Lewes to Newhaven Walk

8.8 miles (14.2 km)

This walk takes you along the River Ouse from Lewes to Newhaven. The route runs for just under 9 miles heading south from Newhaven along the riverside footpath which runs parallel to the Egret's Way Walking Cycle Route.... On the way you will pass the Swing Bridge at Southease and the village of Piddinghoe before coming to the riverside park at the northern end of Newhaven. The route continues through Newhaven, passing the harbour and the marina before finishing on the seafront close to the old fort.
Leaving Lewes, the trail passes through a landscape of grazing marsh, riverside meadows and wetland habitats that form part of the Ouse estuary. The river attracts a variety of birdlife including herons, egrets, cormorants and wintering wildfowl, making the route particularly popular with nature lovers.
One of the highlights is the section through Southease, a small village on the edge of the South Downs National Park. Here the route passes the distinctive Swing Bridge before continuing through the tranquil riverside scenery of the Ouse Valley. Nearby Piddinghoe is one of several historic settlements that developed alongside the tidal river and retains much of its traditional Sussex character.
Approaching Newhaven, the landscape becomes increasingly maritime as the river widens towards its mouth at the English Channel. The town has a long association with cross-Channel trade and ferry services, while Newhaven Harbour remains one of the principal ports on the Sussex coast. The walk finishes near the impressive Newhaven Fort, a Victorian coastal defence overlooking the harbour entrance and the sea beyond.