for someone else on the waiting list.
- Please ask the leader if you are unsure of the start of the walk.
- If you have booked on to a walk and require transport from the recreation ground to the start of the walk it is advisable to arrange this beforehand as we cannot guarantee to organise lifts on the day, so you may be disappointed if you just turn up.
- Please check the website regularly for updates and for any guidance notes and please familiarise yourselves with them.
- Please assist those not on email and without internet access to print off and tell them about any changes.
Any questions please contact Mick on 07484 104460
It is suggested that if you are thinking of joining us for the first time on one of our walks you contact the leader for details. Feel free to come and walk with us for a few times before deciding if you wish to join.
LEISURELY walks – 2 to 3 miles, generally avoiding hills and poor surfaces, taken at a leisurely pace.
SHORT walks – approx. 5 miles at a moderately brisk pace and finishing around 12:30, includes a 15min stop at a grassy spot for a drink if you’ve brought one.
LONG walks – 8 to 11 miles at a moderately brisk pace, with a midday break for picnic/cafe/pub lunch and finishing mid-afternoon.
SATURDAY walks – 7 to 8 miles at a moderately brisk pace on the first Saturday of the month. Meeting is at the start of the walk for a 9.30 am. start. Bring refreshments for a coffee break but will back by lunchtime.
Pop Up Walks: Sometimes a member will organise a pop up walk in addition to our regular programme and usually on a different day. Recent pop up walks have taken place in Rye, London and along the 1066 Trail between Pevensey, Battle and Rye. These are advertised within our our usual programme and details are emailed to members.
April 2026
April 2nd
Glynde Bottoms Walk 5.5 miles 1 stile 3 steepish hills
Starting from Glynde village steepish climb above Caburn and Oxendale Bottoms return via Glynde Holt. Stunning views towards Lewes and the coast.
Sue Chambers 07746759951 SVP £2.70
Another Guestling Mystery Walk 9ish miles ? stiles
A pleasant walk in the Guestling area across fields, paths and through woodland. Tea/coffee and cakes at ‘Patience Patisserie’ afterwards.
Patience 07764300287 SVP £6.00
April 9th
Seafront and Princes Park 2 miles N/A
Meet Polegate station for 09:34 bus number 54 bus to Eastbourne then 99 bus to Princes Park for walk and refreshments.
Wendy McCullum 520015 or 07914431464
Up on the Downs with the Long Man 5.5 miles 1 stile 2 steepish hills
Hilly walk with fantastic views out to sea, the Litlington White Horse and the Long Man. Steep hill at the start.
Barbara O 07709998678 SVP 60p
Wannock Alfriston Circular 10 miles 8 stiles 3 steepish hills
Fields and paths outwards to Alfriston, some urban paths returning over the Downs.
John and Esther 07579780999 SVP 30p
April 16th
Firle Beacon and the South Downs Way 4.5 miles no stiles
Undulating across the Downs from Firle Beacon with a steep rise at the end.
Jacky 07774263745 SVP £1.80
The Grapes of Wrath, Fini 10 miles 4 stiles 3 steepish hills
A downland ramble with a bit of road and track walking. Good views
John and Theresa 07719437464 SVP £2.85
April 18th Saturday Walk – details to be confirmed. Click here.
April 23rd
Blooming Bluebells ? 2.75 miles
Meet Polegate Downlands Medical Centre for 09:29 number 51 bus to Hailsham roundabout. Bridle paths and Robin Post Lane to Light Bites for refreshments. Possibly muddy in woods..
Sue Taylor 07972579340
Chiddingly Circular 5.5 miles 10 stiles No steepish hills
Circular Walk from Chiddingly taking us through meadows and small woods. No steep inclines but lovely views. Refreshment available at 6 Bells in Chiddingly at the end for those in need.
Claire, Donna, Philip 07935651018 (Donna) SVP £2.40
Change to the programme A Variety of Lewes Landmarks 8 miles No stiles One short steepish hill.
A pleasant flat walk other than one short hilly street. From West Malling we follow the river through the town and onto the wetlands, out towards the Priory and Southover Grang,e then past the Castle to Offham and back. Car sharing essential as limited parking at the start.
Mick 07484104460 SVP £3.60
April 30th
In and Out of the Dusty Bluebells 2 stiles
Easy flat walk through Abbots Wood to view the bluebells. Tracks, woodland path ,short piece of lane work and some fields. Meet at Polegate Rec as usual for car share to start.
Judy 07802877514 SVP 50p
Change to the programme Bluebells in Abbotts Wood Between 8 and 10 miles – route to be finalised. No stiles
A virtually flat walk exploring some smaller paths around Abbotts Wood to see the bluebells which are fantastic at the moment. We will walk from Polegate Rec.
Sarah 07523211246 N/A
May 2026
May 7th
Hellingly Country Park 2 miles
Bus No.52 @ 9:43 Downland Medical Centre to Roebuck Park Hailsham. Walk and refreshments
Wendy 520015 or 07914431464
Picnic with Rudyard 4.9 miles 3 stiles No steepish hills
Start by walking the Undercliff between the sea and Roedean School. Before Rottingdean we turn inland to the countryside and through a nature reserve, onto the Downs and back to the start. A flat and varied walk with coastal and downland views.
Alan 07753610752 SVP £6.00
A Homage to Heather 10.5 miles No stiles 3 steepish hills.
A walk around Ovingdean and Whitehawk using footpaths, tracks, pavements and Brighton seafront. This walks includes some of the paths used by Heather Rudman, a Polegate Rambler and past President who died last year.
John and Theresa 07719437464 SVP £6.00
May 14th
Totally New Area 5.25 miles 6 proper stiles, 6 step through, no steepish hills.
Flat walk around Rushlake Green and Three Cups. Some lane walking, fields, paths and woodland. Lovely views. Please bring a picnic lunch and we can sit on the Green afterwards.
Judy 07802877514
Another Guestling Mystery Walk 9ish miles ? stiles
A pleasant walk in the Guestling area across fields, paths, and through woodland. Tea/coffee and cakes at “Patience Patisserie” afterwards.
Patience 07764300287 SVP £6.00
May 16th Saturday Walk – See Web Page.
May 21st
Harbour Stroll 1.5 miles
Bus No. 54 @ 9.34 at Polegate Railway Station to Cornfield Road, then change for Sovereign Harbour. Stroll around harbour and refreshments.
Barbara 07710069815
Pevensey Levels 5 miles No hills
Circular, flat walk from Pevensey Castle across the Levels.
Martyn 07795199891 SVP £1.80
Heathland and Downland Viewpoints 10 miles No stiles 3 steepish hills
From Wannock to Willingdon with a climb to Jevington Church for coffee, then ascend through Friston Forest traversing Lullington Nature Reserve, then up to Heathland lookout for another stop. Then on to the Long Man of Wilmington Hill and descend to Wannock
Colin and Julia 07446458138
May 28th
Along the Wealdway to Upper Dicker 5.5 miles 5 stiles No steepish hills
Flattish walk from Arlington Reservoir to Upper Dicker returning around reservoir itself. Coffee at Upper Dicker cafe/shop. Also refreshments available at the end. Parking in lay-by or Reservoir car park (chargeable).
Rumbling Rocks 2026, Return Tour Starring Eridge and Harrison Rocks 9 miles 5 stiles No steepish hills, a few slopes
Different geology, different landscape, green sandstone outcrops, forest, views of Sussex Weald and a great country house, (Groombridge Place).
Richard 07926500419 Please text only as hard of hearing SVP £6.00
June 2026
June 4th
Malling to Ringmer 2.5 miles
Bus No.28 @9.45 Polegate Cross Roads opposite St. Georges Church. Nature trail and cycle path to village. Short hill at the start then rough chalky path till it meets the cycle path. Refreshments at the end.
Sue Taylor 07972579340
To the Feet and Back Revisited 5 miles 2 stiles
Start from Alfriston free car park with a slow climb, not steep, to the foot of the Long Man and return via one of Britain’s oldest Yew trees. Free parking near Alfriston school (North Road) or free car park in the centre.
Gary 351553 or 07773382426 SVP £1.50
Forest and Downland Circular 11 miles 1 stile A few steepish hills
A downland walk from YHA to Friston. We walk through forest to East Dean returning via Eldon Bottom.
Jayne 07775631499 SVP £1.50
June 11th
Jubilee Path 5 miles No stiles
Circular walk from YHA East Dean Road along the Jubilee Path.
Brenda 07907678148 SVP £1.50
Walk in the Weald 10 miles 10 stiles 2 steepish hills
Walk in the fields, woods and some roads. Tea and cake at the end.
Aled 07858070497 SVP £6.00
June 13th
Alan’s London Walk
Contact Alan on 07753610752 if you have not already signed up.
Saturday Walk Details TBC and can be found on Saturday web page Click here
June 18th
Hailsham to Horsebridge 2 miles
No.51 bus from Downland Medical Centre @ 10.43 to South Car Park Hailsham. Walk Cuckoo Trail to Kings Head for refreshments.
Joy 487269 or 07835986485
Bede’s to Tout and Back 5 miles No stiles
From Bede’s School across downland to Belle Tout and return via Cornish Farm.
Gary 351553 or 07773382426 SVP £1.50
Mayfield Vistas 10 miles 3 stiles 2 steepish hills
Around Mayfield with evidence of the iron industry.
Lesley 07933237300 SVP £4.50
June 25th
No Bat and Ball Cricketers 4.55 miles No stiles
Climb to the ridge from Berwick and be rewarded with magnificent views of the countryside, downs and sea.
Jacky 07774263745 SVP £1.20
Not Getting Lost around Cowbeech 10 miles 7 stiles No steepish hills
A pleasant walk through fields and woods with a couple of undulations but no steep hills!
Gill 07963930941
