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Writer's pictureSim Elliott

Butterflies in Caburn Bottom and The Coombe (Malling Down). 12.05.22

This was a mid afternoon/early evening walk. I took the bus to Lewes from Brighton, and then took the train to Glynde. From Glynde Station I walked up and over Mount Caburn, into Caburn bottom. I then walked through Oxtedde Bottom and Bible Bottom and then up Cliffe Hill, across the Golf Course, and then down The Coombe, back into Lewes.


Mount Caburn, Cliffe Hill and Malling Hill form an outlier from the main ridge of the South Downs and are situated immediately east of Lewes. There are good views of the Weald, the town of Lewes and the downland to its west and southwards down the Ouse Valley. Mount Caburn, which was originally a Roman fort, is a National Nature Reserve with important populations of rare orchids and Malling Hill is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. In the three bottoms of Caburn, Oxteddle and Bible one is able to experience tranquillity despite being close to Lewes and the road and rail network OA-map-5-Lewes-Downs-2014.pdf (friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk)



Blood Vein moth in a grazed field going up to Mount Caburn


This lamb wanted to get into the field on the other side of the turnstile


He tried to get through but couldn't do it,


Mount Caburn. Former chalk pit on left


More sheep


A Linnet on the fence


Looking back on Glynde; Firle Beacon in the background


Caburn Bottom


Cowslip


Crosswort / Smooth Bedstraw


Mount Caburn


The Ouse Valley from Mount Caburn


Lewes Brooks from Mount Caburn


Caburn Bottom


Wall Brown


Caburn Bottom


Small Copper


Small Blue


Crane Fly


Stonechat


Common Carpet Moth


Caburn Bottom


Moth of the Deltote genus


Caburn Bottom


Linnets


The Dew Pond Caburn Bottom


Goldfinch


Meadow Pipit


Linnets around the Dew Pond



Fence round the Dew Pond


Bible Bottom


The fence going up Cliffe Hill and the surrounding shrubs had many pairs of Stonechats


Bible Bottom, plantation in background


Martyrs Memorial from Golf Course



The Coombe (Malling Down)


Dingy Sipper


Common Blue


The Gate to nowhere!


The north side of the Coombe


Looking up the Coombe to "The Snout"


Sign at the bottom of the Coombe



There is a way in and out of The Coombe, Malling Down Nature Reserve from the A26, just to the north of the Cuilfoil Tunnel, which is very hidden. The road to the entrance (Wheatsheaf Gardens is opposite the now derelict Lewes Working Men's Club on the Malling Hill (A26), there is no signage on the road. Turn into Wheatsheaf Gardens, and the path is between two houses in a small housing estate (no sign!) Be warned: the path up the Coombe is VERY STEEP and it easy to fall; take care if you go this way


Path



Lewes Working Men's Club


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