High Weald landscape trail

A 90 mile (145 km) waymarked route, which crosses the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) between Horsham in the west and Rye in the east. The walk between East Grinstead and Horsham in West Sussex forms the western part of this route. Approximately 35 miles (58 km) long, it can be walked over a 3 to 6 day period depending on the amount of time spent visiting attractions en route. The walk is divided into sections, at the beginning and end of which there is accommodation, public transport and village services such as shops and toilets. A guidebook entitled 'Along and Around the High Weald Landscape Trail', is available from bookshops and libraries.

Start/finish

• Horsham TQ 178 309 / Rye TQ 387 382.

For use by

• Walkers.

Nearest towns

• Horsham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Crawley.

Terrain

Can be wet and boggy in places, even in summer. Short sections are on narrow and enclosed lanes with no pavements. Wooded sections, heath, sandstone outcrops, rolling hills, small steep valleys, Drovers roads and banked pathways.

Average time to complete

• 3-6 days.

Highlights

Borde Hill Garden, High Beeches Gardens, Nymans Garden (National Trust), Priest House and Garden, Wakehurst Place, Standen house and Gardens, Bluebell Railway, Gravetye Manor, Cuckfield Museum, Sackville College, East Grinstead Town Museum, Horsham Museum and Ardingly Reservoir.

For details of these, and other places to visit, go to Visit Sussex

Transport

• Rail (Horsham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath)
• Road (A24, A264, A23, A22)
• Bus (Ardingly, Cuckfield, Bolney, Warninglid, Handcross, Horsham, East Grinstead)
• For details of public transport visit our public transport pages, or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

Maps

• OS 1:25,000 Explorer series: 134 Crawley and Horsham, 135 Ashdown Forest
• OS 1:50,000 Landranger series: 198 Brighton and the Downs, 187 Dorking, Reigate and Crawley and don't forget to visit the iMap.

More information

Sections of the walk can be combined to create a weekend walk. For example:

• Day 1: Walk from Haywards Heath Station to Ardingly, visiting Wakehurst Place in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Ardingly.
• Day 2: Walk to West Hoathly with a stop at the Priest House Museum in the morning. Walk to East Grinstead in the afternoon. Train from East Grinstead or return via bus to Haywards Heath.

Or:

• Day 1: Circular Walk 2 starting from Balcombe Station and visiting Wakehurst Place. Overnight stay in Balcombe.
• Day 2: Circular Walk 3 starting from Balcombe and visiting Nymans Gardens. Return on train from Balcombe.

Other useful information

• Several shorter, circular walks can be created using parts of the trail.
• Leaflet: Download from our publications page or phone 01243 642119

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