The Egrets Way
From Lewes station
- distance
- 11 km
- the stile score
- No stiles
- about
- 3 hours walking1 hour cycling
Seen farm animals on this walk? Tell us, and we'll check it for the next walker. If cattle come towards you.
Hello from the sticker at The Egrets Way (Lewes to Newhaven). Here's what we know, for you and your dog. More dog-friendly places nearby
Cleo & Bonnie haven't walked this one yet. Everything here is from its publisher, with the date it shows.
By train
Up to two dogs travel free with each passenger. Dogs stay on a lead on the train and at the station, and never on the seats.
Southease has no staff to help.
National Rail Conditions of Travel, condition 24 (valid from 30 July 2026); National Rail's station pages.
Southern's asks, rail replacement buses and the local buses
Trains from Newhaven Town now
Live from National Rail, through Lewes Buses. All Newhaven Town's departures
Parking
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust says there's a public car park nearby on Court Road. From Railway Land Wildlife Trust, undated, read 2 Oct 2026.
Lewes station's car park (APCOA, Station Street, BN7 2UP): £4.00 for an hour, £9.40 all day on weekdays, £8.30 all day at weekends, Sundays included, and £2.50 from 5pm, each plus a 15p fee. Pay with the APCOA Connect app (code 1207) or the QR code on the signs. The entrance takes vehicles up to 2 m high. From APCOA, Lewes station, undated, read 2 Oct 2026.
The stiles
The leaflet says: no stiles but some gates.
Livestock
General advice only: keep dogs on a lead around livestock and wildlife.
The ground
A surfaced, mostly flat and wide shared path beside the Ouse, used by cyclists, pushchairs and mobility scooters. One unsurfaced section is unsuitable for pushchairs and mobility scooters in wet weather. Take care crossing the C7 road near Piddinghoe.
For dogs
'Take the lead': keep dogs on a lead around livestock and wildlife, and bag and bin dog poo. Separately, the Railway Land Wildlife Trust's dog page (undated) asks walkers to keep dogs out of the reserve's water, and says there is a poo bin on the main path from the Linklater Pavilion to the Heart of Reeds.
Pubs and cafés on the way
- Lansdown pubLewes (on the walkers' way from the station to the start) · at the start
- YHA cafeSouthease · on the way
Named by the route's publisher. The ones on our list link to their page, with what we know about dogs there.
Walked it with your dog? Tell us how it was
Mud, animals, how busy: a few taps. The answers (never your words or name) show here for three weeks, to help the next walker.
The route
Start Lewes Railway Land nature reserve, by the Linklater Pavilion (a short walk from Lewes station)
The directions and the map are on the publisher's own site.
South Downs National Park Authority (route by the Ouse Valley Cycle Network) · January 2026 (leaflet imprint)
On the Downs
Between 1 March and 31 July, dogs must be on a short lead (2 metres or less) on open access land, and near livestock at any time of year. Since 18 March 2026, a dog that worries livestock on a road or path, not just on farmland, is an offence.
The CROW Act 2000, Schedule 2; the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 as amended, in force 18 March 2026 (legislation.gov.uk).
If something goes wrong out there, an adder bite, a lost dog, a vet at night: help and emergencies.