This is one of our occasional linear walks where you will need to make use of public transport, in this case the hourly train service between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells. Starting from the railway station at West St Leonards, the walk is soon out of the built-up area to traverse an attractive area of scrub, rough grass and marshland.

This is part of the newly designated and surprisingly wild Pebsham Countryside Park where European money has been used to improve public access by ensuring that the various streams and waterways are properly bridged when crossed by rights of way and that the paths are well maintained and signed.

The second half of the walk is also in good order as it follows part of the waymarked 1066 Bexhill link, established with special project funding rather than having to rely for its existence on the meagre resources allocated by East Sussex County Council for the general upkeep of public paths.

This is, therefore, a particularly easy walk to follow, unlike some of our past forays into the wilds of East Sussex.

1. From the entrance to West St Leonards Station, turn right along the road.

At the junction with Filsham Road, go ahead along a signed footpath which starts almost opposite the road junction.

Head north along this well surfaced path with the overgrown railway embankment to your right. Ignore a path to the right over a railway footbridge, continuing along a good path with the railway perimeter fence to your right and woodland on your left.

Go straight over a crossing path and, after a few yards, at a road, go straight ahead along the path opposite, passing a waypost signed to Worsham and Bulverhythe. Keep to the main route ahead along the right edge of a large area of scrub and pasture, part of the Pebsham Country Park, with excellent views to the north and west, only slightly marred by an unsightly landfill site in the middle distance.

2. At the far end of a wooden causeway, next to a waypost, turn left to follow a clear and surprisingly dry path which winds through an area of patchy scrub and then between areas of marshland.

At a waypost, numbered four, turn right across a footbridge, signed to Crowhurst and Worsham and go ahead along a grassy path with a wide drainage channel on your left.

At the next waypost, numbered five, turn left over another sturdy footbridge and forward with ditches on both sides of the path. Go over a stile beside a gate, forward for 50 yards, then right at yet another waypost.

3. After only five yards, go left through a swing gate and climb across grass to join and follow the high perimeter fence of the landfill site, keeping it on your left.

Cross a stile beside a gate in the field corner.

Follow the left edge of the next field, disregarding a path to the left through a gap in the hedge. In the next corner, at waypost number nine, go left over another stile beside a gate to follow an enclosed tree-lined path which eventually becomes a more solidly-based hedged track and brings you to Little Worsham Farm.

4. Just short of the first farm building, turn right and after a few yards, turn right again along an unmade track. After less than 100 yards, where the main track bears right into a farm area, go ahead, still on a clear track, signed as part of the 1066 Bexhill Walk, which you will be following as far as Crowhurst Church.

Once over a stile beside a gate, the track narrows to a path. Emerging into a field, go slightly right across the field corner to join and follow the right perimeter hedge gently downhill. Cross a stile in the field corner and continue along the left edge of a low-lying area of rough pasture and then straight ahead with a drainage ditch on your left.

5. At a finger post, turn squarely right, and, after another 100 yards, at a second finger post, go left along a raised grass bank with a small stream on your right.

Beyond a stile, keep to the right edge of the next field, still with the stream to your right.

In the field corner, ignoring a path to the left, go ahead along a fenced headland to join a road.

6. If in need of refreshment, the Plough Inn is now a few yards to the left but, to continue the walk, turn right along the road.

Shortly, turn left along the unmade Sampsons Lane. After 100 yards, go left over a stile beside a gate and follow the left edge of cattle pasture. After about 350 yards, at a finger post, go left over a footbridge and follow a right field edge out to a road. Turn right to reach Crowhurst Church.

The church with a 15th Century tower, together with the nearby ruins of a 13th Century manor and a handful of houses, occupy a peaceful backwater.

This is an excellent spot to linger if you are early for the train back to St Leonards.

To complete the walk, when opposite the church, turn right along Station Road, following it for about half a mile, a fifteen-minute walk, to reach Crowhurst Station.

  • Distance/time: Five-and-a-half miles/three hours.
  • By car: Park in Crowhurst station car park (GR 760129) or along the station approach road, then take the train to West St Leonards for the start of the walk.
  • By public transport: Hourly train service to West St Leonards and back from Crowhurst to the start using the Hastings to Tunbridge Wells line.
  • What's underfoot: An easy walk, almost entirely along excellent, well-trodden and clearly signed paths.
  • Thirsty work: Plough Inn at Crowhurst (point five) about a mile short of the end of the walk.
  • So you don't get lost: OS Explorer 124.

For a larger version of the map, see 'related links' above.