Firle Tower and Beyond

Recommended by

Our view

"A walk from the centre of Firle village past Firle Beacon and Charleston Farmhouse"

Walk directions

Turn left out of the car park, pass The Ram Inn and follow the road round to the right, through the village of Firle. Walk past the village stores (ignore the turning to the left) and head out of the village. Past the last building keep straight on, avoiding turning to the right. The track curves left, with the estate wall on the left.

Just beyond the end of the first field on the right, turn right at a waymarker post, on a track up the right side of the field, along the strip of woodland. At the top of the field, go through a gate and carry on up the grassy spur ahead.

At the top of the ridge, turn left along the South Downs Way, with views of the coast to the south. Carry on through a gate – there are tumuli (burial mounds) on either side of it – to your right, and pass the trig point. The path then drops, and soon after it levels out and rises very gently, turn sharp left at a waymarker post by a couple of gorse bushes, leaving the South Downs Way. The path soon becomes pronounced, and drops through a gate.

At the foot of the main slope, continue through the waymarked gate half right, down alongside woodland before continuing forward at a junction of tracks. Pass a house called Tilton Meadow and turn left at the next junction, by some barns. Follow the concrete bridleway past a right-angled bend, then immediately after turn left towards Charleston.

Past Charleston, go through a gate and continue ahead on a track, then forward along the left edge of a field. Go through the gate on the left at the far corner, then turn right to resume the same direction, up across fields and just below Firle Tower. This Gothic eye-catcher was built in 1819 to accommodate the estate gamekeeper. Cross a track, pass through trees and enter a field. Firle Place, in its lovely downland setting, can be seen from here. Keep to the right-hand edge of the field, and almost immediately bear diagonally left towards some houses. Join a wall and go through the gap at the wall corner. Go through a wrought-iron gate between houses.

Cross the lane to a gate and follow the marker posts through the parkland of Firle Place. Eventually merge into a track joining from the right, and cross the main estate road. Follow the track ahead, to take a gate to the left of the cricket ground, and follow this to the road. Turn right on Firle’s village street to return to the car park.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Grassy tracks, village street and field paths; no stiles

Landscape - Downland and farmland

Dog friendliness - On lead in vicinity of Firle Place and where livestock is grazing

Parking - Car park in Firle village

Toilets en route - There are toilets at Charleston

Walks in East Sussex

About the walk

Firle is a perfect example of what landscape historians describe as a ‘closed village’. Such settlements, growing up on private estates, enjoy a unique status and are a vivid reminder of the autocracy of generations of powerful landowning families. The development of Firle was severely...

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

East Sussex is a land of stately homes, castles and the South Downs, with miles of chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel. For history buffs, there are a great many historic landmarks within Sussex, such as the battlefield where the Battle of Hastings took place, or visitors can enjoy pretty towns such as Lewes, Rye and Uckfield and the city of Brighton.