Faygate and Rusper

By Ben Perkins

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On this seven-mile walk, Wealden woodland is a reminder that this area once formed part of the forest of Anderida

Faygate is a Sussex village, close to the county's northern boundary, midway between Horsham and Crawley. One of Surrey's waterways, the River Mole, rises in this area.

This walk takes a trip around three villages and there are a total of four pubs on the way so it is possible it could become a crawl rather than a stroll.

There are a number of stiles and many left and right turns on the walk but it is generally well signed, apart from a short section towards the last stage.

1. At the south side of the railway bridge, on the minor road through Faygate, take the signed footpath going eastward, beside the railway. The path drops right towards a recreation ground and continues along the field edge for 200 yards towards a stile on the left which leads, on an enclosed section, to a pedestrian railway crossing.

Cross the railway line and opposite stile and enter woodland on a path through Fuller's Shaw, turning right at a sign, with a pool to the right.

Cross a plank bridge and follow the right edge of the field to a signpost, turn left and climb for 200 yards to turn right and in 50 yards left, between hedges, to a farm track in 250 yards.

Turn left along the made-up farm track, in 100 yards go right across a stile with a pole barrier to the left. Continue across the short section of open field, going slightly to the right, and enter woodland.

The undulating woodland path now proceeds through Furze Field. There are a number of left and right turns in this section, all of them well signposted, and if followed precisely will lead in three-quarters-of-a-mile to a footbridge.

Cross the bridge, climb a bank, cross a stile and follow the footpath signs around the right, open field edge for 300 yards to a double metal gate and stile, leading to a minor road to the right of Fay Cottages.

2. Turn right up the road for 150 yards, cross a stile on the left bank to the path which crosses a bridge and a stile and continue on an enclosed path.

In 100 yards, cross a stile and bear half-left behind a house, after which go right, crossing a stile on to a bridleway.

Go left for 100 yards to a sign indicating Briar Cottage and Rusper Court Farm, turn right.

At the cottage, bear left across a bridge, then walk ahead with a hedge on the right.

At the end of the field the path joins a track. In a few yards, cross the stiles and a plank bridge in the hedge, right. Take the signed left path through a gate, climb across the meadow, passing between paddocks towards the stables of Millfields Farm.

Cross the farmyard, take the stile beside a footpath sign, which leads behind houses to a car park in 200 yards. Go halfway across the car park and left beneath bushes, with The Star pub on the right, on to the Horsham Road in Rusper. Turn right and in a few yards, at a road junction, go left along the High Street.

3. In a short distance, with the church to the left and just before The Plough pub, take the signed Sussex Border Path on the right beside a garage.

Pass through a gate and follow the descending path, left, across the meadow. There are views eastwards across the Wealden woodland – a reminder this once formed part of the forest of Anderida.

In 400 yards, the path comes to an enclosed section for a short distance.

Walk on between meadows to a four-way junction in 350 yards, take the right turning, follow the descending path across a gully and climb to a field leading to a minor road.

Cross the road, take a few paces left and enter the next field, passing an animal shelter on the right.

Continue beneath trees and then follow the footpath signs around the right edge of a meadow.

The path becomes enclosed between hedges and takes a few turns before coming to a timber barn on the left and, to the right, a house with a swimming pool in the garden.

Take the enclosed path, right, which skirts around the garden of the house to a minor road.

Turn right up the road for 400 yards towards The Lamb Inn at Lambs Green.

4. Take the enclosed footpath, to left of the pub, which is confined by a fence and ditch. The path crosses a stile in 250 yards and goes left across a scrubby meadow before turning right up the field edge and re-entering trees at the top, left corner.

Proceed through the woodland and, in a short distance, go left along its top edge to come to a stile which leads to a large open field.

Follow the half-left direction indicated by the footpath sign across the centre of the field; it is possible to see the opposite footpath sign in the far, left corner.

Cross the next stile and continue in the same direction towards the trees, diagonally opposite.

The onward footpath is about 50 yards right of a gate in the hedge. Continue on the path, heading east and in 400 yards, cross a stile beside a metal gate and immediately turn right beneath trees – there is no signpost here.

5. In 150 yards join a wide woodland track, turn right and take the westerly direction of the bridleway. (There are no footpath signs at this point.)

Stay on the path, which becomes a metalled farm drive, for the next three-quarters-of-a-mile, passing Upper Bewbush and Kilnwood Farm. The bridleway eventually arrives at Kilnwood Copse and a three-way junction which we passed earlier. Take the left turning down across the meadows, the route taken on our outward journey, crossing the railway line and following the path back to the railway bridge at Faygate..