Sussex boasts the largest and most densely planted cluster of vineyards in the UK. Vincent Hallett takes a wander through one of these, the Albourne Estate, which has many south-facing slopes benefiting from the county’s warm climate. The winery crafts small quantities of still and sparkling Sussex wines. Return to the starting point along a ridge overlooking the vines and the South Downs.

The Essentials

DISTANCE/TIME: Four miles taking one and three quarter hours.

BY CAR: Turn off Henfield Road, B2116, into The Street after the junction with the B2118. Roadside parking is available on The Street and at the Village Hall car park. BN6 9DH. TQ263167.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus: Metrobus 273 and Compass Travel 100; stop; Albourne, Traffic Lights.

Rail: Burgess Hill for bus connections.

WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: Undulating walk on footpaths and a short section along a quiet lane. There are several stiles.

The route passes through vineyards where walkers are asked to keep protective gates shut to prevent deer entering the vines.

THIRSTY WORK: None on route. Hurstpierpoint High Street has shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs one mile from the starting point along Albourne Road, B2116.

SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Landranger 198 or Explorer OL11, Brighton and Hove.

The Route

1. Take the footpath at the southern end of The Street where it turns sharp left.

Continue ahead at a four-way finger post and do the same at the next four-way finger post immediately after crossing Cutler’s Brook.

Go up an incline and ignore a footpath leaving on the left by a metal gate.

Turn right onto a footpath in front of an overgrown farm building adjacent Bishop’s Place.

A finger post is on the left but is broken.

The footpath crosses a stream and enters the Albourne Estate through a metal gate.

The Singing Hills golf club is on the left behind a fence.

Continue between rows of birch trees and go left at a three-way finger post and enter the winery at Albourne Place, through a gate which has been installed to protect the vines from deer.

Leave the Estate by a surfaced drive to reach Shaves Wood Lane.

Cross this road and walk down to Wick Farm.

Ignore a footpath on the right otherwise you will be heading in the wrong direction.

2. At Wick Farm House take the footpath through a wooden gate, beside a three-way finger post and go diagonally across grass to a plank bridge.

On the other side of the stream the path veers to the left and goes into a thicket via a gate.

Cross another stream and rise to a second metal gate and follow the footpath between a fence and a hedge to a drive leading to stables.

Turn right and out onto Blackstone Lane.

Ignore a footpath on the right that goes behind cottages before reaching the lane.

Pass through the hamlet of Blackstone in front of houses on the left.

Leave the lane by a footpath that starts on the right after farm buildings and before a “Thank You” sign.

Cross a stile and head to a line of trees ahead where a chain needs to be unlatched to cross a footbridge.

On the other side of the trees, keep to the right-hand hedge boundary and go through two metal gates.

3. After the second gate a two-way finger post points at an angle to the left.

Head for a wooden farm gate.

The footpath goes to the left of an array of farm properties and keeps to the north of Truslers Well.

Use a stile to join Truslers Hill Lane.

Turn left and in 75 yards, make sure you go right onto the footpath.

Recently renewed plank bridges assist walkers at the start.

The footpath continues ahead on a raised bank with a ditch situated on the left.

At a convenient point drop down to a field on the right and continue to Northpark Farm where a gate gives access to a concrete drive.

Continue along the drive to reach a sharp bend in Church Lane.

Take the footpath on the left and climb a ridge to a five-way finger post.

The footpath back to Albourne goes right at this point so make sure you stay on it.

Stay in the same direction for just under half a mile, keeping ahead at a crossing footpath between properties to return to The Street and the end of your walk.