Hellingly

By Ben Perkins

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This is a pleasant, easy walk, starting and finishing along part of the Wealdway, a well-signed and maintained long-distance route. The middle section of the walk samples two miles of the Cuckoo Trail on the track bed of the old railway which was up and running between 1849 and 1968 and linked Polegate and Eridge.

1.From a point about 200 yards along the loop of old road from its southern junction with the A267, turn left to follow the signed Wealdway up steps in a bank to a stile and then follow a trodden path across an area of rough pasture and scattered trees, crossing an unfenced drive en route, to reach a stile.

Now drop down along the right-hand edge of a field, cross two more stiles sandwiching a plank bridge, and climb along the right edge of a neglected pasture. From a stile at the top of the slope, a woodland path descends between banks.

Cross a footbridge and climb, soon within the right wood edge. Soon after the path levels out, go right over a stile and immediately left to follow a good field headland path.

2.In the corner, go over a stile and walk squarely ahead across the next field, joining the left field edge, which leads you to another stile. Follow a short path, with a stile at each end, through a copse and then keep to the right edge of the next field. Continue with the well-signed Wealdway across two more fields, before passing to the left of farm buildings to join a track where you should turn right.

At the entrance to West Street Farm, follow the main track round to the left, pass a pond on your right and, immediately, parting company with the Wealdway, turn right over a stile and follow a right field edge.

In the corner go ahead over a half-hidden stile and keep to the right of two more fields to reach a lane.

3.Don’t join the lane. Instead, turn right along a gravel drive.

Just short of a gate, fork left, as indicated by a waymark, to follow a grassy path, running parallel and to the left of the drive at first.

In front of a golf course tee, sidestep to the right through a gap and turn left, resuming your previous direction, to enter a track which descends into a dip and climbs through a wood before emerging to cross more open ground with the golf playing area on your left.

Pass to the right of the golf clubhouse and enter a farm area. Shortly, go left to join the main access drive from the golf club and turn right to follow it out to the A267.

4.Turn right and, after 100 yards, go left along an enclosed path lined by high fences. Where this ends, veer half-right across a field to a bridle gate and then turn left to follow the left edge of several fields gently downhill to join the old railway track bed.

Turn right to follow the tarmac Cuckoo Trail southwards, watching out for fastmoving cyclists. After about a mile and a half, the Trail crosses, in turn, the Cuckmere River and a minor road.

It is an easy, if somewhat unexciting, walk but, for part of the distance, you can enjoy, alongside the Trail, a series of carved wooden panels depicting the wildlife which may be observed along the way.

5.At GR 584120, just after passing beneath a bridge carrying a road across the Trail, you will reach the site of the former railway station at Hellingly, now converted to an arboretum. From this point a track to the right and then the road provides a direct link to point seven at Hellingly Church, reducing the total length of the walk by a little over a mile.

For the full walk, carry on along the Cuckoo Trail until you get to the busy A271 where you should turn right along the nearside pavement.

6.After about 250 yards, turn right through the large wooden gateway arch entrance to Horsebridge Mill and go ahead along a drive, passing to the right of the mill, now disused, and to the left of a large storage building, then forward along an enclosed path, now back on the Wealdway.

Beyond a swing gate, where you have a glimpse of the Cuckmere River on your left, go ahead, walking parallel to the meandering left edge of a large field. In the corner, go forward through another swing gate.

Follow the Wealdway signs and, at a parking area in front of a row of garages, bear half left.

In front of the drawbridge to the magnificent moated Tudor manor house, Horselunges Manor, go right to enter an enclosed path, continuing across a meadow to join a road, where the short-cut route joins from the right. Turn left along the road.

7.At the road junction with Mill Lane, go ahead through a wicket gate into Hellingly churchyard, a circular area lined by a row of delightful cottages.

Skirt round to the right of the church, leave the churchyard through a gate in the opposite corner and turn right along a lane.

At a road junction, bear left. After another 100 yards or so, go left over a stile beside a gate and follow a trodden path across a field with a good view southwards to the Downs.

Rejoin the lane and turn left out to the A267, right for a few yards along the wide verge, then left, signed Old Road, now back at the start of the walk.