Heathfield circular

By Ben Perkins

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A woodland circular route that is an official right of way, takes you close to the Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Selwyns Wood

Using several conveniently linked footpaths, this walk explores a patchwork of small areas of mixed woodland to the south and west of Heathfield.

Armed with a map and, ideally, a compass, you might like to extend the circuit, sampling the generous network of permitted paths in Whitehouse and Heatherden Woods, beyond points 3 and 4 respectively, though the described walk sticks to official rights of way.

Within easy reach, though not accessible directly from our walk except along a road for half a mile northwards and westwards from point 4, is Selwyns Wood Nature Reserve. Owned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, it is managed as a mixture of regularly harvested chestnut coppice and replanted broad-leaved species such as oak and beech. It has a small car park at GR 552206 from which you can enjoy a choice of circular trails within the reserve.

1. From the far end of the car park, start the walk southwards along the Cuckoo Trail on the old railway track bed. Follow this clearly signed track for about two thirds of a mile as it crosses a lane and, subsequently a wider and busier road.

About 100 yards beyond the second road, turn right along a drive, passing through a gateway flanked by brick posts. After about 40 yards go left over a stile and forward along a right field edge.

Where the fence on your right ends, veer half right downhill to enter woodland over a stile beside a gate. Follow a wide path through the wood, descending to cross a stream.

At a Y-junction of paths, fork right and, after ten yards, at a similar junction, fork left, resuming your previous direction.

After another 100 yards, leave the wood over a stile and head out across a field, aiming slightly right.

Go over a stile beside a gate in the far right field corner and follow a wide fenced grassy strip.

Go through a blue-painted gate and follow a short access drive out to the A267.

2. Cross this road and follow the lane, almost opposite. Shortly, at a road junction, go ahead through a narrow white painted gate to the left of a wider house gateway and follow a narrow path which squeezes between gardens.

Shortly at the edge of a wood, where the path divides, go straight ahead, ignoring side and crossing paths, keeping with the main path until an arrow on a waypost directs you to the left along a narrower path.

After a few yards go right down a flight of wooden steps and, after a few more yards, at a Y-junction, fork left across a footbridge. Shortly leave the wood, climb along a left field edge to a stile and continue for a few more yards to go through a gate leading out to a road.

3. Turn right and, after a few yards, go sharply back to the left along a lane, signposted to Waldron.

After about 60 yards, turn right along a footpath which starts along a house access drive and, after a few yards, continues as a narrow fenced path.

Beyond a stile, go along the left edge of a meadow and on into Whitehouse Wood. The path eventually drops down to cross a footbridge.

Follow a series of yellow arrows and signs through the wood. Join and follow a clearer but unsigned path through coppiced woodland, soon bearing right at a junction, signed once more.

The waymarks eventually lead you to a stile out of the wood after which you can follow the right edge of two fields out to a lane.

4. Turn right and, after 400 yards, at a road junction, turn left. After another 300 yards or so, turn right along a narrow path which starts to the left of a double garage for a converted oast called Olives Farm.

Where this path opens out to enter Heatherden Wood, without changing direction, follow a wide path. Ignore paths to left and right unless you feel like extending the walk, using one of several permitted paths within this area of woodland, managed by a local amenity society and open for public use.

The main path descends to cross a small stream and then climbs again. At the top of the slope go over a crossing track and ahead through a kissing gate, continuing on a clear path which takes you out along an access drive to join a road.

5. Turn right and, after 20 yards, go left along a wide, unmade track which, beyond a stile, becomes a narrow woodland path. Follow this clear path down to cross a stream and up again.

After a short distance, where the path divides, keep left (almost straight on). Join a wider track, now turn left and immediately keep right, climbing gently. At the edge of the wood, go over a crossing track and along a tree-lined path which takes you out to a road.

Turn left and shortly go right along Pook Reed Lane. Just short of a bungalow called Pook Reed on the right, turn right along a gravel track. Just before the drive ends at a house, fork left along a fenced woodland path.

6. Where the fences open out, ignore a minor left fork and follow a sunken path through a rhododendron thicket, soon rejoining a high right-hand fence, continuing through the wood. After crossing a substantial footbridge, the path climbs, passing to the left of a house to join your outgoing route. Go through a gate, turn left, and you will be rejoining the Cuckoo Trail.