This week we sample segments of two designated long-distance routes for walkers across the Sussex Weald, the Wealdway and the Vanguard Way, both of which benefit from good signing and maintenance.

This is in sharp contrast to some of the other paths used to make up this circuit linking Blackboys and Framfield where you will have to deal with some shaky stiles and bridges as well as several electric fences, all thankfully passable without too much difficulty.

1. Walk back to the junction of School Lane and the B2192 next to the Blackboys Inn and turn right beside this busy road where there is a narrow but usable pavement. After about 200 yards turn right along the drive to a house called Duckings.

About 60 yards short of the house, fork left up steps to follow a short, enclosed path through to another drive. Turn left, follow this drive out to a lane and turn right.

2. After about 250 yards, turn left through a gate, now on part of the Wealdway. Follow a left field edge at first. Where this boundary turns away to the left go ahead across a field to the corner of a wood and on in the same direction with this wood on your left.

In the corner go over a stile and ahead on an unfenced grass-covered path. Join and go forward along a hard-surfaced drive coming in from the left.

Follow it as it passes between the large house and outbuildings at Newbridge Farm before bending left and descending past ornamental gardens to join a lane.

3. Leaving the Wealdway, turn right and immediately fork left to a gate set back from the road. Now follow a path along a left field edge, walking beneath minor power lines. In the field corner go over two stiles sandwiching a shaky plank bridge next to a power pole and bear slightly left across the next field to a stile taking you across an electric fence.

Continue along a track but, after a few yards, where this track turns away to the right, go ahead through, or under two more electric fences and forward beside a high, righthand hedge.

4. After about 250 yards, go right over a stile, walk through a small copse to a second stile and head out halfright across the next field, crossing three more electric fences, two of them stiled. As you proceed, the solid square tower of Framfield Church, your next objective, comes into sight ahead.

In the far field corner, join and bear left along a fenced headland track. After about 60 yards, fork right over a stile and through a wood where plank causeways have been provided to get you across some boggy areas.

5. Cross a stream, leave the wood and continue along a right field edge with the wood on your right. In the corner go over a stile and turn right for a few yards out into the corner of an area of rough pasture. Now follow a trodden path across the middle of this area.

Join and turn right along the access track from a small water company enclosure, following this track as it curves left and left again with houses and gardens on your right.

Where the track acquires a concrete surface and bends to the right, go ahead along a signed path. Shortly, go forward along the left edge of Framfield churchyard and out past the church to join a road opposite the Hare and Hounds pub.

6. Turn right along The Street. After about 250 yards, turn left through a small car parking area and into the entrance to Framfield Recreation Ground. Follow a drive along the left edge of this area to a stile and then turn right across a field, diverging at about 20 degrees from the hedge on your right. Pass to the right of a peninsula of woodland jutting into the field to find a makeshift stile in the field corner.

In the next field, diverge very slightly from the hedge on your right to find a stile which soon comes into sight at the top of a low rise. Cross a small paddock to join a lane and turn left.

7. After less than 100 yards go right along a gravel drive which leads into an enclosed tree-lined path. Where this path opens out, bear slightly left down across a field with a fine view northwards across the wellwooded Weald. Continue down across a second field and through a wood.

At the bottom of the wood go over a footbridge and across a meadow to reach a three-armed sign where you rejoin the Wealdway and turn right along the valley with a stream on your left.

Follow this well-signed path through two fields and over a footbridge. Now fork right to a bridle gate and then along a right field edge. Cross a lane and continue with the Wealdway, between fences and then along a right field edge.

Cross another lane and follow waymarks half left across a paddock to a swing gate. Carry on between hedge and electric fence and on along a right field edge to reach a T-junction.

8. Turn right along a track past the buildings at Tickerage Mill, now for a short distance following both the Wealdway and the Vanguard Way. The Wealdway shortly goes off to the right but you should go ahead along the track for a few more yards before turning left up steps with the Vanguard Way.

A well-trodden path veers right across pasture to a gap and then climbs, parallel to the left field boundary fence. From the far end of the field follow a hedged path to a T-junction with an access drive and turn left.

Shortly turn right along a hedged path which continues between allotments. Ignore a signed path to the left, continuing uphill to join a road. Follow John Dann Close, opposite which feeds into a path along the left edge of a recreation ground. This path bends left out to School Lane. Turn right back to the start.

  • Distance/time:Five and three quarter miles/ two- and-a-half hours.
  • By car: Start from Blackboys on the B2192 Lewes-to-Heathfield road. Roadside parking should be possible a few yards along School Lane which leaves the B2192 road beside the Blackboys Inn at GR 522203.
  • By public transport: Bus service from Heathfield or Uckfield.
  • What's underfoot: Easy walking, mostly along good field and woodland paths. Undulating terrain but no steep gradients.
  • Thirsty work: Pubs at Blackboys and Framfield (point 5).
  • So you don't get lost: OS Explorer 123.