Start on the A275 at the southern part of South Chailey at the bus stop know as The Swan on the right hand side of the road looking north. Turn down a road on your right, a few yards ahead of you, Green Lane. In 40 yard turn left down a byway in between houses. Continue and in 300 yards cross a residential road called Kilnwood Lane. Continue and in 70 yards take a marked footpath right, into the woods. You will notice a wire fence on your left with a bank behind hiding a clay pit of a brick making factory. Where 2 paths continue take the one on the left that follows closely the fence line and follow it as it bears left. Soon then turn left on a footpath now going around the east of the clay pit. When you emerge near houses turn right down to double gates and enter woods of Markstakes Common. After about 350 yards near clearings turn right for 150 yards, then the path curves around to the left onto a track called Balneath Lane with fields on your right. Follow this until you reach a road, Town Littleworth Road. Turn left.

Walk carefully along this road until a T junction and turn right along Ridgelands Lane, signposted Newick. In 140 yards turn left along a bridleway where the high banks on your left mark the old dismantled railway line. Stay on this path as it gradually veers right away from the electricity poles. In 200 yards look out for a footpath on your left over a stile.

Cross the field to a brick bridge that once crossed the railway, then follow an enclosed path first right then left to a crossroads and turn right down a wide chalky drive. After passing some water on either side and as the road bears right go through a gate and continue in the same direction, cross a field to a gate, through an enclosed path to another gate, aim for a tall marker post, then veer left to a garden gate. With ponds on your left turn right, cross a drive and on across the recreation ground to a road, Cinder Hill. Cross with care and take a path opposite on the other side into trees. Soon turn left then in 5 yards turn right, through an iron gate and into a field following the left field boundary, later the brick wall of Chailey Place. Follow a fence round to a gate on your left and follow the road out onto the main A275.

Turn right and then soon turn left down the road that takes you round to the back of the church. Follow the track which will evolve into a smarter driveway. After passing a pond on your left turn left. In 50 yards go over a stile and turn right. This will take you to a footbridge over water. After crossing aim for the left of 2 gates ahead. You will walk through woods and some cleared areas that have been replanted. Follow the main track. On reaching a field continue slightly right to a gate near electricity poles. Continue ahead on the track soon crossing water either side. In 50 yards take a stile on your right that veers right diagonally across a field. At the other end go through a gate and continue in a similar direction, veering left across the next field. You should reach a field corner. Go over a stile and take a sharp left.

Follow this track as it meanders its way past a farm called The Hooke, through woodland and onto a very straight path. On reaching a T junction turn left to reach a road, Mill Lane. Turn right. Pass the school on your left.

As the road veers right take a concrete path on your left. Follow this until the road turns sharp right where you take a footpath on your left over a stile next to the farthest of 2 gates. Follow the left field boundary to a stile. Walk across the middle of the next field aiming for a far left hand corner to a stile and footbridge. Continue between houses and stay on the track until it emerges onto the A275. Turn left. In 100 yards you will be at the bus stops where you started.

Essentials

Distance/time: 7 miles, 3 hours 45 minutes.
Public transport: Compass bus no 121 from Lewes and Uckfield stops at The Swan bus stop in South Chailey, see <&bh"http://www.compass-travel.co.uk">www.compass-travel.co.uk<&eh>
You could catch this bus from Cooksbridge railway station instead of Lewes but it is closed at weekends, see <&bh"http://www.nationalrail.co.uk">www.nationalrail.co.uk<&eh>.
Car: Street parking on side roads off A275 in South Chailey
Underfoot: Flat walk. About half a mile of quiet B-road walking. A mixture of woodland tracks and fields.
Thirsty work: No pub on route but there is the Horns Lodge Inn just under a mile north of South Chailey in South Street, still on the A275. Best to have a picnic on the recreation ground on Cinder Hill.
Maps: OS Explorer map 122.