Hever to Ashurst Walk

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Walk Map

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Walk Options

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13. Main Walk (16½ km)

1. Short Walk 1, starting from Cowden (12½ km)
2. Short Walk 2, finishing at Cowden (11½ km)

Walk Directions

Click on any section heading to switch between detailed directions and an outline, or the heading above to switch all sections.

If you are doing Short Walk 1 from Cowden station, start at §E.

1. Hever Station to Christmas Mill (2¾ km)
• Leave the station from the London-bound platform and take a new footpath across several large fields to Lydens Lane, skirting the buildings at Lydens Farm. Turn left and go along the lane to the B2026. Cross the road and continue on a footpath heading south-west to the large pond at Christmas Mill.
1. Arriving from London, do not exit through the station car park but cross the footbridge to the other platform and take a fenced path sloping up the bank. At the top turn sharp right (almost doubling back) onto a narrow path through some undergrowth. Go through a metal kissing gate into a large irregularly-shaped field and continue near its right-hand edge, aiming for a waymarker post in the copse 250m ahead.

   In 2023 the right of way from the station to Lydens Lane was diverted away from the cluster of houses at Lydens Farm, where it used to take an intrusive route through the grounds of an oast house and barn conversion.

2. At the post bear slightly left, now aiming for a pair of small metal gates 350m away on the far side of the field (to the left of a metal fieldgate). Go through these gates (crossing a farm track in between) and keep ahead down a sloping field, passing the buildings of Lydens Farm off to the left. At the bottom go through a small metal gate in the hedge and turn left onto a minor road (Lydens Lane).
3. Go along this quiet lane for 800m to a T-junction with the B2026. Cross the main road carefully and go over a stile to continue on a grassy track between hedges. At the end go over another stile and turn half-right to go along the bottom of a large field, maintaining direction where the hedge bends right after 200m. Continue on a fenced track along the bottom of the next field.
4. At the end go over an unobtrusive stile to the right of a metal fieldgate and cross a lane. Go through a small metal gate and continue along the right-hand edge of three more fields. In the third field follow a grassy path round to the left to the top corner (ignoring an exit in the bottom corner and a gate into a private garden). Go past an oak tree and over a stile to come out onto a lane at a bend.
2. Christmas Mill to Crippenden Manor (2 km)
• Head south alongside the large pond, up a slope and down the driveway to Ockhams. Turn left by a pair of smaller ponds onto a footpath heading south-east, up through fields and then just inside the edge of a wood. Continue southwards between Shernden Wood and Cobhambury Wood, then down through a field to reach the driveway to Crippenden Manor.
1. Turn left onto the lane to go uphill, with glimpses of a large old mill pond behind the trees on your right. Where the lane turns left keep ahead on the driveway to “Ockhams”, signposted as a footpath and going gently downhill. At the bottom of the slope, where the drive goes between two ponds, turn left over a stile beside a large oak tree to go alongside the smaller pond, heading SE.
2. At the end of the pond continue in the same direction, going gently uphill across a field. On the far side go across a concrete driveway flanked by two stiles into the next field. Keep ahead on a faint grassy path, gradually approaching a wire fence on the right.

   The footpath has been diverted so that it no longer cuts through the grounds of a private property off to the right.

3. Go through a gap in the hedge ahead and continue around two sides of the wire fence, rejoining the original footpath route in the far corner. Go through a gap into a wood and follow a path along its left-hand edge. At the end go over a stile and a plank bridge into a field and turn sharp right to go along its edge.
4. Go through a gap in the fence ahead and stay near the right-hand side of a long narrow field between two woods, still climbing gently and gradually curving round to the left. At the brow of the hill go through a new metal gate in a deer fence and continue along the right-hand field edge.
5. In the next corner go through a similar gate and keep ahead down a broad grassy strip, with a new wire fence on the left and later a copse. Ignore a gate on the left into those trees but go through a metal fieldgate ahead onto a short track, then out through another fieldgate onto the driveway to Crippenden Manor.
3. Crippenden Manor to Leighton Manor (1¼ km)
• Turn right and follow the drive uphill to the Equestrian Centre. Turn left in front of the house onto a footpath going downhill and turn right onto a bridleway in a wooded valley.
  • Alternatively, turn left onto the drive and bear right onto this bridleway, bypassing the Equestrian Centre.
  Follow the bridleway through the valley, then take a footpath heading east over a hill and down to the driveway to Leighton Manor.
1. Unless you want to take a short cut which bypasses the manor house, turn right onto the driveway. This curves round to the left and goes up a slope to the Equestrian Centre.
   • For a short cut (which avoids a potentially muddy exit from the Equestrian Centre) you can turn left onto the driveway instead, then in 50m bear right onto a bridleway alongside a wooden fence into a wooded valley; the main route rejoins from the right after 200m. If you take this short cut (saving 250m), resume the directions at [?].
2. On the suggested route you pass some riding stables at the top of the slope and come to an electrically-operated wooden gate across the driveway. Press the ‘Gate Release’ button on a post to enter a small landscaped area. At a path junction in front of a pond veer left to head E, passing a footpath signpost and some more stables to reach a metal fieldgate at the top of a large sloping field.
3. Go through the gate and follow a faint grassy path down the slope towards the right-hand field edge (with a good view of Crippenden Manor? over your right shoulder). Continue down the field edge to the bottom corner. Ignore a fieldgate off to the right and go over a concealed stile onto a short path which crosses a stream on a wooden footbridge. At a T-junction turn right onto a bridleway, the short cut mentioned above.
4. Take the bridleway through the wooded valley for 200m, eventually veering left to cross a stream on a wide brick bridge. On the other side do not follow the bridleway round to the left but keep ahead through a small metal gate on a footpath which climbs steeply uphill, heading E. At the top of the hill pass to the right of an oak tree and go through another gate into a second field.
5. Go straight across this field and through a gate in the middle of the far side. Turn half-right as indicated to find a gate near the bottom right-hand corner. Follow a path down and across a stream on a wooden footbridge. On the other side veer right up a short slope and go across the driveway to Leighton Manor.
4. Leighton Manor to Cowden (village) (2 km)
• Turn right onto a footpath going over another low hill and through a wooded valley. At the end turn left onto the Sussex Border Path, passing Waystrode Manor. Continue along Spode Lane and North Street into Cowden village. Turn right onto the High Street for The Fountain pub.
1. Go through a metal gate and continue up the right-hand side of a large field, with a fence and trees on your right almost completely screening the landscaped grounds of Leighton Manor? in the valley below. At the top of the slope, where the fence turns half-right, bear left and follow a faint grassy path across the field, passing an isolated tree in the middle.
2. On the far side go through a small metal gate, 10m to the left of a more obvious high metal gate. Follow a clear path down to the right, through a wood. At the bottom of the slope the path crosses a stream on a plank footbridge and continues along the valley floor.

   Wood chippings have been laid along much of this woodland path, but you might still have to pick your way around some waterlogged sections.

3. Eventually the path climbs gently and comes to a three-way junction with a marker post where you turn left, joining the Sussex Border Path? (SBP). The path soon veers right up a short flight of steps and leaves the wood through a wooden gate.
4. Keep ahead along a tarmac driveway, passing ponds on your left and the entrance to the picturesque Waystrode Manor? on your right. At the end go through a gate and continue in the same direction along a road (Spode Lane), taking care as there is no pavement.
5. In 300m the road turns right and becomes North Street as it enters the village of Cowden. In a further 200m you come to a T-junction with its attractive High Street, with the parish church just off to the left. For the village pub turn right, away from the church and leaving the SBP. Follow the road round a left-hand bend and downhill to find The Fountain on the right.
   • If you are not visiting the lunchtime pub you could head straight for the churchyard, which is the route out of the village.

Continue the directions at §G.

5. Cowden Station to The Moat (2 km)
• From the station, take the minor road up Blowers Hill and turn right into Wickens Lane. At the end continue on the footpath along the hillside and down to Sandfields Farm. Turn right onto Moat Lane.

The first 500m are the same as Walk #78.

1. From the single platform? exit through (or around) the ticket hall, turn right and take the left-hand of two ways out to a minor road. Go uphill on this road for 100m, then turn right into Wickens Lane, signposted as a public footpath. Go all the way along this lane, ignoring several driveways off to the left including (after 400m) the one signposted as a footpath taken by Walk #78.
2. At the end of the lane keep ahead past a few buildings and a yard on a farm track, climbing gently. Just before this goes into a wood veer right onto a short grassy track leading to a double metal fieldgate. Go over a stile to its left and continue along the top edge of a large field, curving round to the left and with fine Wealden views off to the right.
3. On the far side go over a stile in the hedge and bear slightly left across the next field, climbing gently towards the far left-hand corner. After going over a stile here the right of way curves round to the left, passing a sandstone rock outcrop and with more fine views, before turning right to go downhill on a farm track.
   • At the time of writing there was an unofficial diversion directing walkers down a broad grassy strip from the stile, then turning half-left across a field to join the farm track halfway down the hillside.
4. Follow the track down past the buildings of Sandfields Farm to a minor road (Moat Lane). Turn right onto this road, crossing the railway line on a high bridge. In 300m ignore a bridleway on the left and a footpath on the right to continue past “The Moat” and a few other large properties.
6. The Moat to Cowden (village) (2 km)
• Continue along the lane past Moat Farm, then bear left onto a footpath heading west across a farm field and meadows to the B2026. Cross the road and continue on the footpath to Cowden village. Go through the churchyard and along the High Street for The Fountain pub.
1. Continue along Moat Lane for a further 300m. After passing a converted oast house the road swings right and left, passes Moat Cottages and curves right. At this bend bear left onto a signposted footpath, going over a stile in the hedge to the right of a metal fieldgate. Go across a patch of grassland and over another stile into a large farm field.
2. If there is no clear path head W towards a waymarker post in front of a copse, 200m away. Bear left to continue alongside these trees, then turn half-left at the far end of the copse. As you go across the rest of this field towards a gate a couple of houses come into view, 400m ahead.
3. You will be coming out onto a road by the house on the right, but a footpath waymarker on the gate points slightly left because the right of way takes an indirect route across two meadows. Unless there are notices to the contrary, however, it is much simpler to follow a clear grassy path straight ahead, going through a gap between the meadows halfway along. Continue alongside the house's garden fence and go out through a metal kissing gate onto the B2026.
4. Cross the road carefully and take the signposted footpath just off to the right, an enclosed path which goes past the grounds of a house set back from the road. At the end go through a metal gate and continue in the same direction across a field. On the far side go through a small gate and down a wooded bank. Cross a stream on a long wooden footbridge and go back out through a gate into another field.
5. Follow a grassy path near the right-hand field edge. The right of way is over an awkward stile in the corner and then through some trees into an open valley, but in practice the grassy path leads to a fieldgate where you can go straight onto a grassy track through the valley. In 100m veer left through a gap in the tree boundary and cross a stream on a footbridge.
6. Continue up the right-hand side of a field, climbing steadily. At the top go through a gate and along an enclosed path beside a small cemetery, Cowden's New Burial Ground. At the end there is a junction of paths, with the path ahead leading into the churchyard.
   • The bridleway on the left is the route out of the village, so if you are not visiting the lunchtime pub you could resume the directions at [?] in §G.
7. For the village pub, follow the path past the south door of St Mary Magdalene? (which is worth visiting) to an exit on the far side. Bear right onto a side street, then turn left to go along the attractive High Street. …
7. Cowden (village) to Kent Water (¾ km)
• Leave the village on the path through the churchyard and take the bridleway heading south-east down to a path junction in front of Kent Water.
  
1. From the pub you need to retrace your steps up the High Street and go past the junction with North Street. Enter the churchyard and … in the far corner, where there are paths on either side of a wooden gate into the New Burial Ground.
2. Take the bridleway to the right of the cemetery, a broad grassy path between a wooden fence and a brick wall. At the end go through a gate and keep ahead down the grassy border of a large field, heading SE.
3. At the bottom go over a stile beside a wooden fieldgate and cross a ditch on a wide concrete bridge. Keep ahead across a meadow for 60m, where there is a bridge on the right across Kent Water?.

If you are doing Short Walk 2 to Cowden station, go to §L.


8. Kent Water to the A264 (1¾ km)
• Turn right to cross Kent Water, and turn right again to follow the Sussex Border Path across a couple of fields and onto Sweetwoods Park Golf Course. At a path junction turn left onto a footpath heading south and then south-east as it climbs through Heathersome's Wood. At the top of the hill go across a large field to the A264.
1. Cross the bridge into East Sussex, briefly (re)joining the Sussex Border Path? (SBP). On the other side immediately turn right again onto a grassy path across a meadow, with the picturesque Sussex House Farm? away to your left.
2. After passing to the right of a large ornamental pond go over a stile next to a wooden fieldgate. Keep ahead on a grassy path across another meadow, passing to the right of an isolated tree. On the far side go over a stile in the hedge onto Sweetwoods Park Golf Course.

   You might come across a notice asking walkers to “keep to public footpath” but there is very little waymarking on the golf course to help you comply with this injunction.

3. Keep ahead on the left-hand side of a grassy strip dotted with trees, between two fairways. At the end go through a narrow gap in the hedge ahead and immediately turn left, leaving the SBP (with the path junction indicated by a low footpath marker post). Go alongside the hedge and then bear slightly right as you go up and across a sloping fairway, watching out for golfers playing from left to right.
4. The continuation of the right of a way is an unobtrusive path through the undergrowth on the far side. In 100m this footpath emerges into a more open area, with a green and two lakes down to the right. Go past an elevated tee on the left and follow a faint path into the trees ahead.
5. In 25m you cross a ditch and the path – such as it is – bends slightly right to go past some holly trees. In a further 25m the path swings left and starts to climb gently through Heathersome's Wood, soon merging with another path from the right. You now simply follow this potentially muddy path for about 400m, climbing steadily and heading roughly SE.
6. Shortly after the path levels out at the top of the wood fork left at a Y-junction (where the right fork leads back onto the golf course). Leave the wood through a wooden gate with a yellow waymarker and continue along the right-hand edge of a large field, heading S.
7. The exit from this field is over a stile in the hedge about 100m in from the far corner, a little way to the right of a metal fieldgate. Just before the corner you can follow a grassy path curving round to the left. Go over the stile onto the grass verge beside the A264.
9. The A264 to Perryhill Orchards (2 km)
• Cross the main road and take the footpath heading south-east to the corner of Broomland Wood, then south across fields. Continue on the footpath through Coomb Wood, later merging with a bridleway from Chantler's Farm. Follow this as it heads south-east along a track to Bolebroke Castle, then out along its driveway to the Orchard Tea Room by the B2026.
1. Cross this busy main road carefully and take the signposted footpath to the left of the driveway to Chantler's Farm. This grassy woodland path curves left and later veers right in front of a wooden fence surrounding a large pond. Follow the path alongside the fence, then go over a stile into the corner of a field.
2. Turn half-right as indicated, heading roughly S and aiming for a metal fieldgate in the tree boundary on the far side. Go through a wooden kissing gate to its left and continue alongside a wire fence on the right-hand edge of the next field. Towards the end ignore a gate on the right and go all the way to the field corner, where a new metal kissing gate takes you into Coomb Wood.
3. Just inside the wood fork left onto a straight path heading roughly SSW, ignoring some other paths apparently used by a scout group. This well-defined path descends and later bends left to head S, merging with another path from the right as it follows the course of a stream in a gully down to the right.
4. After going through the wood for 400m the footpath merges with a bridleway coming in from a field on the right and continues as a broad track heading SE. Where it swings round to the right after 400m keep ahead through a wooden gate with a blue waymarker, staying on the public bridleway.
5. Continue along a driveway, passing some large buildings behind the high brick wall on your left. After passing the Gatehouse (with cupolas) you come to a T-junction and turn left. At the next (right-hand) bend there is a clear view of Bolebroke Castle? and the other buildings in the grounds on your left.
6. Go along the driveway for a further 500m, past the landscaped grounds of the manor house and later with a large orchard behind a screen of poplars on the left. Shortly before reaching the B2026 you come to the modern Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop on your left, the last refreshment place before Ashurst station.
10. Perryhill Orchards to Beech Green Lane (1¼ km)
• Turn left briefly onto the B2026, then turn right into Perryhill Lane. At Perryhill Farm turn left onto a footpath going past Millwood Farm and along the top of a valley, then eastwards along a field edge to Beech Green Lane.
1. Go out to the B2026 and turn left onto the road, crossing over carefully at some point. In 75m turn right into a lane with a concrete bridleway marker. After passing some cottages the lane curves right and drops downhill. Fork left at a three-way junction and follow the lane over a stream, round to the left and uphill to the buildings of Perryhill Farm.
2. At the top go past a wooden fieldgate by Perryhill Oast and fork left in front of the large farmhouse onto a wide driveway leading up to Millwood Farm. Take the grassy track to the right of its entrance and go through an old metal fieldgate to continue along a narrow enclosed path.
3. At the end go through a small metal gate and bear left across the corner of a field. Go through another small gate and continue along the top edge of a steeply-sloping field, with a line of tall poplars on the right (and a bench at the far end where you could pause to take in the view back towards Ashdown Forest).
4. In the field corner go through a gate onto a short path through a belt of trees. At the end go past a metal barrier into a large field and bear right to go along its edge, heading E with a prominent house (Beech Green Park) 500m away to the left. In the next corner go over a stile to the left of a metal fieldgate to come out onto a minor road (Beech Green Lane).
11. Beech Green Lane to Ashurst Station (2¾ km)
• Cross the lane and follow a new right of way through parkland for 600m, heading north-east. After rejoining the original footpath continue eastwards across more parkland and fields to Lodgefield Farm. Cross a bridleway and follow the footpath down to the A264, turning right onto the main road. After passing under the railway turn right into the approach road to Ashurst station.
1. Cross the lane and go through a new metal kissing gate into a large area of (private) parkland. A footpath waymarker indicates that the right of way through it has been diverted, with at best a faint grassy path on the ground.

   The route for the next 600m is different from that shown on old OS maps.

2. Start by heading NE towards the right-hand edge of a fenced enclosure surrounding a group of trees 100m away. After skirting the enclosure (with a waymarker on one of the posts to confirm the route) bear slightly left, aiming to pass between two small clumps of trees about 100m ahead. On reaching them bear slightly right, aiming for a small metal gate in a wire fence stretching across the field 150m ahead, a little way off to the left of a metal fieldgate.
3. Go through this gate (with another footpath waymarker) and bear left, aiming to skirt a clump of trees surrounding a pond about 150m away. On reaching them bear right, aiming for a double metal fieldgate in the tree boundary ahead. Go through a metal side gate next to the fieldgate and briefly join a chalky farm track. Where it swings right keep ahead through a small metal gate into more parkland.
4. Keep ahead alongside a wood, with another large house (Highfields Park) away to the left. At the corner of the wood turn half-right to climb a slope. At the top go through a pair of small metal gates to come out onto the continuation of the farm track you encountered earlier, near the top of a large field. The right of way goes straight across the field to its far left-hand corner.

   There is no path on the ground and if there are cattle in the field you might prefer to walk along its top edge on the farm track.

5. Make your way to this corner, with fine views over the Medway valley to Ashdown Forest. Go through a small metal gate to the right of a fieldgate across the track onto a slightly sunken grassy track going gently downhill towards the buildings of Lodgefield Farm. At the bottom go through a new wooden gate and turn left onto a concrete driveway, then almost immediately – and opposite the end of the farm track – veer right down a flight of steps cut into the bank.
6. Keep ahead on a wide concrete track past some farm buildings. Go through a wooden side gate and follow a grassy path down a sloping field, curving to the left in a clump of trees. In the bottom left-hand corner go through a metal side gate to the left of a metal fieldgate onto a fenced path down the left-hand side of a another large meadow.
7. About 50m before the bottom corner turn left as indicated, crossing a ditch on a plank bridge. Follow a path through a copse and go over a stile next to a metal fieldgate into a lay-by on the A264. Turn right to walk carefully along the narrow grass verge beside this busy main road.
8. Shortly before going under a railway bridge you cross the River Medway, returning to Kent. Ignore a footpath and a cul-de-sac on the right, then turn right into the signposted approach road to Ashurst station. At the back of its car park take the short path leading to Platform 2, for southbound trains to Uckfield; cross the footbridge to Platform 1 for trains to London.
12. Kent Water to Cowden Station (3 km)
• Head east on the Sussex Border Path for 1½ km, following the course of Kent Water and crossing the B2026 along the way. Turn left onto a bridleway going past Moat Farm and across Moat Lane. Continue on a footpath going up to and then alongside the railway embankment to Cowden station.
1. Ignore the bridge and carry on across the meadow, rejoining the Sussex Border Path? (SBP). In the far left-hand corner go over a stile next to a metal fieldgate and continue along the right-hand margin of another meadow. At the far end go through a gate and turn right onto the B2026, briefly crossing Kent Water into East Sussex.
2. Cross the road carefully and immediately turn left over a stile in the hedge, to the left of a driveway. Go across a yard and through a small metal gate with a footpath waymarker into a horse training area. In the far left-hand corner go through a wooden fieldgate and back across Kent Water on a footbridge. You now simply follow an enclosed path beside large farm fields for nearly 1 km, never far from the tree-lined stream on your right.
3. The path eventually comes to a metal footbridge where you cross Kent Water again. Turn left at a bridleway T-junction to immediately recross the stream, leaving the SBP. Keep ahead on a wide grassy strip between a hedge and a fence, later passing a cluster of farm buildings off to your left. The bridleway turns half-left and you go through a metal gate onto a minor road (Moat Lane).
4. Cross Moat Lane and take the signposted footpath opposite, going over a stile next to an old fieldgate and making your way around a sheepfold into a large field. The OS map shows the right of way as heading slightly left over a low hill, but in practice it is easier to follow a faint grassy path towards the tree boundary on the right and continue around the field edge to the far corner.
5. In the corner go over a stile in a wooden fence and keep ahead across a smaller field. In the next corner follow the path into the trees and round to the right. Go through a metal gate, across a stream on a footbridge and under a high railway bridge. Go through another gate and turn left as indicated onto a short path, crossing a potentially muddy area on planks and going over a stile into the corner of a large field.
6. Continue along the bottom edge of this field, parallel to the railway. At the far end go through a new metal kissing gate, taking care as you come out directly onto a road. The station access road is just off to the right. If the ticket hall is locked you can go past it to get onto the single platform?.

   The platform is used by trains in both directions, so be careful not to take an Uckfield-bound train by mistake. These are scheduled to go through seven minutes before the London train, which is going from left to right.

Walk Notes

1. Crippenden Manor was built in 1607 by Richard Tichbourne, a local ironmaster. It is now part of a large Equestrian Centre.
2. Leighton Manor was originally a late medieval farmhouse but the property has been extensively modernised, with some attractive landscaped grounds and lakes.
3. The Sussex Border Path runs for 240 km along the length of West & East Sussex, from Thorney Island on the Hampshire border to Rye.
4. Waystrode Manor is a restored 15^thC farmhouse, with later additions. The gardens of this private house are occasionally open to the public.
5. A wall plaque commemorates the victims of the Cowden rail crash, a fatal accident in October 1994. Five people died when a northbound train passed a red signal in thick fog and collided head-on with another train on the single-track section to the south-east of the station.
6. St Mary Magdalene, Cowden dates from the 13^thC. A traditional couplet (reputedly about a dispute with another parish) refers to its slightly skewed spire: Cowden church, crooked steeple / Lying priest, deceitful people. A modern stained glass window celebrates “the remarkable preservation of this village during the years 1939-45”.
7. At this point Kent Water (a tributary of the River Medway) is the county boundary between Kent (to the north) and East Sussex.
8. Sussex House Farm was originally a timber-framed house dating from 1580 but was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 21^stC.
9. The 15^thC Bolebroke Castle was one of the earliest brick buildings in Sussex. Conveniently close to Hever Castle, it was used as a hunting lodge by Henry Ⅷ during his pursuit of Anne Boleyn (and featured in the 2008 film The Other Boleyn Girl). It has been extensively restored in the 21^stC.

» Last updated: July 15, 2024

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