West Hoathly circular

By Eddie Start

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West Hoathly is a secluded High Weald village with a twisting main street bordered by period buildings, a church, notable pub and an active community. On this walk we visit many local byways, get extensive views across a spectacular reservoir and visit a rock outcrop popular with climbers.

1.From the village centre beside the pub, opposite the church, head north along North Lane, passing the village hall and school.

At a road junction in 450 yards, cross to the opposite side, beside West Hoathly Garage. Take the footpath left of the workshops, descending behind houses and going through a metal kissing-gate. Continue down the main track, passing a left turn and then right of a sign for the Gravetye Estate.

The path enters Giffard’s Wood and follows this for a quarter of a mile to a wide forest track. Turn left along the track for a nearly 100 yards and re-enter woodland on a path to the right.

On clearing the woodland in 500 yards, descend a meadow to a gate at the bottom left corner. Birch Farm Nursery is to the right.

2.Turn left along a track and in a few yards enter woodland on the right, following a twisting path over a stile and climbing steps to the edge of a railway line. Cross the line and descend the far side, walking ahead for a few yards to clear the woodland.

Keep direction across the low-lying meadow, with overhead power lines, and in 200 yards divert right over a footbridge.

Climb left up the rising field, heading for a protruding copse on the left in 150 yards. Strike off right to the top corner of the field and join a hedge-lined bridleway, going right.

To the right of the path, after 200 yards, is the sandstone outcrop of Stone Farm Rocks. To gain access to the outcrop walk on for a further 150 yards and climb a low bank on the right.

There are spectacular views across Weir Wood Reservoir and the surrounding countryside; you may even see climbers on the rock outcrop.

Return to the bridleway and turn right to a minor road opposite Stone Hill House.

3.Turn right down the road for 25 yards and take the track on the left, beside a small car park. Follow this winding track for 450 yards to a high metal gate across the track.

Turn left on the signed footpath, following the wire fence, first left, then right, to clear the scrub cover and arrive at a three-way junction on the enclosed path. Cross the stile on the left and climb the rising meadow, with Standen Rocks to the left and views to the reservoir below.

At a path junction at the top of the field, cross a stile and continue ahead on a sunken path, making for a fourway path junction on clearing the tree cover. Keep direction up the right hedgeline, taking none of the turnings.

At the top of the rise, with a locked metal gate on the right, go a few paces forward and turn right along an enclosed path. Follow the footpath to a drive above the National Trust property at Standen and turn left, following the drive to a minor road in 300 yards.

4.Turn left up the road for 50 yards and cross right, to a bridleway.

In a few yards enter a playing field, with rugby pitches, and follow the right hedgeline for 400 yards, then divert to an access drive in front of cottages. Continue along the drive to a road and turn right.

Keep to the grass verge for 400 yards, drawing alongside a leisure centre on the left. At the northern boundary of the centre take the footpath on the left, cross a plank bridge, and follow the perimeter fence.

At a service drive for the complex turn left and, with buildings on the left and sports courts on the right, walk across on an elevated path towards woodland in 200 yards. Take the unsigned track ahead into High Wood.

Keep to the main path, curving leftward for a quarter of a mile, with occasional signs, to climb a bank on the right, beside a rusting metal fence. Enter an enclosed meadow known as The Rough.

Follow a half-left line across the meadow, passing through a left hedgeline gap, and going right for a few yards to Mary Wood. Take the left path through the wood, and keep left of a metalled drive for a short distance before re-entering the woods and descending to a meadow in 100 yards.

Turn right along the field to a gate and follow the bordering hedge of a cottage to a right field corner.

5.Turn left down the field, going through a gate and descending towards fishing lakes. Cross a bridge and turn right towards Mill Place Farm. Pass between the farm buildings and through a tall, brick-built railway arch that carries the Bluebell Line.

Walk along the farm drive for a few yards to a three-way sign, do not take the left turn, but continue for 150 yards to a second three-way sign and turn left through a gate, along a track signed for Birch Farm Nursery.

6.In 100 yards, just before a bridge, turn right over a stile, passing signs for the Gravetye Estate. Walk along the left field-edge, and through Hastings Wood, leaving by a metal kissing gate. Continue along the next field hedgeline and at a metal gate turn left onto a rising woodland track, passing Lower Lake down to the right.

The track finally arrives at a wide, sloping meadow; continue diagonally right, heading for a gap in the trees in a quarter of a mile. Pass through the stand and continue up the next field to the top left corner.

Enter Giffard’s Wood and turn right to join the path used on the outward route. Climb to the road at West Hoathly and follow North Lane back to our starting point.