Sussex Border Path
Mid-Sussex Link
For start of this link, see Map/Section J
Weir Wood Reservoir to Wivelsfield
(15 miles)
A mix of field and woodland paths on either side of the valley of the infant River Ouse. Shops and buses at Sharpthorne, Horsted Keynes and Scaynes Hill. Otherwise remote and unspoilt.
From road junction at GR 383348, follow road S for ½ mile, ignoring turning on left. Just past pair of cottages on left, go over stile on right. Follow path between banks, enter wood and, after 30 yards, fork left. At valley bottom bear right across plank bridge and ascend. Leave wood and follow fenced path to join and follow access drive and then estate road for 1 mile to Sharpthorne (GR 373325).
Turn right (by Organic Cafe) and in a few yards, just short of service station, turn left and shortly left again round back of British Legion hall to enter narrow hedged path. Cross stile at end of enclosed path and descend through two fields to stream. Beyond stream, bear half right up to stile in top corner. Cross further field to stile, then veer right (SSE) to stile , aiming between two small buildings. Keep hedge on right, veering right to join drive. Turn left and ascend to public road at GR 375312. Turn right and, in 300 yards, just short of ‘Tanyards Farm’, take footpath to left which heads squarely down, crosses concrete dam and ascends, first left then right through woodland to come out in field. Follow left edge of field round. Cross stream in strip of woodland. Beyond wood follow left edge of field out to road at GR 385307. Turn right along road, ignoring path ahead, at time of writing incorrectly signed as Sussex Border Path. After 150 yards turn left along Broadhurst Manor Road. After similar distance turn right along drive. Follow drive right and left past Broadhurst Manor and S for 1½ miles to Horsted Keynes passing church on left and following road to centre of village.
On reaching main road through village of Horsted Keynes at GR 384282, go straight across and continue for a few yards on road ahead (signposted to Lewes). Almost immediately, go left on rough road, passing Chapel on right. At next cross-roads, go ahead, passing ‘Buckhurst Place’ on left. Follow drive round to right and, where private roads to ‘Wyatts’ and ‘Milford Place’ diverge, continue ahead along clear access drive Where drive ends, follow woodland path ahead. Follow this clear path down into valley and up again, turning left to meet tarmac drive. Turn right uphill. At top of hill, diverge to left of drive on unfenced path to join road at GR 392268. Turn right and shortly left along drive to Butcher’s Barn. At bottom of hill, fork left over stile and follow right field edge, disregarding stile on right. Just short of woodland, turn sharply right through hedge gap and follow letf field edge with wood on left. In field corner go over stile and follow clear woodland path. At end of wood by Northlands Farm, follow track and access drive from farm out to road by Kingswood Cottage.
Follow path opposite into woodland, after 10 yards, turn right and, at Y-junction fork left. After leaving wood, head half right (SSW) across field where path is undefined, joining grass headland track with wood on right. Fork right to pass beneath Bluebell Railway. Keep to right field edge until you can go right over concrete bridge and head for farm buildings. Skirt to right of farm to road at GR 385245.Turn left pass Sloop Inn and, 150 yards past pub, turn on track between bungalows. 100 Yards inside Hammer Wood, fork half right, on rising woodland path, heading SE. After leaving wood, continueacross field in same direction and, at other side, 
turn sharply right through small field enclosed by trees, then along right field edge, through wood and along left field edge to road at GR 389236. Turn right and, after 250 yards, go left over stile, and along left edge of two fields, in the same direction across third field and down to reach stream. Just sof stream, turn right for 100 yards to gap and stile, then half right uphill across middle of field to syile and ahead along left field edge to Hammonds Farm. Follow access drive from farm to Scaynes Hill.
At A272, cross road and follow path which starts to right of Farmers PH and between houses. Cross 2 estate roads and at junction of lanes, go ahead along metalled access road signed to Ham Lane Farm. At GR 360224, just before new house on right, turn right on path down through wood. At T-junction, turn left, leave wood and follow right field edge to stile and on along tree-lined path, (Ham Lane). Follow for two thirds of a mile to road at GR 350213. Turn left to follow road (Slugwash Lane) for half a mile to Wivelsfield.
(Updated 4th Dec 2009)
Mid-Sussex Link:
East Grinstead to Weir Wood Reservoir
(5 miles)
After a mile along the Forest Way on the track bed of the old railway, the SBP crosses farm land to join and follow the perimeter path of the Weir Wood Reservoir
From East Grinstead Railway Station take road eastwards past Mid-Sussex Timber Co. warehouses on left. At mini-roundabout bear right along London Road and at second mini-roundabout left along High Street. Pass East Grinstead church on left. On reaching major roundabout go right on access track leading down to Forest Way on old railway. Follow railway track bed southwards. In about 1 mile at first bridge over railway (GR 408365) climb to road and follow it downhill towards reservoir. Just short of where road ends at ‘Horseshoe Farm‘, take narrow bridleway to right. At bottom cross footbridge and go ahead along right edge of two fields. Head half left across third field, aiming to right of house. Go through gate in far right corner on to track and turn left. Bear right and left keeping to right of buildings at ‘Busses Farm‘. Beyond gate, follow enclosed path to reach edge of Weir Wood Reservoir. Turn right to follow perimeter path and fence, then lane to road junction at GR 383348. Turn left.
(Updated 14th Jan 2010)
Weir Wood Reservoir
© Mike Anton 2006 www.mikeanton.com
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