Chalvington, Ripe and Selmeston

By Ben Perkins

Click here to view map

Pretty churches are a feature of this level walk through the villages of Chalvington, Ripe and Selmeston

This is an almost completely level walk along field paths linking the settlements of Chalvington, Ripe and Selmeston in the Low Weald.

Each of these villages has a picturesque church and there are three pubs either on or within easy reach of the walking route.

The walk starts and finishes at Arlington Reservoir, where a trail has been a established round the perimeter which might provide a pleasant optional two-mile extension to the described walk.

1.From the far side of the car park, walk towards the reservoir for 20 yards and then turn left, signposted to Bird Hide.

After a little over 100 yards, turn left along a signed crossing path.

Cross the road and follow the signed path opposite through a wood to a stile and then along a right field edge with this wood, Ludlay Coppice, on your right.

From the corner of the wood head out across a field to pass about 30 yards to the right of an open-sided barn.

Beyond the barn go through a gate and follow a track which passes to the right of an elegant brick house, Cobb Court.

2.At a T-junction with a tarmac track turn left. A few yards after passing a storage shed on your right, turn sharply back to the right behind this shed where a finger post points the way down across a field and in the same direction across the next field. Keep to the right edge of the field beyond to join a lane and turn left.

3.AT A road junction, fork right along Langtye Lane.

After a little over 200 yards, turn right along a signed bridleway which follows a headland track along the right edge of two fields with the churches at Chalvington and Ripe, our next objectives, soon in sight.

A track passes between the buildings at Church Farm. Soon after passing the farm, turn left though a wrought iron gate into Chalvington churchyard.

Pass to the right of the small 13th-Century church with its attractive wooden bell turret and leave the churchyard through a similar gate.

Now follow a well-trodden path along the right edge of two fields with a wide view southwards to the Downs.

The path continues across fields and paddocks to enter Ripe churchyard. Follow the access drive from the sturdy, square-towered church.

4.The Lamb Inn is now a few minutes walk away along a lane to the left, returning the same way.

However, to continue the walk, don’t join the lane. Instead, about 30 yards short of it, turn sharply back to the left along a track which starts to the right of the gateway to Ripe Old Rectory.

The track heads southwards, soon becoming a pleasant treelined green lane. Where the enclosed track ends, go ahead with a high hedge on your left through two successive fields to a gate and then through a garden to rejoin Langtye Lane.

5.Go over the stile opposite and veer very slightly left across a field, aiming for a stile in sight.

Follow the right edge of the next field. In the next field corner, don’t go through the gate ahead. Instead, bear left, staying within the same field and following the meandering right edge with a ditch on your right.

In the next field corner, ignoring a gate on your right, go through the gate ahead (a few yards to the left of the corner). The official path now heads half-right across the middle of a large field.

If obstructed by a crop, you may find it easier to follow the right edge round two sides of the field. Either way, from the far field corner, follow a short path through trees to a stile and go half-left across the next field.

Cross a footbridge in the field corner and turn right, diverging slightly from the field edge to find a stiled railway crossing. Over the railway, go ahead beside a left-hand fence.

After 70 yards, go left over a stile and cross a field to find the next stile to the right of two prominent trees in the next field boundary.

Cross a footbridge in the next hedge and climb, diverging slightly from the lefthand hedge to find a gate and a short path between houses out to a road. Turn right.

6. After 300 yards, turn left into Selmeston churchyard, skirt to the left of the church, leave the churchyard through a gate and turn left along an access drive which, beyond a pair of houses, becomes a narrow path. Follow this path eastwards, ignoring signed paths to left and right.

Skirt to the right of the buildings at Stonery Farm, continuing between fence and hedge and then across a large field, with the best views on the walk, southwards to the Downs. Pass between buildings to join the road opposite the Berwick Inn.

7. Turn left across the railway level crossing next to Berwick Station.

After a few yards, just past the Berwick Stores on the right, turn right along a signed path to a stile and on to another stile beside a power pole.

A well-trodden path now crosses a field, passes through a dip and climbs a low hill. At the top, bear right to a stile and then drop down beside a right-hand fence. Join a drive and turn left.

At a junction next to the reservoir dam, go ahead. The path soon diverts round to the left of a property. At the other end of the diversion, cross a drive and follow the signed path opposite which takes you along beside the reservoir back to the start.