Offham and Cooksbridge

By Ben Perkins

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Natural tree-lined tunnel

This is a walk almost entirely without hills, which explores the River Ouse valley, north of Lewes. Body and spirit are well catered for because you pass by or near three pubs and three small country churches on this fairly easy six-mile circuit.

The paths used are generally in good order but be prepared for some mud and avoid this walk after heavy rain, as the valley is prone to flooding.

1. Start the walk along a track, signposted as a public right of way, which forks right from the lane to Hamsey, where it bends right, past Offham Church and heads south, soon descending alongside a wooded slope.

After 400 yards, go left over a stile beside a gate and follow a wide grass strip under the railway. Bear left along the Ouse river bank, beside the main river then a canal, which bypasses a loop of the Ouse. Continue along the raised bank and then a hedged track to join a lane at a junction.

2. To visit Hamsey church, turn right here for about a quarter of a mile, returning the same way. The isolated church, mainly dating from the 14th Century, stands on a chalk knoll overlooking the River Ouse. To continue the walk, go straight ahead along the lane from point two, following it round to the left. After 250 yards, fork right along a hedged track which narrows to an overgrown path from which you can escape into the field on the right.

Where the enclosed path ends, continue across a large arable field. On the other side, an unmade track continues. Pass immediately left of the buildings at Cowlease Farm and carry on along an unfenced track between two large fields. Cross a concrete bridge and keep to the left of the next field.

In the field corner, go over a footbridge and stile then veer half-left across the middle of a field, aiming to the right of Barcombe Church. Go through two gates and join the church's access drive then turn left. The church, although restored in 1880, has a 13th-Century tower.

3. Cross the churchyard, passing immediately to the right of the church and follow a grassy strip down across a field, over a plank bridge in a hedge. Climb across the next field, immediately to the right of archaeological excavations on the site of a Roman villa. You are now heading south-west towards the wooded downs, aiming a little to the left of the tree clump on Blackcap.

On the other side of the field, cross a low bank and resume your previous direction across a field. After 40 yards, bear left with the field edge on your right, shortly bearing right, down to join a lane through a wide gap.

4. Go over the stile opposite and veer half-left across pasture, aiming a little to the right of Blackcap. Drop down past a water trough to a waymark. Bear left along the lower field edge, with a ragged hedge on your right. After just over 100 yards, go right, over a footbridge and along a right field edge. In the field corner, go over a stile and along a farm track. Pass to the left of several cattle sheds to join and follow the farm's access drive, passing to the left of a pond to a road opposite the Rainbow Inn.

5. Turn left for a few yards to a junction with the A275 where you should turn sharply back to the right, beside the main road. After a few yards, go left through a gap in a hedge and follow the footpath sign slightly left across a field. There is no obvious path but keep Blackcap in line ahead before veering slightly left then dropping down to a stile and footbridge.

Carry on along a right field edge. In the soggy field corner, go right, over two stiles sandwiching a plank bridge, and then left beneath the railway. A few yards beyond the bridge, sidestep to the left, over a stile and resume your previous direction, walking parallel to the right field edge to another stile. Continue along the right edge of a lawn before going right then left, to a lane through a gateway to Lower Tulleyswells Farm.

Turn left along the lane. After 150 yards, go left over a stile and slightly right, across a field to another stile. Turn right, along an enclosed path beside the railway fence, which takes you to the A275 at Cooksbridge.

6. The Pump House Inn is now a few yards to the left, across the railway. To continue the walk, go across the road and turn right, walking along the opposite pavement.

A few yards past a turning on the right to East Chiltington and just past a house on the left called Ferdale, turn left along a concrete drive, which is signed as a footpath.

Walking along this path, you will pass to the left of Nursery Cottage. Enter a narrow path between gardens and go across an estate road.

Cross a stream, then the railway and then turn right, with the railway fence on your right, along the right edge of two fields. In the second field corner, go carefully over a wobbly stile and turn left along the left field edge. In the field corner, go through a gap into the next field and maintain your previous direction across a field to join a lane over a stile to the left of a house and garden.

Turn right and at a junction, go ahead and follow the lane for about two-thirds of a mile, back to the start. Be sure to disregard another lane which goes off to the left, crossing the railway en-route to the start point.