Uck and Ouse and Down

UCKFIELD TO BURGESS HILL VIA ISFIELD, THE OUSE, OFFHAM AND DITCHLING BEACON

Be warned. This walk is overly long at 25 miles.  In explanation, it is a continuation of that done last week, rearranged due to a bus issue and so this route largely served to give me some closure. The fact is, that Uckfield to Lewes, as originally intended, would have been just fine at about 15 miles but the desire to pull myself free of the muddy floodplain was too much. Despite my achy feet, I feel the actual elevation was well worth the effort and did wonders in contrasting the route.

It had been a frosty start to a marvellously settled and sunny day but the ground was treacherous in places. I compounded my low-lying unease with a minor exploration of Lake Wood into West Park Nature Reserve and a return to the mildly frustrating monster golf-course navigations. I could have easily left this aside for a quicker exit from Uckfield.

So it was that the view from the quarries above Offham gave the astonishing opportunity to lazily look back up river, the way I'd travelled. If it had been drier underfoot and just a little later in the year, I might also have taken my eye from the path and enjoyed the bluebell woods alongside the sinuous meandering of the waterway, a seasonally altogether different prospect.

Burgess Hill to Uckfield can be made with a bus/bus combo via the Princess Royal Hospital. I chickened out, fearing a repeat of the previous outing and plumped for the pricier option of a train to Haywards Heath and the 31 bus from there.

From the High Street stop in Uckfield, retreat back to Church Street and proceed towards the Holy Cross. Church Street evolves into Rocks Road and geology emerges. There is a short section without pavement before getting to Lake Wood. Here the Ardingly sandstone is apparent on both sides of the water. I did a quick circuit and tried to find my way out over the road. North of Lake Wood, I saw a lady with her dog and it seems this area between here, south of Budlett's Common and the footpath might be a free-for-all also. Below Lake Wood, there are several stiles into West Park Nature Reserve but not convenient to reach by jumping over the wall and other areas are additionally fenced. There is a tunnel at the eastern corner but it is locked.

As it was, I back-and-forthed and exited at the western corner. I walked back on the Rocks Road to a stile at its mid point. South was muddier although there are some boardwalks. West Park Reserve is squeezed between the Uckfield Bypass and the houses and would have benefitted from a few more months. I made a brief jaunt and decided to return to Rocks Road and cross the bridge to the west.

Take the footpath through Butcher's Wood, over the footbridges and on to Farhazel. You have forded the Shortbridge Stream and will go back over very shortly. Cross Golf Club Lane and Shortbridge Road to reach Piltdown Golf Club. Take the Golf cart trail amongst the trees, in the direction of the gazebo at the back of the green and head back east by the wooded area at its edge. After the field, you reach Shortbridge itself and The Peacock Inn. Just a little west at Barkham Manor, is the supposed find site of serial hoaxer, Charles Dawson's 'Piltdown Man'. A mad combo of orangutan jaw and modern human skull was used to fool scientists for about forty years. Head down the road to cross the stream and take the foopath on the corner of the junction.

Any path that borders a waterway has the potential to be a bit wet and this that was enclosed by deer fencing was no different. The Shortbridge flowed serenely as I slopped about, jumping from fallen trees and sucking my boots out of deep sections. The boardwalks seemed to have arrived too late as I turned east at the brick shed. Cross the field east to Buckham Hill. After the house, be sure to clamber over the fence to exit onto the drive of Buckham Hill Grange. Go straight over Buckham Hill and continue east to reach a footbridge over the Uck. This is a major tributary to the Ouse. Follow the Uck south a little way and reach the dismantled Lavender Line. I wondered whether it might to be used as a path but this section is marked private and lined with farm machinery. Cross it.

Keep to the direction until you can vault a gate to reach a farm road. The path might differ from what is on the ground and here a theme of 'private' begins in earnest. Declarations, that while might be designed to keep you on the right track, shout in unsettling confusion in all directions. Sandwiched between Horsted Pond Lane and the Bypass is Horsted Green Park. I saw some happy dog walkers on my left. After the car park, turn right through a nice kissing gate. You can see the towers of the Horsted Place hotel. More golf course horror. Just follow the path and you are directed to the grass after the wiggle beside Lower Barn Farm. Turn right and join the main farm road. A little way down on the right, a footbridge takes you towards the Uck and the Dingley Dell Terminal. The footpath runs under the railway track and beside the Uck. Keep close by and once across the river bear right. Some wet fields take you to Tile Barn Farm and the Rowebuck Stud. Bear right to exit onto Station Road. You are in Isfield. On the right is Isfield Farm Shop and butchers where you can get a meat based meal and/or groceries. I was too early for the Laughing Fish Pub and so I sat here in the sunshine. The Isfield station gives access to what remains of the track towards Uckfield. There is just one stop and that is Worth Halt. The cafe is open when the line is running.

Back up the road, take the bridleway to White Bridge that stands astride the Ouse. I stood upon it before joining the Sussex Ouse Valley Way on the near side. I watched the sheep on the far side of the river as they watched me. You are walking through the grounds of the Boathouse Campsite. I have stayed here and just a bit further, under the redundant railway bridge, is the Anchor Inn. Later in the year, you can take canoes on this stretch.

Cross the river after the pub and immediately follow the west bank and go through the gate. Stay with the river and cross it again to join a very wet section of this path between the reservoir and the river. The dogs were a lot more excited to see me than I was about the watery mud. Pillboxes appear on the bank near to Barcombe Mills. This area is popular with paddle boarders and I saw a couple. Cross and exit onto the Barcombe Mills Road and take the path at the pillbox on the left. Stay with the fenceline and cross the line of another dismantled railway. You are now also on quite a straight and flat section of the Greenwich Meridian Trail that runs past Cowlease Farm. To the left, you can see the quarries on Malling Down. In the middle is Hamsey church and to the right is Offham and its quarries. Join Whitfeld Lane and make your way to Hamsey Church on an Island on the bend of the Ouse. It is open at the weekends only. Back down, rejoin the river. This path was not open last time I looked and so I enjoyed being able to follow it to Chalk Pit Cut, where you leave the trail and go under the present railway.

Join the byway on the far side of the railway and go north into Offham. At the A275, go left and then cross the road to footpath directly up the hill. This is open access and so stick with the path nearest the road. You'll thank me in a moment. The old quarries are awash with wildflowers in the Summer. The late afternoon light and warmth desired that I should sit and look out at where I'd walked. The sun picked up the twists and turns of the river. I drank the last of my water and let my throbbing feet relax. When you are ready, continue up to the next pit where dramatic cliffs give way to views of Malling Down. Now switch back on yourself and follow the path round to the bridleways. Take the more northern one, by the wooded slope and follow this to the beacon on Mount Harry.

It is now a straightforward walk to Blackcap and the trig point and across Plumpton Plain on the South Downs Way. Views are on both sides of the ridge. Continue westward until you hit Ditchling Bostall and the car park. Cross over and continue to the trig point on the left. After this, bear right on the footpath to take the steepish descent to Beacon Road. This road will take you comfortably into Ditchling, via the verge.

Go west at the roundabout, go up the steps to the church and descend again on the left to pass the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft. Turn right onto Lodge Hill Lane to Oldlands Windmill. Keep going north on Oldlands Lane and turn right onto Ockley Lane. Take care on this stretch and cross over. Go left at the Burgess Hill sign and through the gate at the water tower. You are at Batchelors Farm. Descend west over the footbridge on the obvious path. Once through the gate, you'll be on the classic railway bridge to wave at trains.

I'd watched the sun set in a purple duvet on Lodge Hill and so it was now much to late for the drivers to pick out my silhouetted form. Cross the bridge and turn right to join Wingletye Road. Turn right on to Chanctonbury Road, cross the car park after the playground and you'll see the station on your right.

I was very short of food at home but I couldn't face a supermarket run. We proceeded to eat anything left in the house.