5 off the train, plus about 100 female juveniles with large backpacks also alighting, either returning from a school trip or going on to a long-ish DofE walk. 2 of our 5 were there mainly because of the length of the walk (and the LDWA offerings for the day not appealing to them).

We quickly got going, if only to get away from the hubub, and were full of suspense regarding the muddiness of the inital descent out of Grinstead. This can be soul-destroying, especially since a lot of the r-o-w have been fenced-in in the last years, but was just about navigable today.

The rewards were swathes of wild garlic in flower along the streams in the valley bottom, assisted by the first of enormous amounts of bluebells. The first 3/4 of the route are lined with woods full of bluebells, some with some, many with loads, a lot with bluebells everywhere. They're also on road verges, earth banks, in woodland clearings and gardens. Some magnificent displays amongst those places, none better though in my opinion than the very long earth bank/road verge enwrapped by bluebells en route to Broadhurst Manor.

Else we saw one last small stand of wood anemones (roadside), loads of greater stitchwort, cowslips, garlic mustard in flower, forget-me-nots galore, a few rape oil seed fields in mild yellow, geraniums, azaleas and rhododendrons in colour (including the brightest neon pink azalea I have ever seen), a couple of deer 40m off path (staring at us, staring at them), pheasants, partridges, lambs, very young calves.

We did not see the steam train along the Bluebell Line, but we heard its whistle numerous times. Missed it by about 5 minutes when we crossed the line just before the Sloop Inn, I reckon.

1 of the walkers is notorious to fall back deliberately right from the start so he can walk on his own, and he did just that. The 4 of us stayed together to Horsted Keynes (where we passed a wedding party at the church, just as bride and groom were walking out), where 2 lunched at The Crown (a nice piece of venison was had), and 2 picnicked. Walker 5 went into The Green Man, we learned later.

On to the Sloop Inn, where we paused for hot drinks. Walker 5 was spotted walking past and we soon caught him and finished the walk together, apart from 1 walker who further along had a lie-down in a field in the sun to rest his back.

Fine views of the South Downs on the finishing stretch, with the late afternoon sun producing some fine shadows on the spines of them. At World's End (which is what the part of Burgess Hill is called that Wivelsfield station is in), we just missed the 18.11/.14 trains, so had time for a quick drink at The Watermill before the 18.41/.44 trains to Victoria/London Bridge respectively. 19.11 for the guy lieing down in the field. Mud: not too bad (for the area). Bluebells and other flowers: magnificent. Weather: sunny with a cold wind

Hi I’m interested in this walk but am struggling to find any viable shorter finish points with the walk scheduled for a Sunday. 1: Is it realistic to aim for 18:08 if you are not a very fast walker. 2 The Sheffield Park finish is not possible because the bluebell train is either sold out or not running on the day. 3. Would you recommend trying to walk from the Sloop Inn to Haywards heath station and maybe find a bus if lucky on the way back. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks Karan

Hi,

'tis tight: that bus stop cuts about half an hour of walking, meaning - with an hour for lunch or other stops - you may make it, or you may not. my net walking time uses Naismith's Formula (pace of 5 km/h on the flat + an extra 10 mins for every 100m of ascent), but only you know whether you are faster or slower than that.

Hi Thomas. I know I am not able to average a pace of 5km/h so will assess my options at the Sloop pub. Would anyone know the walking time (approx) from the pub to Wivelsfield station. Thanks

I did the part of this from Horsted Keynes to Wivelsfield yesterday and after the Sloop pub it became fairly muddy. I was following the GPS and there was one slightly disconcerting bit where after crossing a stile into a field the way onwards was blocked with two lines of tape cutting a diagonal across the corner of the field. I was initially concerned it might be electrified, but went under the tape without any problems. Then carrying on there was something similar after another few minutes, this time cutting the field in two, but easy to tred the bottom tape down and go through the middle. Soon after that there was another stile with a footpath sign so I'm fairly sure I was on the correct route and it matched the gps also. Looking at the instructions now, it's the bit after the solar panel:

"In 50m turn left at the bottom of the wood and in 25m go over a stile into a pasture and continue along its left-hand boundary"

I was in a hurry but the pasture was very churned up so at this point it might be worth seeing if there was a way through the wood just to the left of the field boundary instead.

My train from East Croydon might be few minutes late. Please wait for me. Thank you

I have only a slightly obscure report in from my man on the ground: 5 walkers in unreported weather. A cuckoo was heard and a town hall clock plant (me neither) spotted.

2 took a shortcut after the late lunch pub.

Here's more, from one of the short cutters:

Two took an earlier train and started out 20 minutes ahead of the other three. Two at the front took a wrong turn but got back on track. Two were walking to the recommended Crown Inn lunch stop in Horsted Keynes, when the other three (who had overtaken during the wrong turn) shouted out from the alternative lunch stop the Green Man, which was a particularly hospitable venue.

The five continued together, with the two early starters then catching a pre-booked station taxi at the Sloop Inn near Haywards Heath; and the other three continuing for the full walk. Very soon after The Sloop Inn a strong hail storm started.

Bursts of moderate rain throughout the day, with drizzle and cloud otherwise. One strong burst of hail as mentioned. Several muddy sections made for a more challenging walk. Not many other walkers seen today.

On a side note getting out at East Grinstead walkers noticed vintage green buses in town for the annual Classic Bus Running Day.

Swc short cutter 2 here supplementary points: Inspired by the many London Marathon runners on the public transport network I undertook this walk taking the 8:51 from Victoria to East Grinstead. The walk was very muddy in places but worth it. Group cohesion 11/10. Many thanks to short cutter 1 (my brother) who although walks much faster than I, took it easy to walk at around 4:00 km per hour. Unfortunately he did get lost along the way (a stewards enquiry is ongoing between him and the writer of the walk directions). Post lunch and having meet 3 other walkers the pace increased and was extremely fast. I was grateful to reach my intended target destination for the day and had mixed emotions as a large hailstorm hit the area. Commendable effort to those who did the full walk.

Hello there,

Anyone up for the whole 31k this Saturday?

Sorry not sure why it shows as Anonymous :)

Right now, comfortably sat on my chair, I'm in!Let's see how I feel after 27 km...

Ok cool, same here :)

Hi. Is the mud on the East Grinstead descent unavoidable? Thanks.

I will stick my neck out and say there won't be any mud to speak of. It is early September. Mud does not get serious until late October. At this time of year you can get a teeny bit of surface mud immediately after rain, but only a teeny bit.

Thank you, Walker. Are the 5.9 miles of tarmac/concrete in one or two chunks?

Just 5 intrepid souls (incl. 1 first-timer) up for this today in perfect walking weather , namely mostly sunny with some passing clouds and a very gentle breeze.

Plenty of mushrooms were out in the woods of the morning section, with one of the Italian contingent insisting that plenty of them were porcini, so a bag full were collected. We got to HK just after 13.00, and as one walker was already "starving", we obviously had to stop, and the Crown Inn had avails and some fine food. On to the Sloop Inn for tea & coffee, through more woods and gentle pastures, after that through Chailey Common, which was all bracken, birch, gorse and heather, with the heather a little subdued, but it still made for some good colours all in. The South Downs views on the remaining stretch were fewer than in the past on account of tree foliage, but still quite enjoyable against the mainly blue sky.

Mud? Paths were mainly rock-hard and streams low to dry, but the East Grinstead descent never disappoints: the very last bit, where it crosses a few streams, you guessed it: mud. On one stretch unpleasant enough sto divert through trees to get around that section.

At Wivelsfield Station in time for the 18.14, which 1 took, the other 4 decamped into the garden of the (re-opened) Watermill Inn (a G&T for £3.95!!!). A nice day in very fine company.

I rather like the sound of this one. See you @ East Grinstead :)

Also, how steep is this notoriously muddy section? Just wondering if it'd be useful to bring the poles for stabilisation.

Not steep, but longish. Between fences, no further need for stabilisation tools.

Noted, ta.

8 walkers set off eager to check out how muddy the descent from Grinstead would be, and it wasn't too bad to be honest, certainly easier to negotiate than a few weeks back, the mud was even kind of firmish. Once we crossed the Medway, the area lived up to the name of the train line running through it: there were bluebells everywhere. Only one wood was without, all else had carpets or at least pockets thick with the beasties. Street verges, field boundaries, open meadows, the banks of streambeds, nothing was spared. We went about the route at quite some pace considering the often muddy ground, so that when we got to Horsted Keynes (after checking out Macmillan's grave) we decided to skip past the pubs there and march on to The Sloop Inn. Just as we were about to cross under the railway line we heard a train whistle in the near distance and waited a few minutes for the steam train to pass our spot, and then got to the pub at 14.15. Only 2 lunched (very nice meals we had) but all others waited.

One walker then chose the Sheffield Park Ending to spare his Achilles tendon more stress, the others enjoyed the now (nearly) bluebell-free heaths near Chailey and the South Downs views further along and got the 18.21 train from Wivelsfield.

3 other walkers started later and walked the Forest Row to Sheffield Park variant. A separate report may follow.

In total therefore 11 in overcast but dry throughout weather.

Yes, 3 (including 2 novices) did probably stretch the term of "late-starter" to the latest possible...actually starting at Horsted Keynes Station. After a brief warm-up, we had a good lunch in Horsted Keynes village and enjoyed numerous bluebell, wild garlic and steam train displays en route to Sheffield Park....