Barcombe Mills - Easy Walk, Picnic, Wild Swim, Go Boating - and info on other places to wild swim
Walk by the River Ouse near Barcombe Mills
north of Lewes
This is an easy two and a half mile walk by a river to a pub, the Anchor Inn which offers boating in summer. There are opportunities for picnicking on the way and wild swimming. The walk passes through peaceful, unspoilt meadows with an abundance of birdlife.
I’ve included details of books and websites that tell you more about wild swimming and wild swimming opportunities around the UK.
Start the walk at the car park. It’s a substantial car park but fills up at peak times.
Interactive map
There’s a map below which will allow you to zoom in for more detail to see additional paths you might use to extend the walk. You can also switch to see satellite view.
You can return by the indicated route of the dismantled railway, simply reverse your journey, or venture onto other connected routes to extend your walk.
Don’t miss the remains of the mill area with its weirs and rushing water.
Start at the car park. The weirs are close to this point so you can see them before you start your walk or save them for the end. Picnicking is possible quite close to this point.
A meadow close to the river.
The Anchor Inn on the Ouse near Barcombe Mills
Picture and information from the pub’s website, June 2021:
BOATS ARE OPEN
For hundreds of years The Anchor Inn has enjoyed boating rights over one of the most beautiful parts of the River Ouse, stretching from the Anchor Inn to the attractive Fish Ladder Falls extending below Sutton Hall.
The river scenery is quite unspoilt and is home to many wild birds including Herons, Kingfishers, Swans, Cormorants and Moorhens. The river is also home to a variety of species of fish, which can usually be seen basking on the rivers surface.
The round trip to the falls and back, made in our 5 seater paddle boats.
BOAT HIRE COST The following prices are per person per hour: £7.00 per adult £4.00 per under 14
Life jackets are available for minors.
Boats are open everyday from 10:00am until 5:30pm
Please note that we do not take bookings for boat hire.