Shermanbury to Twineham

by Eddie Start

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Delightful tucked-away Wealden dwellings are just waiting to be discovered on this walk in the wooded countryside around Shermanbury

You might well pass through Shermanbury on the busy A281 road and hardly notice it but there are hidden byways and woodlands hereabouts which are well worth further exploration.

The River Adur at Mock Bridge was once a busy navigable section of waterway, with goods transported to and from the coast. The main road is the principal route between the important Wealden communities of Horsham and Henfield.

1.From the lay-by and adjacent bus stop to the west of the A281, walk north-westerly, passing The Bull Inn and crossing, with care, to the pavement over the stone bridge above the Adur.

The road rises, passing a sign for Shermanbury. In a few yards take the bridleway on the right, signposted to Shermanbury parish church. Follow the track for nearly half a mile, which eventually arrives, after a right turn, at the secluded Shermanbury Place, with its fine facade, and then the tiny church of St Giles.

The onward track drops, continuing generally north-easterly in woodland, a short distance from the river bank. In half a mile the bridleway joins a metalled drive and maintains direction for a further 400 yards to a minor road, with the delightful Waterperry House, diagonally left.

2.Turn left to climb the hill, staying on the tarmac drive that arrives, in almost half a mile, at turn-offs to Pooks and Oaklands farms.

Continue ahead on the woodland bridleway known as Buckhatch Lane, possibly a former droving road, and in 350 yards take the signed right turn.

In 200 yards, the path branches left, clearing the woods in a further 150 yards and crossing a stile into a field. Cross the field, along the left edge, heading towards a delightful white, clapper-board cottage.

Take the stile into the cottage garden and keeping to the left of this building, walk towards the drive ahead. Continue to the obvious stile in the opposite fence, cross this and turn right down the field edge. At the bottom right corner do not cross the stile but turn left, up the field edge and pass through a metal gate in 200 yards.

Take the left branch through a copse to a stile and keep to the right hedgeline across the next field. Pass through an opening in the hedge and continue ahead to the left corner of the field. Cross a stile to an enclosed path that leads to Wineham Lane.

3. TURN right down the road for 400 yards and at a dwelling called Gatefield on the left, turn left to follow the descending path, which soon climbs towards Grovelands Farm.

Turn to the right as you come to the farmhouse, continuing to a field in 150 yards. Enter the next field and almost immediately notice the imposing frontage of Twineham Grange on the left.

Continue ahead across the wide field, along the right edge, dropping to the corner, turn left and walk up to the drive beside the white buildings of Twineham Grange Farm.

Turn right on the drive, with the farm buildings on the left, descending slightly right into a triangle of scrub and trees with a double plank bridge. Take the right branch, climb up a bank to a field and turn left. Follow the field-edge for 150 yards, turn left, crossing a rickety stile and bridge and walk to the obvious footbridge.

Keep to the left side of the next field and in 150 yards turn left to cross the meadow ahead, which leads, passing through a gate midway, to a field corner in 500 yards. The church of St Peter at Twineham is amongst the trees.

4. Do not cross the stile, unless you wish to investigate the tiny, brick-built church, but turn sharply right along the hedge and follow the obvious path that leads towards the farm buildings across the top of the field.

At the farm buildings of Twineham Place turn left between them, descending the concrete farm drive for 300 yards, crossing a bridge and almost immediately taking a right turn, crossing a plank bridge and passing beneath power cables.

Pass through a gate and go left to a stile in the hedge, a few yards from the immediate field corner. Cross this stile and turn right to walk over three fields for 550 yards, turning briefly left, passing through a gate on the right and taking the bridleway leading to Wyndham Farm. Pass between the buildings, out onto Wineham Lane and turn left.

5. In 150 yards, climb up a surfaced ramp on the right, the entrance to a residence called Spinning Wood, and continue between scrub to take a westerly drive that leads to Abbeylands Farm. At the farm, take a few paces right and then turn left between barns to a three-way sign.

Turn right down the next field, keeping to the right edge and dropping to a gate that leads into a field bordering the bank of the River Adur.

Turn left and follow the bank path for a little over threequarters of a mile to arrive at an elaborate control weir and associated structures. Turn left to a stile in a few yards, then turn right. In 175 yards, having crossed a couple of stiles, drop to a footbridge in the hedgerow and walk up a grassed path, with Shiprods Farm on the left.

At a three-way junction in 100 yards, just before a hedge opening, turn right. Pass through a metal gate and walk across the field ahead for 600 yards to a three-way sign on a raised section of field. Go a quarter-left to a stile, take the right path option, crossing two intermediate stiles and finally going half-left to a stile in the fence adjacent to the main road, with The Bull Inn opposite.

Turn left along the road edge, crossing with care to the starting point in the lay-by on the right.