Cuckfield circular

By Eddie Start

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Cuckfield is the distinguished Mid Sussex community at the edge of the High Weald, it has a distinctive church spire, a fine High Street and a charming array of houses, narrow streets, twittens and footpaths. On this expedition we get out into the surrounding countryside, through woodland and pasture and finish up back in the High Street, ready for refreshment.

1.From the crossroads and miniroundabout in the village centre, descend the High Street, passing shops and pubs, to where the road takes a sharp right turn. Locate Church Street on the southern edge of the road, at the bend, and head towards the church. Pass through the lychgate and walk to the crossing paths by the corner of the church.

Turn left, following the path that leaves the church grounds, passing beside allotments and then coming to a wide grass verge, with bordering houses in Courtmead Road. Follow the road to its end at a junction and turn right.

In 150 yards, cross the road and enter Horsgate Lane, descending on a footpath, then climbing to Horsgate Farm in a quarter-of-a-mile. Keep to the footpath, which veers slightly to the left between rail fences, climbing left up a bank into a wide field.

Take a half-right line across the field to the opposite hedge and turn right, climbing to a stile. Cross the next field on the obvious leftward path, pass through a gate and in a few yards arrive at Ardingly Road.

2.Turn right up the road and, where it turns to the right in 150 yards, take the bordering footpath, between hedgerows.

At an opening in the hedge, in 200 yards, cross the road with care and take the surfaced bridleway, signed for Lullings Farm. Keep to the main drive, passing by farm buildings that are on the right, and continue between prominent stone gateposts beside Stone Lodge, leading to open country with extensive views.

Follow the hilltop drive and at a fork, on the right, is a distinctive, evergreen Holm Oak that has metal bands at its base. Take the footpath through a gate on the left.

3.Turn half-left across the next field, making for a mid-way stile, continuing on to a copse – The Tolls. Turn right down the edge of the copse, following the perimeter to the left, and a stile in 200 yards.

Cross the next field, branching right at the edge of woodland. Descend to a footbridge and follow a rising track through the woods, turning right and climbing across the next field along a right hedgeline.

At the far side of the field drop to a gully in the right corner and turn left towards farm buildings. Follow a track between the buildings to the road at Brook Street.

4.Turn right, passing the green painted Chapel Art Gallery, cross the road and enter Spark’s Lane.

Walk along the lane for 400 yards and at a three-way sign, turn right, passing Collin’s Farm in 250 yards. Maintain direction on the footpath into a field and descend to its lower side and a wooden gate.

Bear left in the next field along a left edge to a second gate in 75 yards, pass through and turn right along the hedgeline.

In 250 yards, cross a plank bridge and stile on the right, climbing along the left hedgeline to a gate at the top of the field.

Descend the next field to a wooden gate and then follow the half-left wire fence up the field ahead towards Sidnye Farm. Pass through a bridle gate in front of a large black barn and turn left to a metal, hurdle gate. Drop to the farm drive and turn left, away from the farm.

5.The path drops and then climbs steeply to a three-way path junction, beside an isolated copse. There is a pond to the left among the trees and the farm drive turns sharply right.

Pass through a metal gate and identify a second gate directly ahead at the bottom of the field. The path takes a right turn to a gate in 100 yards, then an about-turn to the lower gate. A shortcut appears to go directly across the field to the gate. If the absence of livestock makes this a possibility, you may choose to take it.

Pass through the gate, cross a bridge and climb up the left wooded field edge to a four-way crossing. Continue ahead, climbing steeply to the edge of a golf course. Follow the track along the right edge of the links, dropping into a hollow in 300 yards.

Note the footpath sign on the right and turn half-left, climbing the next rise, then descending to a stream gully and bridge.

Climb out half-right from the bridge over the greens and keep direction for 400 yards, avoiding flying golf balls and genial golfers, into longer grass and a crossing, unsigned path. Turn right, heading for the hedgerow in a few yards, at the field corner. Follow the path through the bushes crossing a plank bridge, climbing to a meadow and branching left to a lane opposite houses at Whitemans Green in 100 yards. Turn right along the lane to a road in 200 yards.

6.Cross the road, with care, take a few paces left and turn right along a drive, passing more dwellings. As the path draws level with a recreation ground on the right, take a left branch through trees and turn right.

Follow the path through rough meadow and grassland for nearly half-amile, descending to a stile and junction at the edge of scrubby woodland. Take the left option, descending in a gully to a footbridge.

Climb out steeply from the bridge to a field and follow the fence line to the top, right corner. Take the metal gate beside a high brick wall and follow the lane, which soon turns right and then left, back to the High Street in Cuckfield.