1 - From the roundabout, head west along Turner’s Hill Road for a few yards, turning left on to an enclosed footpath. Descend behind
gardens, taking short left and right turns, with a stream on the left. The path can be muddy in places as it crosses bridges and passes through metal kissing gates.
On coming to a residential development on the left, do not enter the car park but
head for the opposite signed footpath. The path maintains direction, arriving beside an industrial unit at Dunning’s Mill. Walk down the access drive to Dunnings Road.
Go left a few paces, crossing to the continuing path beside the Sunnyside Recreation Ground for 175 yards, then diverting right through tree cover above the stream, to come to a gate and a four-way path sign.


2 - Cross into the sloping field, climbing slightly right to the opposite hedgerow, crossing a plank bridge and passing through a gate into
the next field.
Keep direction, pass a mid-way pond, and walk across the hilltop, through a narrow strip of trees at Rushett’s Shaw. Keep to the left tree line, passing a break in the trees and descending to a field corner leading into Jenkin’s Wood. Descend steps, climbing out to bear right, leading to a stile at the edge
of a rising field.
Climb ahead to the top of the field; pass through a gate beneath trees, descending across the next field to the right corner. Take the stile and path on the right, going left down the tree-covered path. On coming to a field, continue down to the left corner and then turn right for 25 yards, crossing a stile on the left.


3 - Turn right on the path,
a short distance from
the shoreline of Weir Wood Reservoir, following it
westward through twists and turns. The path crosses plank bridges and stiles but keeps to the left hedge and fenceline, taking none of the side
turnings leading off right.
On coming to an information board about Standen Rocks up the hill to the right, and Weir Wood Reservoir, keep direction along the path, skirting around an inlet amongst scrub, with
a high fence on the left. 
The path comes to a fork, go right across a rough clearing and join a track, turning right. Climb for a quarter of a mile to arrive at Grinstead Lane, with Stone Hill House on the right.


4 - Turn up the roadside for a few yards, crossing to the bridleway on the left that has a large, bulbous sandstone outcrop at its entrance. Walk up the bridleway, becoming aware after 100 yards of the rock outcrop on the left.
A brief detour reveals the crags of Stone Farm Rocks,
200 yards of eroded High Weald sandstone that are a popular training ground for climbers. Looking south-east there are views across the reservoir that is fed by headwaters of the River Medway, on its journey to the North Kent coast.
Return to the bridleway and turn left, resuming direction. The track passes across the top of the outcrop then descends and, after 400 yards, passes through a bridle gate to a path junction.


5 - Turn right down the path, ignoring a left
turn after a few yards and in
a further 100 yards turning left, following the track towards a bridge at Mill Place.
In past times, as long ago as the 14th century, there was
a mill here. During the
16th century there was an iron furnace, when the site was part of the Wealden iron industry and a pond bay provided a constant head of water.
Do not cross the bridge but turn right up a slope, passing through a gate and continuing up the track ahead.
The path heads north,
passing woodland, to arrive close to an isolated cottage beside Mary Wood. Bear to the right around the property and, in about 100 yards, go half-left through the woods, coming to and crossing
a stile on the right.


6  - Continue, half-left, across a section of tree-bordered meadow, known as The Rough, passing through a hedge gap to a level clearing. Keep direction, heading for a point a few yards right of the far-left corner.
Enter High Wood, bearing left, and climbing for about one third of a mile, clearing the tree cover and arriving beside East Grinstead Sports Club.
Walk ahead on a path above sports courts on the left and the centre building on the right. At the far side, cross
a service drive and turn right on to an enclosed footpath for 100 yards, crossing a plank bridge, to Saint Hill Road.
Turn right along the
roadside, keeping to the verge where possible and, in 400 yards, after Rockwood Park, turn left on to a bridleway – indicated as a private lane.
Keep to the lane that bears right, passing cottages, with East Grinstead Rugby Club
on the right. About 50 yards after the last cottage, and at
a path junction, turn left on
to a descending footpath.
7 - The path heads north-eastward, beside Dunning’s Wood, crossing delightful parkland for nearly half a mile. On coming to the lower end
of the park, pass around gates and walk along the residential Medway Drive. At the end of the cul-de-sac turn right for 175 yards to a minor road.
Turn left down the road for 150 yards, to a point we were at earlier in the walk, and turn left across the rising slope next to Dunning’s Mill. Go left
of the building, rejoining the path we took on the outward route. Pass along the path, with the stream, also a source for the Medway, now on the right. Climb back behind
the houses to the roadside, from where we began the
expedition, turning right,
back to the road junction.

The essentials...

  • DISTANCE/TIME: Seven miles, taking three and a half hours.
  • BY CAR: From the B2110 Turner’s Hill Road turn south-east for car parking in Hurst Farm Road, walk back to the roundabout junction with Turner’s Hill Road and West Hill, half-a-mile from East Grinstead centre. Start point grid ref TQ387377.
  • BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Travel details from www.traveline.info, or phone 0871 2002233.
  • WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: High Weald walking, there are likely to be muddy tracks, some climbs across fields and through woodland. Not recommended with a baby backpack, not possible with a baby buggy.
  • THIRSTY WORK: The Old Mill pub in point one and still there on the return in point seven. Other pubs and cafés in East Grinstead.
  • SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Explorer maps 135, plus a compass for general direction.

Click here for a full-sized version of this week's walk map