Stage 7 (Mid Sx Link) - East Grinstead to Horsted Keynes (10.3 miles)

It has been some months since Anne and I have walked a section of the Sussex Border Path. Injuries to both Anne and Zuka have meant they have been pretty much out of action since the middle of July. We decided to postpone the last section of the East Sussex section, which at 14 miles, and a fair distance away, could have caused problems with shortage of daylight at this time of the year. Instead, we started the Mid Sussex Link, which runs for 33 miles between East and West Sussex, from East Grinstead (where we started our first section back in March 2009), to Mile Oak, near Portslade, on the south coast.

Car park

We met at 8.30am at Horsted Keynes and travelled north to East Grinstead. As it was a Saturday the parking at the station was not free, but we found a slightly cheaper long stay car park nearer to the town centre, which was actually closer to our official start point.

Damn machine!

My day started off badly, as I had trouble working the ticket machine (it was one of those that requires the car registration, and the sun was shining on the screen so I couldn’t read the instructions properly). Then, when I had finally extracted the ticket from the machine, I couldn’t locate my car keys. After emptying everything out of my coat pockets and rucksack, I eventually found them in my sleeveless fleece pocket, that I was wearing under my coat. I must say that Anne remained remarkably patient during my ‘senior moment’!

East Grinstead town center
Festive windows

Finally we were ready to start our walk, initially though a very festive East Grinstead town centre. It is really quite an attractive town, with many magnificent old buildings, including Sackville College. This is a Jacobean almshouse and was founded in 1609 with money left by Robert Sackville, 2nd Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset. Throughout its history it has provided sheltered accommodation for the elderly.

Lovely old buildings

Sackville College

Reaching a large roundabout junction with the A22, we turned off the road onto the Forest Way cycle path, formally an old railway line. We are more familiar with this path at its other end, near Groombridge, where we sometimes meet for walks. The going was flat and straight, and we quickly covered the 1.5km to an attractive stone bridge.

Forest Way cycle path

Old railway bridge

Just after the bridge, we left the Forest Way and climbed steps up the embankment to emerge on a private road. Weir Wood Reservoir was visible ahead. We walked down the road, passing a water treatment works, and then just as the road veered to the left, we turned right along a path between conifer trees (incorrectly described as ‘yew’ in my guide book).

Private road

Conifer tunnel

After crossing a footbridge we walked along the edge of two fields, which were a bit wet underfoot. The dogs had a mad moment chasing each other around – over 3km into our walk and this was the first time we had enjoyed grass under our feet.

The dogs are pleased to run on the (wet) grass

Busses Farm

In the third field we bore left to reach Busses Farm. The gateway near the farm was rather muddy. Route findng through the farm foxed us for a few moments and the friendly farmer helped us out. There were lovely views over the pond back towards East Grinstead.

Views over farm pond back towards East Grinstead

Heading for Weir Wood reservoir

After passing the cow byre we went through a gateway to a muddy track leading down towards the reservoir and turned right once we reached it. The reservoir was created in the early 1950s by damming the River Medway. The eastern end is used for fishing and sailing and the western end is a nature reserve.

View over reservoir from picnic area

Tree felling, and new bridge

Unlike Bewl Water, which we had walked round on one of our East Sussex SBP sections, Weir Wood reservoir has no public access, so the (recently made up) path is separated from the water at all times. There was, however, a small picnic site overlooking the water, created in the millennium year.

The path was sometimes in open fields...

... and sometimes on lightly wooded paths

The path continued in a roughly westerly direction around the northern shore, sometimes on wooded paths and sometimes latterly in or alongside open fields. At one point the path was flooded and it was amusing to witness the two dogs’ different reactions to the water. Zuka, who needs no excuse to go paddling, dived straight through it and back again. Poppy, who hates to get her feet wet, tip-toed her way round the edge.

Poppy tries hard NOT to get her feet wet

Standen Rocks

Towards the western end of the reservoir were Standen Rocks. These are large sandstone rocks typical of this area, and were visible across a large grassy field. We were also close to Standen House, a National Trust property, but the house was not visible from our route, being nearly a kilometre north.

The route is well waymarked

View back as we approach the western end of the reservoir

Eventually we met a lane where we turned right and continued to a road. Turning left, we walked past the end of the reservoir, and continued up a hill. Just past Neylands Farm Cottages we took a path on the right through a Guide Camp.

Negotiating a wet path on the edge of the Guide camp

Fences prevent us straying from the path through Blackland

At the edge of the site we crossed a track into Buckland Wood and went downhill, over a footbridge, before climbing again out of the wood. We now entered the land belonging to Blackland Farm, and how unwelcome they made us feel! There were signs ordering you not to ‘make a noise’ or ‘stop on the path’ – fortunately this extreme attitude is not common amongst landowners.

Fortunately, not all landowners are as unwelcoming as this!

Approaching the Bluebell Railway bridge

Leaving Stalag 14 (!) we passed under the Bluebell Railway line and continued into Sharpthorne village. As we past the Organic Café, we spotted a sign advertising bacon rolls…. Well, it was nearly lunch time!

Village sign depicting the Bluebell Railway

"Tough, it's all mine!!"

Travelling west towards the centre of the village, we took a drive on the left between the Sharpthorne Club and a garage. It took a moment to spot the path which led downhill between high hedges, before emerging into a field. Here there were distant views to the South Downs.

Leaving Sharpthorne

Distant views to the South Downs

At the corner of Moon’s Wood we bore right over a stream, then headed uphill, diagonally across a number of fields. Near the top we spotted the tell-tale steam trail of the Bluebell Railway and so waited for the train to come into view so Anne could get a photo.

Looking back towards Sharpthorne

Steam train

We descended along the edge of the next field to a metalled drive, where we turned left and walked to the public road. Turning right, we walked along the road for about 400m. Just before Tanyard Manor, we left the road, taking a path across a field and into a wood.

The SBP, was devised in 1982, but signed by WSCC in 1989, their centenary year

Tanyard Manor

After crossing a dam, we zig-zagged through the wood, and then climbed to reach a field. Turning left and right round two sides of the field, we again descended to pass through another small wood, and over a stream.

Crossing the dam

Me waiting for Anne

Then we continued the switch back ride as we ascended round the edge of a sheep field, to a road. This was pretty much the only livestock we saw out in the fields today, and it was quite a large flock complete with a resident tup wearing a crayon harness. I understand the farmer changes the colour of the crayon every week, so he has some indication of when each ewe is served (and therefore when she will lamb).

Virtually the only sheep we saw all day

Reaching the road, we crossed straight over and continued into the next field as the signpost clearly indicated. However, a look at the map suggested that the SBP turned right and followed the lane. The signpost seemed relatively new, so we thought perhaps the route had been diverted. At the next field boundary however, we concluded that we were indeed going the wrong way and decided to turn south and hope we could get out of the field to meet up with the route as shown on the map.

Sign clearly (but incorrectly) indicates the route across the field

This proved a little tricky. There was a gate but it was rather overgrown and securely tied. Anne and I were able to climb over, but it was necessary to untie several knotted ropes to allow us to lift the gate high enough to let the dogs scrabble underneath it.

Driveway to Broadhurst Manor

Broadhurst Manor (former home of Carla Lane)

Back on track, we continued up the drive to Broadhurst Manor, a very impressive old house which used to be an animal sanctuary run by the famous script writer Carla Lane. She has now moved back to Liverpool.

A man hangs Christmas lights on the tree outside his house

Start of the track past the many ponds

We followed the driveway past several other buildings, then turned left by a timbered house, where the owner was busy hanging Christmas lights on one of the bushes in his garden. The track continued roughly due south for a little over 1km past numerous ponds and lakes. These were first constructed to provide a reserve of water for the hammer pond (the lowest pond), which powered the forges and hammers of the Sussex iron industry. However, they are now used for the more leisurely pastime of fishing, although we saw no one out today.

The final lake & absent fishermen

Beehives on the outskirts of Horsted Keynes

Finally, the track climbed to join a road on the outskirts of Horsted Keynes. Here we passed a small paddock containing a number of beehives, although they looked pretty dormant at this time of year. The sign on the gate said that honey from these hives was for sale in the village shop.

Horsted Keynes church

Walking through the village

After passing the church, we climbed a hill, past the magnificent grounds of The Old Rectory, and into the village centre. Crossing the road, to the post office, we arrived at the car park. Considering the recent wet weather, we were not as muddy as we might have been, although we were carrying a reasonable amount of Sussex on our boots and gaiters.

Weather vane mimics the house it belongs to

Muddy shoes fit for the bin?

As usual when walking with Anne, the walk had passed quickly, and was another enjoyable section. Although Anne is much fitter than me, she stops often to take all her many lovely photos. This gives me the chance to catch my breath, so I can keep up with her at other times during the walk!

Village sign

As we were leaving the village to drive back to East Grinstead, we stopped at the village shop for Anne to purchase some honey. Although it was local, I'm not sure it was actually from the hives we had passed.

Stage 6 - Union Street to Bodiam (8 miles)

We met at Bodiam early morning and travelled back to Union Street to begin our walk just before 9am. It was forecast to be a hot sunny day, so Poppy was wearing her new cooler coat (which we had trialled successfully in the Lake District the week before).

Heading off south from the B2087 at Union Street

The route started virtually opposite our previous finish point, and, leaving the road, we followed a track gently downhill for about ½ km, past an oast house to another fine dwelling called Quedley.

Fine Oast

Quedley

Passing a flagstaff, we took a grassy path on the left and followed it round to the right, before emerging onto a golf course. The golfers round here obviously like a Saturday lie-in as there was no-one around. We followed a tarmac drive for about another ½ km and then were a little unsure of the route as we couldn’t see any waymarks.

Empty golfcourse

Hidden path

The guide book (which I wasn’t following closely at the time) actually says to “bear right, to the left of a large silver birch tree, to a signpost at the edge of a wood”. I don’t recall if the silver birch tree was there or not, but by back-tracking a little, we found the entry into the wood, which was quite well camouflaged!

Descending through the wood

Continuing downhill to the field corner

We followed a delightful path through the trees, and then, after entering a lush meadow, took the left hand path to continue downhill to the field corner. After crossing a footbridge we again temporarily lost the path, and turned left through a gate and then right up the field boundary, then right again at the top. This brought us back on track and to the end of the overgrown path we should have taken. Neither of us can remember seeing any form of sign or obvious path at the bottom of the hill.

The path up which we should have come

The back of Roughfield

Continuing uphill through another wood, we crossed a number of stiles in quick succession and emerged on a track near the back of a large building called Roughfield. From the angle we were seeing it, it looked a bit like ugly holiday park chalets, but it appears to be a reasonably fine building from the front, and is apparently used as a wedding venue (judging by the website for Rishi & Jo’s wedding - whoever they are - which I stumbled across on the internet, courtesy of Google).

Roughfield from the front

Following the drive

We turned left along the drive and followed it uphill until close to the top, where we turned right into a field to follow the boundary of a property (with the wonderful name of Mumpumps) to the A21. Turning right, we followed the main road approximately south for about 100m to a gate near Roughfield Farm.

Circumnavigating Mumpumps

A wall of frisky bullocks

After crossing a couple of empty fields we emerged into one containing a large herd of young cattle. They were actually in an adjacent field, but had access to our route through an open gateway. They were interested in us the moment they saw us, and Anne bravely volunteered to hold back and keep them at bay, while I made my escape with both dogs, down the hill along the edge of the field.

Safe and sound

Once I was safely over the stile at the bottom, I called out to Anne, and she made her cautious way down the field to join me. The bullocks were still very curious and frisky, even with the dogs out of the picture, and once or twice I had to warn Anne that some of them looked like they might begin a charge. Fortunately, Anne made it in one piece out of the field. At the time we were relieved the situation had not turned uglier. Little did we know what was going to happen later in the walk!

Contemplating the onward route

We continued briefly on a grassy track, and then bore left along a rather under-used and overgrown path diagonally across the meadow to resume a roughly easterly direction, now with a wood on our left. At the end of the wood we continued across the field to a gap in the hedge.

The waymark directing us into this...............

Impassable path

Here the map suggests that the route bears right and follows a track to Brookgate Farm. Well, there may once have been a sunken path between the hedges, but this was now completely overgrown and the only route now open to us was to continue through the gap and then bear right along the field boundary.

Lush meadow

Checking the route

Arriving at the farm complex, we were a little surprised to find the route took us so close to some of the outbuildings, but it was waymarked, so we proceeded with confidence up the drive towards the farmhouse. The path then turned right and left round the house, to emerge into a wood.

Brookgate Farmhouse

Through the wood

By a large wooden bridge on our right, we found a smaller footbridge which was rather hidden in the foliage and crossed this instead. We then continued through a number of meadows and entered a small patch of woodland.

Footbridge hidden in the undergrowth

Easterly route across fields

Turning right over a footbridge, we continued through a number of fields, maintaining our easterly direction, to emerge on a lane. Continuing virtually straight across we now entered an extensive cherry orchard. Most of the fruit was netted, but a few branches were sticking through the nets, and as the fruit was ripe…………. Well, you have to, don’t you?

Cherry orchard

A spot of scrumping

After leaving the orchard the route continued through woodland, and then emerged into another fine meadow where the church spire of the village of The Moor was visible above the tree-line. A zig-zag across a couple of other fields (where Zuka took off after an interesting scent), brought us to a track that bypassed the buildings of Rowlands Farm and eventually brought us to a lane. Turning right we soon reached the village, which appears to be some kind of suburb of Hawkhurst.

The spire of The Moor church

Entering the village

Before continuing to the A229, we made a quick diversion across the vast village green to the village shop to buy some much needed ice-creams. After retracing our steps, we continued down a lane to cross the main road, and then went along a minor road past the church of St Laurence. Here we met a fine duck posing on a wall. For a moment I had thought it was a realistic garden ornament.

Village green and local shop

Quack, quack!

After crossing the B2244 we continued down Stream Lane, and followed it round to the right, before taking a gravel drive on the right to East Heath. Passing the house, we continued along an enclosed path between fields.

Lovely oast house - East Heath

Poppies along the driveway

After crossing a bridge, we began to follow the field boundary up the hill. The field was being grazed by suckler cows and calves, and Zuka (although not in any way threatening the animals), obviously went too close for comfort to one of the calves. The mother cow became very aggressive and repeatedly tried to attack poor Zuka. Zuka kept returning to Anne for safety, which put Anne in danger too. I tried to keep out of the way with Poppy (on a short lead) by keeping to the ditch right alongside the hedge. Our saviour came in the form of a man from a house at the top of the hill who must have heard Anne’s screams. He held the cows at bay whilst we made our escape up the hill and through the gate onto a lane. I have no idea whether the man owned the cows or not, but without his help I really don’t know how this episode would have ended. It was VERY frightening.

"We're coming to get you!"

Killer cow, safely behind bars!

Once our knees had stopped shaking we turned left and followed the lane for a short distance until it turned left. We then took a private road on the right to Conghurst Farm, where the route continued between the farm buildings and then followed a track downhill. Shortly before the bottom we turned sharp right and continued our gentle downhill stroll to cross a river and then ascend again towards Northlands. There were fine pastoral views all around.

Conghurst Farmhouse

Fine pastoral views

We turned left in front of the farm buildings and then right just past the stable block. Then it was down to another stream and up again to Lower Northlands Farm, where we passed through a swanky new metal kissing gate to reach the private road, which we followed for about ½ km to a lane.

Smart new waymark sign, complete with SBP flashes

Just before reaching the lane we chatted briefly to a friendly couple in their front garden. They admired Poppy’s cooler coat, and offered our dogs some water, but we were now coming towards the end of our walk and we still had some supplies left

Garden surrounded by hops

Turn left to the lane

After crossing the road we took a path uphill diagonally across a large field towards the buildings of Court Lodge Farm. Crossing the drive we entered a small vineyard and descended towards Bodiam Castle which had finally come into view.

View north back down the hill towards the lane

Descending through the vineyard towards Bodiam

When we reached the bottom of the field we struggled to find the way through to the castle grounds. Checking the guide book, we had missed a separate path along the field edge, which started half way down. Now it meant getting the dogs over a three foot high chicken wire fence to reach the overgrown stile.

The castle and lawns

Once in the grounds we swung right round the castle itself, where there were quite a few families picnicking on the grass. Bodiam was one of the last great mediaeval castles to be built, and is now in National Trust membership. I have to say I have never been inside, and although both Anne & I are NT members, it would not have been possible today as we had the dogs with us.

Built to resist attack

The Castle Inn, Bodiam

After a brief stop at the shop & toilets we continued out of the grounds and along the road back to our waiting car. Then it was back to collect Anne’s car from Union Street before a quick, late lunch at my house and an afternoon at the Eridge Horse Trials where we chalked up a few more miles walking round the undulating course.

Crossing the River Rother on the road bridge

This section of the SBP provided an extremely pleasant walk, with some lovely views of the surrounding countryside. The last few kilometers was a gently switchback over rolling hills. The waymarking had been a little more hit & miss on this section, although there were still quite a few SBP signs. Obviously the cow incident(s) slightly marred the experience and I will certainly be much more nervous passing them in fields in the future.