Falmer Village to the South Downs Way

A beautiful circular walk from Falmer Village (by Sussex University) up to the South Downs Way and back. This quiet loop offers stunning views in every direction - a great way to spend a socially distanced Saturday morning. We walked this route - but it’d make for a great hour on a mountain bike with plenty of options to extend it further.

The Route

Distance: c. 11.8km

Mode: Walk / Run / Mountain bike

This walk starts in the pretty village of Falmer, tucked out of sight from the A27 and the University.

For the first half you'll be journeying gently uphill, treated with views over to Castle Hill and beyond to Newhaven. In the valley below your path you’ll spot some amazing properties nestled in the trees. Their inhabitants must have a very peaceful existence - surrounded by farmland and birdsong.

View towards Newhaven, a short walk from Falmer village

Blackcap on the South Downs Way

You’ll join the South Downs way slightly east of Blackcap - and true to form it delivers the goods as a viewpoint to the North and South. From there, you have a couple of choices for routes to get back to Falmer Village. We chose to follow the bridleway past Streathill Farm and along the back of the Sussex University Campus.

Some great lawn mowing at Plumpton College - NHS 💙

Brighton in the far distance - from the South Downs Way