Mount Caburn Walk [Complete Guide + Map]

Few walks in Sussex pack as much variety into a single route as this Mount Caburn walk. In just a few hours, you’ll climb an ancient Iron Age hilltop, wander through nature reserves, explore the historic village of Glynde and enjoy far-reaching views across the South Downs to the English Channel. Keep reading for the full route, detailed directions and the fascinating stories behind the landmarks you’ll encounter along the way.

Pro Tip: For an extra special day out, plan this walk during Potfest weekend. Ceramic artists, exhibitions and food stalls take overt the gardens of Glynde Place, making it a fantastic place to relax after the hike. I’ve included more details about the festival at the end of this article.

Logistics of the Mount Caburn Walk

Map of the Mount Caburn Walk

Do you want to do this walk? Simply download the map by clicking on the button below. Learn how to upload it onto your navigation app by following my step-by-step guide here.

Highlights of the Mount Caburn Walk

Mount Caburn Walk

So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!

Lewes

We start our walk in the charming medical town of Lewes, East Sussex. Lewes has a long history stretching back well before the Saxons. The area was occupied in Roman times, likely because of its position on the River Ouse. Archaeological finds suggest even earlier prehistoric settlement on the surrounding South Downs. After the Norman Conquest, Lewes became one of the most important towns in Sussex. Lewes Castle and the powerful Lewes Priory were established in the 11th century, helping the town grow into a major religious and administrative centre.

Lewes is best known for the Battle of Lewes, fought on 14 May 1264 during the Second Barons’ War. Rebel barons led by Simon de Montfort challenged King Henry III over royal power and demands for political reform. Against the odds, de Montfort’s forces defeated the king’s army on the slopes above the town, capturing both Henry III and his son, the future Edward I.

In later centuries, Lewes prospered as a market town and centre for brewing, agriculture and trade. Today, its medieval streets, historic buildings and castle remain reminders of its rich past. Lewes is also famous for its antic shops and Bonfire Night celebrations.

Railway Land Nature Reserve

Our walk starts at Lewes train station. As you leave the station, walk straight ahead and turn right onto the lane between the station car park and the Depot cinema. After a short distance, you’ll find a footpath on your right leading into the Railway Land Nature Reserve.

This unexpected pocket of wilderness in the heart of Lewes is set beside the River Ouse and occupies what was once a busy railway marshalling yard. Nature has reclaimed the land since the railway’s decline, transforming former sidings into flower-filled meadows alive with insects, birds and other wildlife.

Related Content: Lewes Circular via Glynde

One of the reserve’s defining features is its variety of wetland habitats. Four distinct water environments are fed by the Winterbourne Stream, a seasonal chalk stream that flows through the reserve. Fed by rainwater filtered through the surrounding South Downs chalk hills, the stream often overflows in winter, refreshing the reserve’s wetlands and creating ideal conditions for wildlife.

The site also carries traces of its Victorian past. A large house called Leighside once stood here, surrounded by formal gardens, landscaped fishponds and unusual trees. Some of the trees still survive today, including a Holm Oak and Swamp Cypress. Today, the reserve is owned by Lewes District Council and managed in partnership with the Railway Land Wildlife Trust, offering both a valuable wildlife habitat and a peaceful green escape within the town.

Lewes Golf Club

As you leave the Railway Land Nature Reserve, cross the bridge and head into the historic centre of Lewes. Follow the High Street past its independent shops and historic buildings until you reach St Thomas à Becket Church. From here, turn onto Chapel Hill and begin the steep climb out of town.

The climb of Chapel Hill is a notoriously steep and challenging ascent. It features an elevation gain of roughly 175 meters (574 feet), with the steepest sections of the road reaching a gradient of 17%. But the views over Lewes and the River Ouse don’t disappoint.

At the top you arrive at the Lewes Golf Club, a 18 holes founded in 1896. Walk to the rear of the car park where you find the entrance of the Southernham Farm Nature Reserve.

Southernham Farm Nature Reserve

This Nature Reserve is a remarkable example of the rare chalk grassland landscape that characterises parts of the South Downs. The thin, nutrient-poor soils over chalk create ideal conditions for an extraordinary variety of wildflowers to thrive. Rather than a few dominant species taking over, dozens of different plants can grow side by side. In fact, a single square metre of chalk grassland may support up to 50 plant species, with grasses making up only a small part of the mix. This rich plant life, in turn, supports a wide range of butterflies, insects and pollinators that depend on specific flowers for food and nectar.

This distinctive landscape is not entirely natural but has been shaped by thousands of years of human activity. Since farming began in the South Downs, grazing particularly by sheep has been the main land use. Because the chalk soils are too shallow for most crops, woodland and scrub were cleared, allowing open grassland to dominate. However, this habitat depends on continued management: without grazing or conservation work, scrub and trees would quickly take over.

During the mid-20th century, declining grazing practices led to the loss of around 90% of the South Downs’ chalk grassland. Many former grasslands became overgrown. Today, this historic management continues at Southerham Farm, where livestock grazing and extensive volunteer efforts help preserve and restore this rare habitat.

Mount Carburn

Rising to 147 metres (482 ft), Mount Caburn is one of the most distinctive hills near Lewes, offering sweeping views across the South Downs and, on clear days, the English Channel.

The summit is home to one of Britain’s most extensively studied Iron Age sites. Although less famous than nearby hillforts such as Cissbury Ring, more than 170 archaeological trenches have been excavated here, providing an exceptional insight into the area’s ancient past. The name “Caburn” is first recorded in 1296 and may derive from the Old English meaning “cold fort”. However some historians believe it has even older Celtic roots. Before 2000 BC, the hill was covered in dense yew woodland, but around 400 BC an enclosed settlement was established on the summit.

Although long considered a defensive hillfort, archaeologists now believe Mount Caburn may have had a ceremonial or religious role. More than 140 pits containing weapons, pottery, coins, tools, and human and animal bones have been uncovered, suggesting the site was used for ritual deposits over many generations. Another mystery surrounds the large outer ditch on the northern side. Once thought to defend against Roman invasion, it is now believed to date from the Romano-British or Saxon period. Today, Mount Caburn is protected as a Scheduled Monument, combining some of Sussex’s richest archaeology with spectacular scenery.

After enjoying the views from Mount Caburn, begin the descent towards the historic village of Glynde.

Glynde

The picturesque village of Glynde has a history stretching back to Saxon times. Its name may derive from the Old English word glene, meaning “valley”, a fitting description for its location beneath the South Downs. For centuries, the village was centred on the Glynde Estate, which passed through the Waleys, Morley, Trevor and Brand families. The manor was already established by the 12th century, while the surrounding landscape was shaped by farming, sheep grazing and the nearby River Ouse floodplain. Today, despite having a population of fewer than 200 residents, Glynde remains one of the most historically significant villages in East Sussex.

Glynde Place

Standing at the heart of the village, Glynde Place is a magnificent Elizabethan manor house built in 1569 by William Morley. Constructed from Sussex flint and Caen stone, the house originally formed a square around an inner courtyard. During the 18th century, Richard Trevor, Bishop of Durham, transformed the estate, remodelling the house, adding the impressive stable block and decorating it the dragons of the Trevor family.

The Grade I-listed house remains the ancestral home of the Viscounts Hampden and is surrounded by historic gardens that are open to visitors.

St Mary the Virgin Church

Next to Glynde Place stands St Mary the Virgin Church, one of Sussex’s most unusual churches. The original medieval church had fallen into disrepair, so Richard Trevor commissioned an entirely new building between 1763 and 1765.

The design of the church is in a fashionable Palladian style, built from beautifully knapped flint, and retains many of its original Georgian features, including an elegant plaster ceiling. Its bright, symmetrical design was considered remarkably modern for its time and remains a striking contrast to the medieval churches found elsewhere across the South Downs.

Potfest

I recommend doing this walk during the Potfest weekend, when the grounds of Glynde Place are transformed into a vibrant ceramics fair.

Potfest began in 1994 when ceramicists Geoff and Christine Cox, inspired by potters’ markets they had visited in the Netherlands, decided to create a similar event in the UK. Their first show, Potfest in the Pens, was held in a covered cattle market in Penrith and became the country’s first large-scale pottery market. What started as a single event has since grown into a nationwide series of ceramics festivals, showcasing the work of hundreds of makers and attracting thousands of visitors each year. The festival arrived at Glynde Place in 2022, bringing its mix of contemporary ceramics and traditional craftsmanship to the South Downs.

The fair also offers a range of food and refreshments, making it an ideal spot to relax after your walk.

Happy discovery!

Final Thoughts on the Mount Caburn Walk

Looking for more inspiration? I’ve put together a guide to the Best Walks in the South Downs, featuring everything from dramatic coastal trails and hidden valleys to historic villages and iconic hilltop viewpoints. It’s the perfect place to find your next adventure.

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