Walking & cycling | Charleston

These pages have been created for Charleston by one of our very dedicated volunteers, and we will be adding more routes over time. If you feel there are other routes that should be included, or are interested in volunteering at Charleston, please do email info@charleston.org.uk with details.

Information is accurate at the time of publication.

Walking to Charleston

Should you wish to explore Glynde before making your way to Charleston then turn left and go over the narrow bridge. There are public toilets on the left after the bridge and Glynde Forge on the right. Glynde Forge is open to visitors. Continue along the road and if you need some supplies then take the first left and immediately on your left is a little village shop. If you would like to visit Glynde Place then ignore this left turn and continue up the hill towards Glyndebourne. Glynde Place will be on your right. If you carry on along this road and ignore a turning to your right then you will see fields of llamas and you might even spot Orlando and Mo the camels. Further on up a hill on your right will be Glyndebourne Opera House.

Walking from Glynde Station through Firle Village

From Glynde station make your way up the steps to the road.
Turn right and walk along the pavement, passing the Trevor Arms on your right. Continue along this street, heading towards the South Downs.
After about 600m the street will meet the A27 and ahead you will see a lane with a dead end sign. Take care crossing over this busy road and walk up the quiet lane towards the Downs.
After about 300m there will be a post box on the right and a turning on the left towards Preston Court. Take this turning and you will see a way marker post on the left. This post has a faded yellow arrow on it and points the way to Firle, one mile away.
After about 100m the concrete track meets a junction as the track bends around to the right to the farm. There is a very faded yellow arrow on a post on your left. Follow this arrow straight ahead on the gravel track that goes just to the right of a dilapidated barn.
After a few metres there will be a metal gate and a stile to your left. Go over the stile, following the yellow arrow and heading across the grassy field to a wide metal gate.
Go through this gate and continue in the same direction up the next small field to a small wooden gate.
Go through this gate and carry straight on along the narrow footpath that leads through the middle of a large arable field. You will see a line of houses ahead and these border the road which leads up to Firle Beacon. You will be walking parallel to the A27 to the north and the South Downs to the south. As you reach some trees on your left the path will widen into a track and bend around to the left to pass a corrugated metal barn on the left.
At the end of the barn turn right along the concrete track, way marked by another faded yellow arrow. You will be heading towards Firle again.
After about 200m the track meets a road junction, with a bus stop on the right and a post box on the left. If you would like to look around Firle Place then go straight ahead through the entrance gates, way marked by a yellow arrow.
If you would like to explore Firle village and buy refreshments then turn right up the road.
Follow the road as it bends to the left, named The Street. You will pass Firle School on your right and shortly afterwards a car park on your left. You will then arrive at the Ram Inn, which has a restaurant and Bed and Breakfast. Follow the road round to the right and at the end of this residential street there will be Firle Stores on your left. Firle Stores (est 1780) has a post office, telephone box and Cuckmere Community Bus Stop.
From the stores follow the road up to the right and continue straight ahead as it turns into a track, passing a church to your left. After about 100m the bridleway will bend around to the left. Take this, ignoring a path that goes straight up the Downs. You are now on quite a wide chalky track that is known as The Old Coach Road.
To follow the Old Coach Road all the way to Charleston, continue on the track for about 2.5 kilometres, ignoring all turnings to the left until you reach a cross roads of paths. At this cross roads, at the bottom of a very slight undulation, there is a footpath going up the Downs to your right and a main bridleway on your left. Ahead the track goes up hill to a barn – do not go this far! Take the bridleway to the left and follow it down to the houses and barn.
After about 500m the bridleway turns into a concrete track that bends to the left. On you right is a driveway to Tilton House, where John Maynard Keynes and Lydia Lopokova lived from 1926. This is now a Bed and Breakfast and Yoga retreat.
At the end of the concrete track there will be a sign on the right announcing Charleston and a track on the left, leading up to Charleston. Take this track and in about 200m you will arrive at Charleston, with the pond on the right and the visitor entrance on the left.

Walking from Glynde Station through the Firle Place grounds

From Glynde station make your way up the steps to the road.
Turn right and walk along the pavement, passing the Trevor Arms on your right. Continue along this street, heading towards the South Downs.
After about 600m the street will meet the A27 and ahead you will see a lane with a dead end sign. Take care crossing over this busy road and walk up the quiet lane towards the Downs.
After about 300m there will be a post box on the right and a turning on the left towards Preston Court. Take this turning and you will see a way marker post on the left. This post has a faded yellow arrow on it and points the way to Firle, one mile away.
After about 100m the concrete track meets a junction as the track bends around to the right to the farm. There is a very faded yellow arrow on a post on your left. Follow this arrow straight ahead on the gravel track that goes just to the right of a dilapidated barn.
After a few metres there will be a metal gate and a stile to your left. Go over the stile, following the yellow arrow and heading across the grassy field to a wide metal gate.
Go through this gate and continue in the same direction up the next small field to a small wooden gate.
Go through this gate and carry straight on along the narrow footpath that leads through the middle of a large arable field. You will see a line of houses ahead and these border the road which leads up to Firle Beacon. You will be walking parallel to the A27 to the north and the South Downs to the south. As you reach some trees on your left the path will widen into a track and bend around to the left to pass a corrugated metal barn on the left.
At the end of the barn turn right along the concrete track, way marked by another faded yellow arrow. You will be heading towards Firle again.
After about 200m the track meets a road junction, with a bus stop on the right and a post box on the left. If you would like to look around Firle Place then go straight ahead through the entrance gates, way marked by a yellow arrow.
Follow the tarmac driveway up to Firle Place. If you are not looking around Firle Place then at the signpost junction bear left, heading south east towards the far south east corner of the large field. There is a gate in this corner.
Go through the gate and turn right onto the track and then immediately left onto another track. Follow this track towards a small cottage and horse fields and then in about 100m turn left up a narrow track. After about 100m you will meet a footpath that crosses the track. Turn left onto this footpath to head across a field of crops. Looking uphill to your left you will see Firle Tower, where the Firle Place gamekeeper lived.
Follow the footpath downhill to a gate and go through the gate and across the next field.
Go through the next gate at the bottom of this field and continue straight on for about 50 metres to the corner of the next field, passing through a break in the hedge on your left. There are often cows in these fields.
Bear right up the next field, walking east with the Charleston Barn visible in the distance. Stay quite close to the hedge on your right and find the grassiest path amongst the mud that can accumulate in the winter. Walk towards the barn, passing through a gateway and along a muddy footpath to a wooden gate. As you go through the gate you will see Charleston Farmhouse on the left and the visitor entrance will be just a few metres down the concrete track on the right.

Cycling to Charleston

The quickest route to Charleston follows the National Cycle Network route number 2. However, I have also suggested some other routes for those who prefer off road cycling or a more varied scenery.

Cycling from Glynde station: The most direct on-road route

Make your way from the platform up the steps to the road.
Turn right and in a few metres, opposite the Trevor Arms, turn left up the hill. There is a post at this junction which has a small blue National Cycle Network sticker on it. As you go up the steep hill there will be a row of houses on your left and some allotments on your right.
Follow this lane as it winds down to the A27. At the T junction with the A27 there will be a paragliding shop on your left. Turn left onto the tarmac cycle path that runs alongside the A27. You will be heading east towards Polegate and Eastbourne, traveling parallel to the South Downs.
The pavement cycle path ends when it meets a lane that goes off to the left. Take this left turning and follow the lane, passing some cottages on your left. This is a quiet, flat lane which winds parallel to the A27 and brings you to a T Junction with the Ripe road.
At this T Junction turn right to bring you in a few metres to the T Junction with the A27.
Turn left onto the A27, taking care of the fast traffic. There is no cycle path along this stretch and so you must now cycle with the traffic for the last stretch. You will pass a bus stop on your left and then Middle Farm. Middle Farm has a café, toilets, gift shop, and farm shop.
After Middle Farm the road goes downhill and then uphill. At the top of the uphill you will need to take great care as you move onto the right hand side of the lane. The turning to Charleston is at the bottom of the hill on the right.
Take this turning to Charleston. You will now be heading towards the South Downs, going over a cattle grid and continuing along a bumpy, narrow concrete and tarmac track. Be careful of farm vehicles coming along the lane. The lane winds gently for about 500m.
Ahead of you will be a sign for Charleston and a turning to the right. Take this turning, heading west up a concrete track to Charleston Farmhouse.

Cycling from Glynde station: A more scenic, slightly less direct on-road route

Make your way from the platform up the steps to the road.
Turn right and in a few metres, opposite the Trevor Arms, turn left up the hill. There is a post at this junction which has a small blue National Cycle Network sticker on it. As you go up the steep hill there will be a row of houses on your left and some allotments on your right.
Follow this lane as it winds down to the A27. At the T junction with the A27 there will be a paragliding shop on your left. Turn left onto the tarmac cycle path that runs alongside the A27. You will be heading east towards Polegate and Eastbourne, traveling parallel to the South Downs.
Turn almost immediately right to take the lane to Firle. At the turning there is a board advertising Firle Place and the Ram Inn.
Follow this lane for about 200 metres and then take the first left. This is a quiet lane which runs parallel to the A27.
In about 1km the lane will meet the A27. Go almost directly straight over (this will involve turning right onto the A27 and then immediately left).
You will now be on a quiet, flat lane that runs parallel to the A27. Follow this lane for about 1km until it reaches a T junction with the Ripe road.
At this T Junction turn right to bring you in a few metres to the T Junction with the A27.
Turn left onto the A27, taking care of the fast traffic. There is no cycle path along this stretch and so you must now cycle with the traffic for the last stretch. You will pass a bus stop on your left and then Middle Farm. Middle Farm has a café, toilets, gift shop, and farm shop.
After Middle Farm the road goes downhill and then uphill. At the top of the uphill you will need to take great care as you move onto the right hand side of the lane. The turning to Charleston is at the bottom of the hill on the right.
Take this turning to Charleston. You will now be heading towards the South Downs, going over a cattle grid and continuing along a bumpy, narrow concrete and tarmac track. Be careful of farm vehicles coming along the lane. The lane winds gently for about 500m.
Ahead of you will be a sign for Charleston and a turning to the right. Take this turning, heading west up a concrete track to Charleston Farmhouse.

Cycling from Glynde station: An off-road route

This route begins on road but then takes bridleways from Firle Village.

Make your way from the platform up the steps to the road.
Turn right and in a few metres, opposite the Trevor Arms, turn left up the hill. There is a post at this junction which has a small blue National Cycle Network sticker on it. As you go up the steep hill there will be a row of houses on your left and some allotments on your right.
Follow this lane as it winds down to the A27. At the T junction with the A27 there will be a paragliding shop on your left. Turn left onto the tarmac cycle path that runs alongside the A27. You will be heading east towards Polegate and Eastbourne, traveling parallel to the South Downs.
Turn almost immediately right to take the lane to Firle. At the turning there is a board advertising Firle Place and the Ram Inn.
Continue up this lane, ignoring a left hand turn and the entrance to Firle Place.
About 200m after the entrance to Firle Place the lane bends round to the left, named The Street. Continue along The Street, passing Firle School on your right and shortly afterwards a car park on your left.
You will then arrive at the Ram Inn which has a restaurant and Bed and Breakfast. Follow the road round to the right and at the end of this residential street there will be Firle Stores on your left. Firle Stores (est 1780) has a post office, telephone box and Cuckmere Community Bus Stop.
From the stores follow the road up to the right and continue straight ahead as it turns into a track, passing a church to your left. After about 100m the bridleway will bend around to the left. Take this, ignoring a path that goes straight up the Downs. You are now on quite a wide chalky track that is known as The Old Coach Road.
To follow the Old Coach Road all the way to Charleston, continue on the track for about 2.5 kilometres, ignoring all turnings to the left until you reach a cross roads of paths. At this cross roads, at the bottom of a very slight undulation, there is a footpath going up the Downs to your right and a main bridleway on your left. Ahead the track goes up hill to a barn – do not go this far! Take the bridleway to the left and follow it down to the houses and barn.
After about 500m the bridleway turns into a concrete track that bends to the left. On you right is a driveway to Tilton House, where John Maynard Keynes and Lydia Lopokova lived from 1926. This is now a Bed and Breakfast and Yoga retreat.
At the end of the track there will be a sign on the right announcing Charleston and a track on the left, leading up to Charleston. Take this track and in about 200m you will arrive at Charleston, with the pond on the right and the visitor entrance on the left.

Cycling from Berwick station: The most direct route

There is a village store at Berwick, which sells fresh fruit and vegetables and has a small delicatessen.

Turn right out of the station and head downhill, passing a pub and a little post office on your left.
At the bottom of the hill there is a crossroads. Turn right.
Follow this lane until it reaches a crossroads. Take care at this junction because it is a busy corner. Turn right onto the A27.
You will see a pub and a petrol station. Continue on the A27 for about half a mile.
By a bus stop layby you will see a brown sign for Charleston Farmhouse. This indicates a left hand turn into a narrow lane. Take this turning and be careful of the cattle grid at the beginning of the lane.
Follow the lane until you reach a right hand turn, signposted Charleston Farmhouse. Take this turning and follow the driveway which takes you to the house.

Cycling from Berwick station: A slightly less direct route via Berwick Church

Turn right out of the station and head downhill, passing a pub and a little post office on your left.
At the bottom of the hill there is a cross roads where you should continue straight ahead. You can move onto a cycle path which goes parallel to this road. If you want to go on the cycle path you need to signal right at the cross roads, and at the beginning of the lane turn left onto the cycle path.
The cycle path joins the road just before the road bends round to the left. Join the road and in a few metres there will be a turning on your right. Take this turning and in a 100m you will reach a cross roads with the A27. To see Berwick Church or go to the Cricketers Pub go straight over, up the narrow lane.
To go straight to Charleston turn right onto the A27.
The A27 is busy so take care. Follow the A27 for about 1 mile. You will pass turnings for Alciston and Bo Peep Lane on your left and you will go past a pub and a petrol station.
By a bus stop layby you will see a brown sign for Charleston Farmhouse. This indicates a left hand turn into a narrow lane. Take this turning and be careful of the cattle grid at the beginning of the lane.
Follow the lane until you reach a right hand turn, signposted Charleston Farmhouse. Take this turning and follow the driveway which takes you to the house.