Eridge Station to Groombridge Station
by Ben Perkins
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The route takes you along the top of Harrison's Rocks, a dramatic outcrop of sandstone near Birchden Wood which is a magnet for climbers
This walk, which links Eridge Station with Groombridge, starts out along a quiet lane and then proceeds along well-trodden field paths.
A loop along roads into and out of Groombridge may not be to everyone's taste but it does have the advantage of taking the walk past a pub - the Junction Inn, next to the old Groombridge Station.
The return route traverses Birchden Wood, passing the spectacular sandstone outcrop known as Harrison's Rocks.
1. From Eridge station, turn right and, after a few yards, turn right again along Forge Lane.
Follow the lane as it bends left and then right. After a short while, turn left along a gravel access drive, signed as a footpath. Beyond the large and distinguished Hamsell Lake House on your left, the drive becomes a narrow path.
Beyond a stile, go forward along a right field edge, then straight on across a field (where, at the time of writing, an admirable mown path was provided). Join and continue without change of direction along a farm track.
2. After walking for about 250 yards fork right, dropping downhill on to a track between high banks.
From here to the edge of Groombridge you will be following the Sussex Border Path, intermittently (but far from comprehensively) waymarked with a green logo.
At the bottom of the hill, go right over a stile and follow a trodden path diagonally uphill across a field. Go through a gap, pass to the left of a small clump of trees and proceed straight across the next field.
Time/Distance: Six and a quarter miles, taking about three hours
By car: Eridge station is on the A26 Crowborough-to-Tunbridge Wells road. Park in the redundant loop of the old A26 in the vicinity of Eridge station or a few yards further north near the Huntsman pub (GR 543346)
By public transport: Train to Eridge on the Uckfield to Oxted line. Hourly service
Terrain: The walk goes through gently undulating countryside, using well-defined field and woodland paths plus some road and lane walking
Refreshments: Pubs next to Eridge station and at Groombridge (point 4)
So you don't get lost: OS Explorer 135
Continue from the other side with a block of woodland on your left. Where the wood ends, veer half-right across a field and on with another wood on your left.
Cross a drive and a plank bridge then veer very slightly left up across pasture. Pass to the left of a tennis court and maintain direction across the next field and then along a right field edge, skirting to the left of the buildings at Bullfinches.
Continue in the same direction across three fields, then drop down along the right edge of two more fields, with thick woodland on your right. At the bottom, go ahead over a stile and footbridge and, after a few yards, fork right, climbing to join a lane.
3. Turn right and follow the lane past the handful of cottages which make up the tiny settlement of Mott's Mill.
After about a quarter of a mile, just before the lane bends right and climbs, fork left along a path which starts through a gate to the left of a small detached garage.
Follow a woodland path (a good spot, by the way, for bluebells in the spring), ignoring a signed path off to the left. Beyond a stile, you'll find yourself in a pleasant sheltered valley - proceed through this, walking within a broad grassy strip with woods to your right and left.
At the far end of the valley, cross a stile, continue to a second stile (which can be seen from the first), and press on in the same direction across a large arable field. Pass under a railway bridge and cross a field to join a lane.
Turn left to follow the road for half a mile or so into Groombridge. As the road approaches the centre of the village, turn right along Springfield Road.
4. At the next road junction, beside the Junction Inn, turn right, and proceed out of the village.
Soon you'll be crossing the railway next to the old Groombridge Station, which, along with the line, has been carefully restored as part of a private railway project.
After about 300 yards along this awkward, vergeless road, fork right along a quieter lane, signposted to Eridge station and Crowborough.
5. After another 200 yards, turn right along the access drive to the Forestry Commission area of Birchden Wood.
Look out for a waypost indicating the High Wealden Landscape Trail, where you should turn left along a woodland path. At a crossing of the forest track, where the Weald Trail goes ahead, you should turn left along the wide, solidly-based track.
Follow this clear track through Birchden Wood, ignoring all side and crossing paths unless you have a map and would like to vary your route through this public-access woodland.
After a little over half a mile, the track runs above the dramatic sandstone outcrop of Harrison's Rocks on your right. The rocks are a magnet for climbers but there are a couple of paths down between the rocks for lesser mortals.
To complete the walk, continue along the main track above the rocks, picking up and following a right-hand fence which brings you to a stile. A label on the stile indicates that you are now following a licensed path. A few yards beyond this, turn right and head downhill along a sunken path.
After 30 yards, turn right again over a stile beside a gate, and find yourself back on part of the High Weald Landscape trail. After a short distance, join a drive and go ahead past the buildings at Forge Farm.
Just past a converted twin oast on your left, turn left with the house drive and follow it over the railway and a stream to join a lane. Turn left and follow the lane for over half a mile back to the start, joining your outgoing route for the last few hundred yards.
