Framfield to Honey's Green
by Ben Perkins
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>The pretty old church at Framfield
This is a short walk through a gentle landscape of small pastures lined by rich, tree-lined hedgerows.
On the outward leg of the walk at point 2 you can, for the first time for many years, walk along the much-publicised Framfield Footpath 9.
Until court action was taken in 2002, this path was illegally blocked by a building and a pile of old fridges but is now clear and well signed.
Sadly, other paths on the walk are little used and partially overgrown, though there is always a way through. Navigation is a bit challenging and you will need to follow the description with particular care and have a map to hand in case you do go astray.
It is a good winter walk but probably one to avoid in late summer when the crops are high and the weeds rampant.
Return to the road junction by the Hare and Hounds pub (1) and start the walk through the church entrance. Pass to the left of the church and, at the far end of the churchyard, where the path divides, fork right through a swing gate, across a meadow and through a wide gap between two large oak trees.
Follow a left field edge to a stile, continue beside a right-hand hedge to another stile and carry on in the same direction across another meadow, ignoring a left fork where the trodden path divides. On the other side of the field, go forward with a hedge on your right for a few yards, then right over a stile, hidden in the hedge.
A path burrows through scrub, then drops down across a field to a footbridge hidden in the next hedge. Bear slightly left across a water meadow to find another footbridge at the far end.
Climb gently across the next field, walking parallel and to the left of minor power lines to find another hidden stile in the top-left field corner. A path between hedge and fence now takes you out to a road.
Turn left and, after a few yards, go right through a new swing gate (2). The path ahead is clearly marked with yellow posts through an area of scrub.
Location: Midhurst free car park is off the A286 at the northern end of the town. Parking in Easebourne is available at the northern end of the town, not far from the church on the other side of the road, and in other places if you are thoughtful about it.
Duration: Eight miles taking nearly four hours if you start at Midhurst, refreshment time extra.
Start/Parking: From Framfield on the B2102, about two miles east of Uckfield. Park in the small recreation ground car park to the north of the road about 200 yards east of the church at GR 497205. The car park entrance is next to a telephone box. If full, there is reasonable roadside parking nearby.
Distance/time: Four-and-three-quarter miles taking two-and-a-half hours.
Terrain: Gently undulating; paths little used and may be overgrown in places.
Finish: Southease Station on the Lewes-to-Seaford line. Parking is possible on the grass verge in several places between Southease village and station. Road access only from the Lewes-to-Newhaven road on the west side of the Ouse valley.
Parking:Park in the village car park, signposted down a narrow lane from the High Street at GR 587268.
Public Transport: None.
Map: OS Explorer 123: South Downs Way - Newhaven to Eastbourne.
Refreshments: Hare and Hounds pub at Framfield.
Go over a stile, across a field corner to a second stile and then veer very slightly left to a stile and on through a wood.
Leave the wood over a stile beside a gate, follow a left field edge for a few yards and then go half-left across a meadow, passing obliquely under power lines.
Follow a line of four oak trees to a gateway in a neglected hedge and go ahead along a grass track with patchy woodland to your left. From the corner of this wood, follow a faint path across rough pasture to join a lane over a stile
(3).Turn left and, after a few yards, go right over another stile and along a right field edge.
Cross the next field, passing under power lines to go over a stile and wooden railings in quick succession, across the corner of another field to a stile beneath minor power lines and on beside a meandering left field edge. Skirt to the left of a house and garden at Honey's Green and follow the access drive from the house.
About 100 yards short of a road, in sight ahead (4), double sharply back to the left along another drive. When opposite an attractive, tile-hung house on your left, go right for ten yards, then left between outbuildings to find a gate to the right of a stable block.
Drop down across a field to a stile to the right of a tree clump and maintain direction across the next field. Go over a stream in a wood (take care over the slippery footbridge) and on across a bumpy field, passing a few yards to the right of an electricity pylon to find the next stile. Head out across a large field to join a road in the far left field corner, next to a crossroads (5).
Follow Pump Lane opposite. After about 250 yards, just past Honeysuckle Cottage on the right, go left through a wide gateway. Take care now as the route is not obvious. Head squarely out into the field for about 100 yards and then veer half-right, aiming for the right end of a block of woodland. If this is ploughed and planted, the right field edge might be a better option.
From the wood corner, head north across the field, aiming a little to the left of a house on the skyline. On the far side of the field, seek out a short, overgrown path down to a footbridge in a wooded dip (6).
Go forward for 20 yards, then left beside a high, right-hand hedge. After a little more than 200 yards, go right over a stile into a copse, left for a few yards to a second stile, then half-right, gently up across the middle of a large field where Framfield Church soon comes into sight.
From the far-left field corner, bear left along a track and, after less than 100 yards, go right over a stile into woodland. The path is now clear, first through the wood, then along a right field edge.
Beyond a stile, the official path ahead back to Framfield Church has, recently been cleared and is no longer overgrown, so there is no need to take the 'alternative' route to the right, where you are likely to disturb animals.
The church should shortly be in view. Retrace your outgoing route to the start.
