The Long Man of Wilmington to Alfriston hike

If on the bus, get off on the A27 crossroads and walk down the road on your left, called ‘The Street’. Follow this road, past The Giants Rest pub on your right, all the way until you reach the small Priory Car park on your right. You’ll know you’re there because you’ll start to see the Longman on the hillside on your left. Exit the car park, and start on the trail directly opposite, on the other side of the road.

Follow this trail, with the road parallel on your right, as it passes through a gate and then turns left, heading, until you reach the information sign at the base of the chalk Longman on the hillside. The origin of the Long Man of Wilmington is still under debate, and it’s great to see it so close on this walk.

After pausing at the sign continue in the same direction, to the right, away from the man. When you pass through the next gate, cross over the intersecting trail and continue uphill, straight ahead.

Continue ahead, past the animal pen and look ahead to glimpse the ocean in the distance as well as another hill figure, Litlington White Horse, 4.0mi away.

The trail continues down-hill, through a gate and to a road. Cross the road with care, then continue ahead on the trail directly opposite. After about 492ft you’ll see a stile in the hedgerow on your left. Cross the stile into a field and you’ll see the village of Alfriston sprawled out ahead of you.

Take this path, diagonally across the farmers field, and through the hedgerow at the bottom. It crosses a private driveway before meeting another road. Cross over and onto the trail ahead on your right.

Continue on this path as it crosses two bridges, turning left after the second bridge to enter the grounds of St Andrews Church, originally built in 1370. Take a sharp turn up the narrow alley on your right and after 164ft you’ll have reached the main street in Alfriston. A number of historic pubs and small locally owned shops make this a popular place to explore.