1 - From Berwick Station, head north along the road. After a few yards, just past Berwick Stores on your right, turn right through a car Parking area to a stile and head out across a field to the next stile, in sight.

Maintain direction across the next field, go over a pair of stiles in a dip and climb beside a right-hand fence.

At the top of the slope, bear right to another stile, and head gently downhill along a right field edge with a view of Arling-ton Reservoir. At the bottom field corner, join a tarmac drive over a stile and turn left.

After about 60 yards, turn right over a stile, head half-right across the corner of a field to another stile, then pass through an area of scrub and continue along the right edge of an area of rough pasture to join a road over yet another stile.

2 - Cross the road into a tarmac area opposite and immediately turn left along a shady path which runs parallel and to the right of the road. After about 200 yards, rejoin the road and turn right over the Cuckmere River.

After a few more yards, turn left along the signed Wealdway which heads out across grass, parallel and to the left of a drive. Where the drive bends right, go ahead over a stile beside a gate and forward across rough pasture with the spire of Arlington Church as a marker directly ahead.

Go over a stile in a post-and-rail fence, forward across a field, over a plank bridge and on in the same direction across a field. Go over a stile next to a gate in the far corner and forward along a lane, passing the entrance to Arlington Church on your left.

The charming little building dates mainly from the 13th and 14th century but retains features from Norman and Anglo-Saxon times.

3 - At a road junction, go ahead, passing the Yew Tree Inn on your left. After about 200 yards, follow the lane as it bends squarely round to the right and, after a similar distance, turn left through a gap, right for 30 yards beside a hedge, then squarely left across a field where a grass strip has been preserved.

On the other side of the field, turn sharply back to the right along the field edge. After about 60 yards, go over two stiles, sandwiching a sleeper bridge, and head out across a field, aiming about 60 yards to the right of a large house where you will find a stile.

Go over a stile and plank bridge and cross a field to find a stile tucked in to the left of some sheds. Follow the left edge of three small paddocks. Towards the end of the third paddock, go left across a drive using three stiles, and turn right along a right field edge for a few yards to join a road and turn left. After 150 yards, turn right along the main Abbot’s Wood access drive.

The 360-hectare area of woodland derives its name from the time of Henry I when the wood came into the hands of the Battle Abbey.

It is now a public access area, offering a wide choice of routes, sampled by our described walk.

4 - At the main Abbot’s Wood parking area, turn left, passing about 60 yards to the right of a toilet block, and go ahead along a wide forest track.

At a crossing track, where you will find the first of a series of yellow footprint waymarks, go ahead and shortly, where you have a choice of two labelled trails. Follow the “Abbot’s Amble” ahead.

Now follow the yellow footprint waymarks with care for two thirds of a mile until you reach the corner of a large pond, originally constructed to provide fish stocks for the monks of nearby Michelham Priory.

5 - At this point, parting company with the Abbot’s Amble, turn left along the top of the low earth dam with the lake on your right, crossing a footbridge over a sluice. After another 100 yards or so, turn right along a wide forest track.

Ignoring the first wide track off to the left, continue ahead until, after the best part of half a mile, at a T-junction, you can turn right along another wide track, labelled as Robin Post Lane on the Explorer map.

Disregard the first wide crossing track and, after half a mile, turn left along a bridleway signed: Cuckoo Trail 1½ miles.

6 - After almost a mile, just short of steps up to the A22, turn right along a signed cycle track, parallel to the road. Join a slip road and bear left, passing beneath the trunk road.

On reaching an electricity pylon, follow a path which diverges to the right of the road.

Rejoin a lane for a few yards, then fork right and immediately right again along a path which zigzags up and over the A27 dual carriageway. On the other side of the bridge, turn left along a shady path which skirts to the left of a housing estate.

Go straight over a concrete drive and along the tarmac path opposite. After less than 100 yards, turn right along a crossing path, signed to Polegate, which starts beneath an ornamental metal archway.

Join and go ahead along an estate road (School Lane).

At a T-junction, turn right and shortly, at a mini-roundabout, go left into Polegate. Just short of the railway line, turn left to Polegate Station where the walk ends.

* Distance/Time: Six and a quarter miles/three and a quarter hours

* By Car: Parking at Berwick or Polegate Stations (fee payable)

* By Public Transport: Train to Berwick from Lewes, Eastbourne or Brighton (hourly service). Train back from Polegate – more frequent service

* What’s underfoot: Excellent walking, mostly along good paths or tracks. Field path route between Arlington and Abbot’s Wood requires careful navigation. No significant hills

* Thirsty Work: pubs at Arlington (point 3) and Polegate, near the end of the walk

* So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer 123