1 Facing Bodiam Castle grounds turn left and, immediately past the village green, go up a twitten running parallel to the road. At the top, turn left along the footway and cross to go along Bodiam Road signposted to Sandhurst for about 350 yards.

Just past Claremont School, cross the road opposite Levetts Lane into Court Lodge Farm entrance; then turn immediately left down to St Giles Parish Church, hidden in a wooded glade.

2 Go through the lych-gate with inscriptions dated 1908. Most of the present building is 13th century with major restoration in the 19th century. A notable feature is its medieval brasses, so look inside, if open. Return to Bodiam Road and cross into Levetts Lane.

In about 50 yards, turn right on a path through a sunken wooded area, cross another part of Levetts Lane to go along a twitten between houses. At the end, go over a stile and veer right downhill and through a gate at the bottom of the field.

Continue direction to a four-way fingerpost and turn right. Go through two field-gates in succession, bearing right along a track to a road and turn right.

3 In a few paces, cross the road, go through a gateway by a fingerpost and bear right diagonally up the field. Cross a stile and turn left along the field edge, crossing a stile; then bear right uphill to go over another stile.

Cross two converging tracks to follow the footpath between fences on the left of a triple oast house (now a dwelling) with a cow, pig and horse on the white cowls. At the bottom of the enclosed path, go over a stile and bear right. On the left is the Grade I listed Bodiam Castle, built in 1385 and gifted to the National Trust in 1925. Continue bearing right across the grass away from the castle towards the car park entrance.

4 For the second part of the walk, immediately before the road, go through a hand-gate and along a path parallel to the road. Continue over the river bridge along the road, through a hand-gate on the left and bear left onto the embankment alongside the River Rother.

The field is occasionally flooded after prolonged rain but it is usually possible to follow the footpath clockwise around the edge. However, if it is impassable, continue along the roadside footways to cross the railway line; then on the grass verge for a further 200 yards to rejoin the route at point 5. On coming to a stile adjacent to the railway line, cross this and two more on the other side of the line; then go to the right of a barn and over a footbridge. Continue along the right-hand field edge and, at a three-way fingerpost, turn right through a field-gate and follow the footpath up the right-hand field edge.

Go over a stile and bear diagonally right across a field to emerge onto a driveway. Turn left for a short distance to cross a road.

5 At the entrance to The Hub, follow the driveway for about 300 yards and then downhill on the right to the cafe and shop selling local produce. There is a path to the rail station across the field provided by The Hub, and staff will be able to give directions. There are plenty of interesting things to see at the Kent and East Sussex Railway Station and a special steam train service on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following Christmas. See details online at: www.kesr.org.uk/your-visit/timetable.To complete the walk, follow the roadside footways towards the village.