Explore a quiet corner of north-west Sussex on this walk by Eddie Start, which follows ancient trails and Roman roads passing through the villages of Iping and Chithurst.

1 - From the lay-by at Trotton Gate, walk to the eastern end of the garage buildings, turning left on to a footpath that climbs up a right field-edge beside fir trees. Walk across the top of the hill, descending to the right field-corner.

Turn right following the left field-edge for 300 yards to the left field-corner and entering woodland. In a few yards cross a footbridge, going left and, in a short distance, right into a second, wide field. Continue along the left field-edge to the corner.

Follow the ongoing path in scrub on the left and cross a driveway to a minor road at the edge of Iping.

2 - Turn left down the road, passing the few houses of the village, and turn left, crossing the bridge over the River Rother. Climb up the road, with the village church on the left, and, in 200 yards, immediately after Ivy Cottage on the left, turn left up a bank and then right into a field.

Walk up the field for 250 yards and identify a marker post on the right. Turn left across the field at this point, climbing beside hedgerow to the top left corner.

Cross into the next field, taking a half-right line to the far corner into Hammer Lane. Go over the lane into the rising field, following the old Roman road to the top left corner. Turn left over a stile into woodland, resuming a northerly direction after a few paces and arriving at a minor road in 300 yards.

3 - Turn right along the sunken road with its sandstone walls for 250 yards to a road junction. Turn left (red arrow) on to Sharver’s Lane, a sunken, rising track beneath trees, an extension of Iping Lane. After 400 yards, and still within the deep sandstone gully, turn left on to a rising track. The track soon levels off, and twists its way for a quarter-of-a-mile in woodland to arrive at the roadside on Stubb Hill.

4 - Turn right down the road and in 75 yards climb a bank on the left, turning left on a path (yellow arrow) into woodland. Descend through the woods to Moorhouse Lane in the valley bottom, close to a remote cottage, and turn left. Follow the lane for a quarter-of-a-mile. The track takes descending right and left turns, with ponds in the valley bottom, to climb the opposite hillside. In 50 yards, after a half-right turning, take the signed footpath to the right up a steep slope. From the top of the climb, go right at a marker post, heading for a second post and turning left. Keep to the balcony path in Wick Wood, which at times becomes indistinct.

The path climbs and descends for a quarter-of-a-mile, with steep drops on the right. On arriving at a wider track, continue for 50 yards to a forked junction.

Take the left branch to a footpath sign, climbing the steep bank on the left. At the top of the bank turn left into a field, then turn right along a hedgeline, passing a cottage, to a minor road.

5 - Turn right along the road for a few yards, turning left on to a track (red arrow) into woodland. Follow the track for 100 yards, turning left (blue arrow) for 100 yards to a crossing driveway, with a house on the right. Walk over the drive to a gate and follow the right fence-line around the edge of the property, branching left to cross a stile in the facing fence.

In the next field turn left, climbing to cross a stile and pass through a deer gate at the top left corner. Descend beside a tree nursery on a wide path, with hedgerow on the left. In 200 yards, at the bottom left corner of the enclosure, go left through a gate and immediately right through a second metal gate. From this point the footpath signage can be confusing. From the second gate turn right for about 75 yards, locate a gap in the plantation rows on the left, and take this turning. Walk between the young trees, crossing an open section, then follow the same line between the next plantation. In the second open section, locate a footpath sign. From this point the onward route differs from the OS map and the signed direction. From the sign turn right, up the clearing, for about 50 yards then go left down a right hedgeline to negotiate a deer gate and stile (concealed yellow arrow).

Follow the enclosed path left and then right, descending a bank on the left to Brier Lane. Turn left along the track, between hedgerows, taking a right turn after a quarter-of-a-mile.

6 - The track sweeps to the left and, in 200 yards at a marker post, cross the stile on the right into woodland.

In 150 yards climb a bank on the right, cross a stile, turning left down a field edge.

After 200 yards cross a stile in the left hedgerow, heading quarter-right across a small meadow to pass beneath trees at the edge of Chithurst Manor. Continue ahead through the grounds for 100 yards and beside outbuildings drop to the right down a drive. Pass across the front of the manor house, going left to a minor road.

Turn right down the road, noting the tiny church up to the right. The quiet road crosses the River Rother, continuing for a further 350 yards to draw alongside Ambletts Cottage on the right. Turn left over a plank bridge on to a footpath, climbing beside an open meadow to a field corner. In the next field walk for 100 yards to the field corner we were at earlier.

Turn right over the rising field, descending back to our starting point at Trotton Gate.

* DISTANCE/TIME: Five-and-a-half miles taking three hours.

* BY CAR: Trotton Gate lay-by on the north side of the A272, three-quarters-of-a-mile east of Trotton Bridge. Parking in the lay-by, close to Trotton Gate Garage. Start point Grid Ref SU846224

* BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Visit www.traveline.info or call 0871 2002233 for bus details.

* WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: Varied walking with some steep climbs and descents on slippery surfaces. Not recommended with a baby backpack; not possible with a baby buggy.

* THIRSTY WORK: Nearest pubs at Trotton Bridge and Stedham

* SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Explorer map 133