Albourne circular

by Eddie Start

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Ancient Wealdon farmhouses

Albourne is a small rural community which once stood at crossroads on the busy London to Brighton road. The construction of the A23 road meant the traffic moved east and the village was able to adopt a more measured and peaceful pace.

This walk follows some undulating Wealden twists and turns, passing isolated farms and cottages. There are many footpaths in this area, indicating a travel infrastructure which was depende nt, in earlier times, upon Shank’s Pony as the usual form of transport.

1. From The Street in Albourne village (Albourne Green on the OS Map), with the primary school in front of you, take the signposted enclosed footpath left of the school entrance, going due south. Soon the path drops to the right, continuing ahead to a minor road in 100 yards. Turn left up the road (Church Lane) and at a junction turn right for a few paces, taking a path through hedgerow, just after Yew Tree Farmhouse.

The path dips beside a small vineyard, continuing down the field and across a junction, then passes a converted barn before dropping to cross Cutler’s Brook. Climb out from the bridge to the top of the rise near Bishop’s Place. In 100 yards, close to a small stone barn on the right, turn right.

2. Follow the descending field edge, which in 400 yards crosses the brook again, going briefly left then half-right to enter a field. In 100 yards, the path turns right to climb to the top of the open field and taking a left turn towards Albourne Place Farm. On approaching the farm, with a large timber barn ahead, take a few paces left, pass between the buildings and continue westward to a minor road in 300 yards.

Pick up the opposite descending footpath for 300 yards to Wick Farm and with the farm buildings in front of you, turn left passing between them and continuing to Oakfield Cottage

3. Pass through a rustic kissing gate, right of the cottage, going to the right, with a fishing lake to the left. Cross a stile, drop to a track and pass through a metal gate. In a few yards, after the track has curved to the left, go right over a second stile on the right, following the signed path and passing beneath power lines.

In 300 yards cross a plank bridge, turn half-left for 100 yards, then right at a three-way junction. Do not take the path that heads northward but walk beside the right hedgerow, next to a recreation field. At Blackstone Lane, cross to a plank bridge, turn right for a few yards, then left on a path beside paddocks and enter woodland. In half-a-mile the path drops left to a signed three-way junction close to Woodmancote Place, take the right turn, entering woodland with a high, wire fence on the left. Just before arriving at a track the path crosses two plank bridges. Cross the track and continue ahead, with paddock fencing on the left.

4. In 500 yards the fence turns to the left, go right on an unsigned path into woodland. Cross a bridge ahead, with a dilapidated footpath sign (not taking any right turns), pass a three-way sign and climb to a field edge. Turn left, continuing northward for a quarter of a mile beneath trees and crossing an intermediate bridge.

At a minor road, cross to the opposite drive, passing Bylsborough house and cottage in 200 yards. Continue ahead (do not take the right drive) on the footpath to Woodhouse Farm. At the farm, cross a stile, take the track to the left for 150 yards and turn right over a cattle grid. Pass by Old Woodhouse bungalow to arrive at some barns in 150 yards.

Turn left along the left edge of two fields for nearly half a mile, coming to a stream. Turn right along the bank to a footbridge, cross and go half-right across a rising meadow (small lake to the left) and cross a stile, beside a gate at Morley Farm.

5. Follow the path around the right hedgeline, cross a second stile and turn left up a metalled drive. In 150 yards, turn right through a hedge, and cross the next field to a four-way junction in 500 yards. Turn right and follow the southerly footpath for just over a mile, crossing a drive and stiles and passing to the right through a hedge-opening on approaching Blackstone. Go through a farm gate to a minor road junction.

Continue ahead down the road, not turning left, and in 150 yards, take steps up the left bank, through a gate to a field. Turn left, follow the footpath around the left hedgeline, going right, then right again for a few paces, and eastward to a crossing path in 100 yards.

Maintain direction ahead, dropping to a footbridge and climbing across the next two fields; pass through a metal gate in the right corner of the second field. Descend to a minor road and turn left.

6. Walk up the road for 150 yards and immediately after the entrance to Albourne Place, right, take the footpath hidden beneath trees. Climb to a meadow following the right tree line to the right corner, turn left to cross a stile opposite a large pond.

Turn right on the drive, passing another lake, and in 150 yards, branch to the right, following the left hedge line towards the church of St Bartholomew at Albourne.

Enter the churchyard on the right, continue to the far side and an enclosed path. Turn right over the next field, along the right hedgeline to cross a footbridge. Turn left, pass between a gap in the treeline and climb to cross a stile on the right.

Follow the path across the next field for 450 yards to a junction passed on the outward route. Turn left beside the vineyard to Yew Tree Farmhouse. Continue up The Street to the starting point at the school.