Crowhurst circular
By
Ben Perkins
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The route heads through a horse paddock near Freezeland Lane
This fairly energetic walk explores an unspoilt farmed landscape to the north of Bexhill and to the west of Hastings.
Starting from the village of Crowhurst where there is a convenient railway station, it crosses gently undulating Low Wealden countryside, descending into the valley of the Watermill Stream before climbing to higher ground with extensive views southwards
1. From the station or wherever you managed to park along the station approach road, return to the road junction opposite Crowhurst Church and follow the driveway to the Hastings Building Company, almost opposite.
Follow this drive as it passes to the left of the church and churchyard and the right of the ruined remains of a 12th-Century manor house. Go through a swing gate, ahead across pasture to a gate and on in the same general direction across the next field, rising gently at first and then descending to cross a wide concrete bridge over the Powdermill Stream.
2. Go forward across a low-lying meadow to a gate and then veer slightly left uphill across a field where a path should be trodden out through any growing crop. On reaching a tree-lined field boundary bank jutting out towards you, go ahead with this boundary on your left.
In the field corner go through a wide gap and bear slightly left along a grassy strip which skirts to the left of a tree-shrouded pit.
Climb with scrub and trees on your right at first, then veer slightly left across grass to join a lane over a stile beside a gate in the field corner.
3. Turn right for a few yards, then go left along the drive to Nashes Farm. Shortly, turn left over a stile and follow a trodden path across a field, soon dropping down to a stile and sleeper bridge. Keep to the right edge of the next field, passing to the left of a pond.
Go ahead across a field, soon joining and following the right field edge downhill, passing under power lines. Go over a stile near the field corner and bear half-right along a trodden path which crosses two fields and a rather shaky footbridge.
Continue through two more fields walking parallel to a wooded area about 50 yards away to your left. In the second field you will be following a new left-hand fence. Use a stile to swap to the other side of this fence, continuing beside the fence to another stile and a short, enclosed path out to a lane at Watermill.
Distance/time:Six-and-a-quarter miles, taking three-and-a-quarter hours
By car: Start from the small village of Crowhurst, accessible along minor lanes from Battle to the north, Bexhill to the south or St Leonards to the east. Roadside parking is possible in several places along the approach road to Crowhurst Station (GR 760126)
By public transport: Train from Hastings or St Leonards (hourly service).
What's underfoot:Excellent walking, mainly along field paths. Several ups and downs, none long or severe.
Thirsty work: Pub at Crowhurst about quarter of a mile off the route at the start.
So you don't get lost: OS Explorer 124.
4. Turn left and, at the junction with Freezeland Lane, turn right and immediately left up steps and over a stile. Walk along the right edge of a paddock to rejoin the lane and turn left.
After 30 yards, go right over a stile and along a wide gravel track. Where this track bends squarely right, go ahead over a stile, along a right field edge and on between fences. Go over a stile beside a gate and forward for 30 yards to cross a stile to the right of a second gate.
A path now runs along the left edge of a horse paddock before following a gravel drive. Just short of a gate out to a lane, go right over a stile and follow the left edge of two more paddocks before joining the lane over a stile. Turn right.
5. After about 70 yards go left over a stile and across high ground, aiming to pass about 50 yards to the right of a prominent wireless mast where you will find a stile in a crossing fence. Maintain direction across the next field to find two more stiles, after which you should follow a left field edge gently downhill, over a culvert and up again.
In the field corner go through a gap and, after a few yards, go left over a stile and right along a track out to a road. Cross the stile opposite and go ahead beside a hedge on your left.
After a few yards where the hedge bends left you should go half-left, climbing across grass and passing under minor power lines. Join and follow the left field edge as it traverses high ground with a wood on your left.
Just short of the field corner go left through a gap in the hedge and turn right, resuming your previous direction, now keeping to the right field edge, with a wood on your right.
Keep to the right of the next two fields as the path dips to a footbridge and climbs. Cross rough ground to the right of the buildings at Buckholt Farm to join a farm track and turn left.
6. After passing to the right of a pond, veer half-right, keeping to the right of a triangle of grass. At the far end of this triangle turn squarely right through a gate and bear left, following the direction of a sign, across grass to a stile and gate which soon come into sight.
Continue downhill to a gate into woodland. Follow a heavily ridden track as it winds left and right down into a valley. At the bottom, ignoring a path off to the left over a footbridge, go through a gate and forward, with the Watermill Stream on your left.
After about 200 yards, cross the stream via a gated bridge and climb along the right edge of two fields and the left edge of a third to join a road. Turn right and follow the road for a quarter of a mile, finally dropping downhill and back into Crowhurst.
