Buxted to High Hurstwood
By Paddy Welsh
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This dramatic outcrop of sandstone rock, is a feature of the countryside around Buxted and High Hurstwood
Starting out through Buxted Park, this is a pleasant and varied walk linking the villages of Buxted and High Hurstwood.
Part of the walk traverses low-lying meadows in the valley of the River Uck, where the paths are at risk of flooding after heavy rain.
Like our recent walk from East Hoathly, this one samples short sections of two long-distance routes for walkers - the Vanguard Way and the Wealdway.
Start the walk westwards along the A272, passing under the railway (1). Just past the last house on the right, go left through a swing gate into Buxted Park.
After a few yards, at a waypost, go ahead, ignoring a right fork.
Follow this path through the park with the remains of an avenue of lime trees, many fallen, on your right.
Once through a high, metal, swing gate, fork right on to the Wealdway.
Shortly, ignoring paths to right and left, go ahead on a well-trodden path with the remains of a fence on your right.
Location: Circular walk from Buxted on the A272, north of Uckfield. Roadside parking a few yards along Framfield Road, which leaves the A272 almost opposite the Buxted Inn (GR 498233), or in a lay-by opposite the pub (after 10am only).
Duration: Five-and-a-half miles taking two-and-a-half hours.
Terrain: Easy walking along the floor and gentle slopes of a river valley.
Public Transport: Train to Buxted on the Uckfield-to-Tunbridge Wells line.
Map: OS Explorer 135: Ashdown Forest.
Refreshments: Pubs at Buxted and High Hurstwood (5)
Where this fence doubles back to the right, go ahead across grass into woodland.
Go over a stile and drop down through the wood. Just short of an elaborate plank causeway (2), turn sharply back to the right.
You are still with the Wealdway, which climbs briefly and continues in the same direction to join a drive passing to the left of the house of Buxted Park, now a hotel.
Follow the access drive on past Buxted parish church and out to join the A272.
Turn right and, after a few yards, go left along Hurstwood Road. After just more than a quarter-of-a-mile (3), turn left up steps, over a stile and forward along a right field edge.
After another 250 yards, go right over a metal stile and head, half right, downhill to a footbridge which is soon in sight.
Beyond the bridge, the only practicable route and the official right of way on the map do not coincide.
Go ahead beside a left- hand fence to a gate and continue along the meandering left edge of the next field with a wood on your left.
In the top field corner, go through a gate and continue along the drive from a group of houses at Bevingford.
About ten yards short of the A26, turn right along a fenced path which runs parallel to the main road to join a lane opposite the entrance to Fernbank Cottage.
Turn right along the lane. After about 250 yards (4), fork left along the drive to Stone House.
Just short of the main gate to the house, fork left again along a gravel track and, almost immediately, go right up steps to a stile and ahead along a grassy strip.
Where this strip bears right to a gate, go left over a stile, resuming your previous direction along a right field edge to another stile from which a tree-lined path continues - boggy in places but wide enough to allow you to avoid the worst of the mud.
Join it, go ahead along an access drive out to a lane and turn right.
At a road junction, turn right again, soon passing the Maypole Inn on your left (5).
After another 300 yards or so, turn left along the drive to White Coppice Farm and, after 20 yards, go right along a waymarked footpath which heads along a valley, running parallel to a stream on the right.
After about 400 yards, ignore the first footbridge over the stream on your right.
Continue with the stream on your right for 50 yards and then go right over a second footbridge and ahead along the left edge of a meadow.
In view over to your right is a dramatic sandstone outcrop, a common feature of the area.
From the field corner, continue to a stile from which a narrow enclosed path takes you out between gardens to a lane
(6).
Turn left across a stream and immediately go right over a stile and along the right-hand edge of a meadow with the stream on your right.
In the field corner, cross the stream via a culvert and immediately go left along a left field edge with the stream now on your left.
At a waypost, veer half right across the corner of the field to a footbridge and follow the direction of a waymark arrow up across the next field and cross a bridge over the railway.
Once over the bridge (7), turn right across a field on a faint trodden path which runs roughly parallel to the railway.
You reach a stile from which a farm track continues to join a lane.
Turn right to follow the lane back to Buxted. At the A272, turn right for the short distance back to the start.
