A pleasant paddle. This section of the river is quite close to the sea with tides running fast, so timing is important. You will need to start your journey 1 hour before high tide at Newhaven.

There is limited parking in Piddinghoe, particularly on a Sunday. If you choose to do this journey as a return trip, then it’s recommended you finish at Southease as landing may be difficult back at Piddinghoe. Parking can be found at Ilford Old Bridge, Southease, BH6 5RG, with access to a small, gravel slipway.

Sussex River Ouse: This small but interesting river rises in Slaugham, West Sussex. Flowing east, it passes under the London to Brighton Viaduct at Balcombe, then through Sussex Weald, and on to Sheffield Park. The river continues to wind through charming countryside and on to Barcombe Mills. Having dropped over 200 feet and covered some 20 miles, the river now becomes tidal.

A further 6 miles bring you to the historic town of Lewes, then on to Newhaven Harbour and the English Channel. The habitat-rich environment of the river supports a wide range of bird, mammal, and insect life, including some rare species of butterfly, the water vole, and a considerable variety of birds. Anglers fish the river for carp, pike, and trout. If you are lucky, you may even see a seal!

The Sussex Ouse Sea Trout are the heaviest average weight in any English or Welsh river.

History: The Battle of Lewes in 1264 saw hundreds of Henry III’s troops die as they retreated across the Ouse. Many of their remains lie under nearby railway embankments. Close to the river is the Snow Drop Inn, which commemorates the deadliest snow avalanche on record in the UK. The Lewes avalanche, on December 27th, 1836, occurred when a huge build-up of snow on a chalk cliff collapsed into the settlement 100 meters below, destroying a row of cottages and killing 8 people.

The river was a commercial waterway, used by narrow barges during the 1800s as far up as Balcombe.

For more information, visit Lewes website.