Lewes circular to Black Cap and back
6 people attending
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Join me on my second outing on this 12.5 mile circular walk from Lewes to Black Cap on the south downs and back via Kingston Hollow.
We leave the centre of historic Lewes passing its 11th century castle hidden by the facade of shops and restaurants on the high street. Passing behind the category B prison built in 1853, HMP Lewes is still in use today and has notable inmates, Mick Jagger and Reginald Kray to name a few. We press on up to the South Downs passing Lewes old disused racecourse. Lewes Racecourse shut its doors in 1964 and is now a mix of stables and residential housing. The path of the track can still be walked and is marked on the OS map as a footpath.
We carry on our ascent to Black Cap with its far reaching and impressive views. Then heading down south towards the A27 we cross using the bridge and begin to make our second ascent of the day. Turning east we round Newmarket Hill head towards Kingston on Juggs Road/track (named after the fishwives carrying devices for bringing fish to market).
Descending through Kingston we cross again the A27 via a footbridge and back to civilisation and our starting point.
OS map route: Here!
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All pictures were taken by the leader.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Lots of water and a packed lunch.