POLEGATE RAMBLING CLUB
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.
September 2026
September 3rd
No short walk scheduled
Yet 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
September 5th
Saturday Walk details to be confirmed and found on Saturday Walks Webpage.
September 10th
Seafront 2 miles
Bus No.52 @ 9:49 Polegate station to Cornfield Rd. Walk to Bandstand then Redoubt for refreshments.
Joy 07835986485
Laughton to Ripe Circular 5.5 miles 11 stiles, No steepish hills
Flat walk from Laughton through fields, footpaths, some lane walking. Coffee stop at Ripe (café available). Refreshments at the end if required.
Judy 07802877514 SVP £2.70
Wannock-Folkington-Milton Street and Wilmington 8.5 miles 2 or 3 stiles, no steepish hills.
Downland walk through fields, paths and tracks, a few slopes. Coffee on the Downs and lunch at Wilmington Church. Walk from Polegate Rec.
Mick 07484104460 SVP N/A
September 17th
Chiddingly Streams and Meadows 5 miles 5 stiles No hills
We start at Chiddingly and take the Vanguard Way following a babbling brook through meadowland, then head south west to meet the Weald Way back to Chiddingly. A very flat walk.
Alan 07753610752 SVP £2.40
If You Go Down to the Woods Today 9 miles 2 stiles 2 steepish hills
A cool walk through Friston Forest
Lindsey 07974930105 SVP £1.50
September 24th
Friston to East Dean 2 miles
Bus No.52 @ 09:49 at Polegate Railway Station to Eastbourne station, then change for Friston Pond. Lane walk towards Crowlink then to East Dean for refreshments.
Sue 07972579340
Bedes to Tout and Back 5 miles No stiles
From Bedes School across Downland to Belle Tout and return via Cornish Farm
Gary 351553 or 07773382426 SVP £1.50
The Lost Byway 10.5 miles 2 stiles No steep hills
A fairly flat walk across fields, through ‘The Brooks’ and back along the Ouse
John and Theresa 07719437464 SVP £3.30
October 2026
October 1st
Cowbeech Walk 4.5 miles 2ish stiles No steep hills
A fairly easy walk from Cowbeech village along country lanes, woodland and fields.
Claire, Donna, Philip 07935651018 SVP £2.25
Walk in the Weald 10 miles 10 stiles 2 steepish hills
Walk in fields, woods and some roads. Tea and cake at the end.
Aled 07858070497 SVP £6.00
October 3rd Saturday Walk details TBC and found on Saturday Walks web page
October 8th
Hospice and Back 2.5 miles
Bus No.52 @ 09:49 at Polegate Railway Station to Eastbourne DGH. Walk down Cross Levels Way to St Wilfrid’s Hospice for coffee and back through Hampden Park.
Hazel 07732712782
Figure of 8 on the Eighth, Battle and High Weald 5.8miles 7 stiles
Typical Sussex Weald farmland and woods. Undulating and picturesque.
Sonia 07790184583 SVP £5.70
Spitfires over Friston 10.5 miles A few stiles 3 steepish hills
East Dean to Birling Gap, then Gayles Farm to Exceat returning through Friston Forest. We stop at Friston Airfield to remember our brave pilots. All well known downland paths and a few hills.
John & Marion 07732971557 SVP £1.50
October 15th
Scrappers and Thunder 5 miles 10ish stiles no steep hills
Flat walk from Chiddingly going south to Scrapper’s Hill & Thunder’s Hill and back to Chiddingly via footpaths, fields, tracks and lovely paths. Refreshments at the end if required.
Judy 07802877514 SVP £2.40
Around Blackcap 9.5 miles No stiles 1 steepish hill
From Cooksbridge a long climb up to Blackcap with great views. Descend into Lewes with lunch at Southover Gardens, then along the Ouse to Cooksbridge
Alan 07753610752 SVP £4.80
October 22nd
Cycle Track to ESK 2.25 miles
Bus No.6 @ 09:32 Downlands Medical Cemtre to Langney Shopping Centre, change for Langney roundabout, flat walk to ESK via Bridgemere. Refreshments at the end
Sue Taylor 07972579340
East Dean to South Downs Way and Back 5 miles 1 Stile 1 steepish hill
From East Dean walk through Downs Golf Course to SDW and return via SD National Park
Denise & Royce 07528957735 SVP £1.50
Five Lords and a Bishop 9.5 miles 1 stile 1 long hill
Undulating downland walk between Firle and Bishopstone with one long hill
Gill 07963930941 SVP £1.80
October 23rd Beetle Drive details to follow
October 29th
No short walk scheduled
Autumn on the South Downs 10 miles 2 stiles
A downland walk from YHA to Belle Toute, Birling Gap and East Dean return.
Jayne 07775631499 SVP £1.50
October 31st SATURDAY WALK details TBC see webpage.
November 2026
November 5th
Lidl to Langney 2.5 miles
Bus No.6 @ 09:32 Downlands Medical Centre to LIDL Polegate. Walk on cycle track round Shinewater Lakes to Langey Shopping Centre for refreshments. 1 slope up to bridge.
Barbara 07710069815
Three Bottoms and a Dyke 5 miles No stiles 3 steepish hills
Hilly walk on the Downs from Castle Hill car park Woodingdean, passing the rich habitat of the Nature Reserve.
Barbara O 07709998678 SVP £5.10
Wilmington-Arlington-Berwick-Alfriston several miles 5 stiles
No steepish hills Mostly footpaths, undulating.
John and Marion 07732971557 SVP 90p
November 12th
Hooe and Whydown Circular 5 miles 10 ish stiles, No steepish hills
Flat walk through paths, woodland, fields and tracks.
Judy 07802877514 SVP £3.00
East Hoathly Circle 9 miles 6 stiles No steepish hills
All footpaths
Paul and Barbara 07812822879 SVP £3.00
November 19th
Heathfield to Horam 2.25 miles
Bus No.51 @ 09:29 Victoria Road bus stop (before Guardian Court, Hailsham Road) to Sandy Lane. Flat walk to Horam for refreshments
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
Kingston Circular 9.5 miles 4 stiles 3 steepish hills
From Kingston to Lewes via Rodmell and Breaky Bottom returning over Castle Hill.
Gavin and Doris 07552763683 SVP £4.20
November 26th
A Jevington Adventure 5 miles 2 stiles No steepish hills
From Wannock to Jevington and back using paths, tracks and a Church.
Vicky & Ozker 07701051155 SVP 90p
Friston Frolics 10.5 miles 1 stile 2 steepish hills
From East Dean to Butts Brow and Jevington returning to Friston where we loop down to the coast.
Lesley 07933237300 SVP £1.50
28th SATURDAY WALK details to be confirmed (see website)
December 2026
December 3rd Club Christmas Lunch – details TBA
December 10th
Longman x 2 5.5 miles 3 stiles 1 or 2 steepish hills
From Wannock to Folkington Church, then below the Long Man to Wilmington Church and back. Downs views, art and an ancient Yew.
Sonia 07790184583 SVP 30p
To Jevington and Beyond 9.5 miles 2 stiles No steepish hills
Downland paths
Jan 07871436724 SVP £1.50
December 17th
Cuckoo Trail
Bus No.52 @ 9:43 Downlands Medical Centre to South Car Park Hailsham.. Walk Cuckoo Trail to Polegate for refreshments
Joy 07835986485
Laughton Landscape 5 miles 3 stiles
Footpaths, ponds, tracks and fields. Flat walk. Parking in layby of Wok Inn, The Broyle, Laughton BN8 6PH. Please car sure as much as possible for the sake of customers.
Barbara O 07709998678 SVP £3.30
Sleigh Bells are Jingling! 10.75 miles No stiles A few steepish climbs
A downland walk from Jayne’s house (address on booking). Steep start at the start with further steepish slopes. Along the South Downs to East Dean and return to tea and mince pies at Jayne’s.
Jayne 07775631499 SVP £1.00
December 24th
No short walk scheduled
Twas the Night before Christmas 9.5 miles 10 stiles 4 steepish hills
A seasonal visit to several downland churches to see how they are decorated for Christmas. Please car share where possible as car park is small.
John and Theresa 07719437464 SVP 90p
December 31st
Blackbrooks Garden Centre
No.28 bus from Polegate X roads opposite St George’s Church to Blackbrooks Garden Centre for refreshments.
Sue 07972579340
For All Groups – the Last One of the Year 5 miles Maybe a couple of stiles no hills.
A circular walk from Arlington including Alciston, Selmeston and Berwick finishing with refreshments (drinks and food as required) at Arlington reservoir kiosk (please support the guys) Polegate Rec at 09:30 for car sharing to car park (payable) or lay-by
Mick and Judy 07484104460 SVP £1.00
