Enchanted Forest
A Friday walk on a Tuesday because of the pending festive period. I was more than ready for an excursion, so soon after the last. It was Christmas Eve and, after braving the food shop for the main event, a journey out of town was very welcome.
This route gladly picked up from a previous Ashdown Forest route I'd made from Uckfield and the neglected end of my Tunbridge Wells to Eridge route and gave me a feeling of closure I didn't know I deserved. It is quite a neat outing, with only a little bit of a lengthy stretch on the Forest Way to finish. As an ending, a straightforward route march on an old railroad is welcome. The walk makes use of a degree of elevation in the forest that allows you to 'rise above it'. The forest itself is a mixture of heath, mixed woodland and its associated wildlife and is is one of the largest open access areas in southeast England. It is crossed with Roman road, burial mounds, the history of commoners and the enchanting literary world of Winnie the Pooh. Probably a good walk any time of year.
Forest Row is most economically and directly reached with the 270 bus from Church Road in Burgess Hill. It takes around an hour and a half. You can shorten this with a train/bus combo, if you must. The return is the same.
The forecast was for an overcast but dry day so it was a surprise when I looked up and found my bus bumping its way down into the mist around Horsted Keynes. It made for a supernatural start to a day that brightened into sunrise on arrival. I dipped in and out of winter light all day. The bus stop was at Brambletye and the ruins caught my attention enough for a brief diversion.
From the bus stop, head south and divert westward on the footpath through the courtyard and out towards the banks of the Medway. The older remains of a moated property in the manor is visible on the west side of the path, as you skirt the ruin of the house. The best views are to be had when you reach the lane. Join what is Forest Way and the 21 cycle route, going east.
Back into Forest Row, take the Vanguard Way south. I crossed the skate park and joined the bridleway, before taking the muddy footpath back to the main road and crossing it. You can just as easily stick to the Vanguard Way as it takes you between the houses through to Chapel Lane. Go south to the golf course and then turn right on what is Shalesbrook Lane. This follows the edge of the fairway to join with Primrose Lane. After re-entering the golf course, I chose to leave the Vanguard Way briefly to cross it. It is a little difficult to navigate but follow the signs on the ground to rejoin it after some properties and a footbridge. The whole area is access land, although the golfers might be more of a hazard than the heather and scrub. The club makes a feature of the fact that no stream has been diverted and there are no unnatural features such as bunkers. What you see are the mown heathland fairways and mature trees.
Once past The Birches, you'll meet Coleman's Hatch Lane, where you can go east a little way past a pond. Rejoin the trail on the far side as it goes around the bowling club and cricket ground. Take the little track to Kidd's Hill, where it brings you out by a bridge at Newbridge. If you continue south along this road you will come to a track by a second bridge that takes you to a site of Britain's second ever blast furnace. I didn't know it was there but I definitely would have checked it out.
Before this, rejoin the trail at Chuck Hatch Lane. The path rises steadily towards the clump of trees at Gills Lap and through the Heffalump Trap to 204 metres. This is A.A. Milnes' Enchanted Place. After a visit, where I indeed I had a very rumbly tummy, head north a little way to the memorial to the author and illustrator and for more views in that direction. You'll have passed Roo's sandy pit. Continuing on this line to the Pooh Sticks Bridge is possible but I left this for another day as I had no one to play with.
Return to the Vanguard Way and over the car park. I crossed the road near the junction and took a path on the left, from the track opposite, in order to reach the tumulus and viewpoint. This is much more easily reached via the Four Counties Car Park, a bit further on. I did not find the view all that great as it was misty all around. Return over the High Road and cross the Vanguard Way directly. This cuts the corner and passes Greenwood Clump at the highest point. Ancient remains are to be found here, including the line of a Roman road. Join the Wealdway going north as it enters Five Hundred Rough and Five Hundred Acre Forest. On the left, you pass Eeyore's Gloomy Place or Wren's Warren. It was misty and a herd of ponies huddled above the steep valley. As you leave the trees via Fisher's Gate and the Road, you follow a line of exceptional mature trees on their way to Withyham and its church. The church houses a chapel to the Sackvilles, who own much of the area.
Visit the church and descend to the road the path on the north side. From here, head east to the Dorset Arms for lunch. The benefit of needing a table for one is that there is often a table for one when the rest of the place is rammed. There were many christmas jumpers and cheer to be perceived. I was heartily warmed for the final leg.
Back westward, take the lower Wealdway route through the gate beside the road before leaving it northward. Back on the Forest Way, dip briefly to visit the castle fields of Hartfield. The mound, apparently, represents the remains of a motte and accompanying bailey but there is surprisingly little in the way of evidence and detail other than the reference that appears on the map.
After the sewage works and mound, cross the field and head back north to the Forest Way and switch off your brain, to follow this all the way back to Forest Row. You cross over the Roman road and you pass under some old railway bridges. Beeching himself lived near Forest Row.
I needed a wee and I had to wait an hour for a bus. A visit to The Swan dealt with both problems.
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