After a fairly flat start across the valley of the River Rother, this is a classic Wealden walk - a hilly mix of pasture and woodland, fine panoramic views across valleys, a succession of converted oast houses, a cobnut orchard, and the typical Wealden villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst. The route also passes very close to the shore of the beautiful Bewl Water reservoir and there is an optional extra loop (see Walk Options below) which takes you down to hidden places on its shoreline.
Etchingham to Wadhurst via Ticehurst walk
Hilly Wealden landscapes, ancient villages and Bewl Water reservoir
History
This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.
Date | Option | Post | # | Weather |
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Sat, 02-Nov-24 | Etchingham to Wadhurst for Fireworks | |||
Sat, 16-Sep-23 | Etchingham to Wadhurst - A gentle Wealden walk | 24 | sunny | |
Sat, 05-Mar-22 | Robertsbridge or Etchingham to Wadhurst | 11 | smirr becoming dry but overcast | |
Sun, 25-Jul-21 | Etchingham to Wadhurst | 3 | cloudy then wet | |
Sat, 29-Aug-20 | Etchingham to Wadhurst - a variable length walk in the Weald | 7 | overcast becoming sunny with occasional clouds | |
Sat, 02-Nov-19 | Robertsbridge or Etchingham to Wadhurst - but sadly NO BONFIRE due to adverse weather conditions | 12 | Strong wind and heavy rain | |
Sat, 02-Jun-18 | Robertsbridge or Etchingham to Wadhurst - The High Weald in High Spring | 22 | hot sun | |
Sun, 25-Feb-18 | Etchingham to Wadhurst | 4 | unbroken sunshine | |
Sat, 05-Aug-17 | – The High Weald and Bewl Water | 16 | Mainly dry with a couple of sharp showers in the afternoon | |
Sun, 25-Sep-16 | 1: Etchingham to Wadhurst | |||
Sat, 07-Nov-15 | Saturday Second Walk - Wadhurst bonfire and fireworks | 17 | bloody awful in the morning wet and windy then drier in the afternoon | |
Sun, 02-Aug-15 | 2 – Etchingham to Wadhurst | 11 | very hot and sunny | |
Sun, 08-Feb-15 | Etchingham to Wadhurst | 11 | ||
Sat, 22-Mar-14 | a | Etchingham to Wadhurst, with first Bewl Water loop | 32 | |
Sat, 22-Mar-14 | d | Robertsbridge to Wadhurst |
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Sat, 16-Sep-23
In those days, heroes walked the earth…Four super-tough guys (and girls) got off the 9.08 train to Robertsbridge and deftly negotiated the longer start to arrive exactly as the rest of the group were emerging from Etchingham station. 20 of them - the best turnout I have seen in ages - so 24 in all.
The rest of the morning was very pleasant - sunny - and passed agreeably in varied chat. In Ticehurst some picnicked in the churchyard and at least one planned to catch the bus, which I hope she did.
At least 14 of us carried on to the Bull pub in Three-Legged Cross, where we easily got tables in the garden, and were equally easily allowed to order food at the bar. What a super establishment this is, the staff so friendly, the kitchen so quick. All pub staff should serve an apprenticeship here.
After lunch most resumed the main walk but five let themselves be inveigled by me into doing the first of the three Bewl Water loops, a task made even more heroic by the fact that having done it, I decided it was not really worth including in the walk anymore. (ie I plan to delete it).
We then carried on to the second and third loops, which are much better. We had a lovely walk along the reservoir, watching yachts sail and greylag geese fly squawking through the air, and only wishing we could have a swim.
In Wadhurst, we went to the Hart Inn and then discussed dinner options. We decided to go to London Bridge to seek food there, and bought wine for the train. We then had a tranquil walk down the back lanes. The Robertsbridge starters thus completed the full 16.8 mile route and the Etchingham ones 14.3 miles, the maximum possible walk under the current (soon to be reduced) walk directions.
In the end we did not go to London Bridge but to Waterloo. There five of us had excellent Thai food in Marie’s cafe. All in all, an outstanding day out
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Wed, 02-Mar-22
A third possible tea option in Wadhurst (also closing at 4:30) is the recently-opened La Petite France in the old NatWest bank building virtually opposite the Greyhound. The cuisine is self-evident from the name, and it gets good reviews for its coffee, cheeses, meats and wines.
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Wed, 02-Mar-22
Ah yes, Brian: thanks for pointing this out. The tea places in Wadhurst have changed a bit. I updated them last November for the Wadhurst via Bewl Water Circular, but forgot to do the same for this walk. See the Wadhurst via Bewl Water home page for the latest. This link might work
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/wadhurst-via-bewl-water-circular/
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Sun, 06-Mar-22
11 off the train at Etchingham for a stroll across the High Weald in smirr becoming dry but overcast on a day when the area lived up to its reputation for thick, gloopy, slippery mud which was our companion for much of the way. Greetings over, we set off undaunted, but carefully, across some very boggy fields to cross the railway line into Foxhole Wood and up to Sheepstreet Lane. The gentle but steady climb up to Ticehurst spread the group out a little, and though four of us picnicked in the porch of St Mary the Virgin, others presumably walked on to The Bull at Three Leg Cross. Certainly, a quick recce in the Bell Inn Ticehurst showed no signs of our company.
Lunch over, we carried on towards Wadhurst, encountering some very tricky mudslides but also some very welcome shows of daffodils, snowdrops and primroses. The spire of Wadhurst church, like that at Ticehurst, was visible several miles away and led as unerringly to the deepest and gloopiest mud bath of the entire walk (I'm talking over the top of boots here) but rewarded the walker with a cunningly concealed tap on its southern wall with which to wash off most of the mud enabling an acceptable entrance to the Greyhound which provided a well-kept pint of Harvey's Sussex best. Reports welcome on other establishments, including La Petite France, if anyone tried it.
Length: 16.9km (10.5 miles)
Difficulty 5/10 hilly but gentle
This classic Wealden walk is a mix of pasture and woodland, fine panoramic views, oast houses, a cobnut orchard, and the villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst. Optional loops take you past Bewl Water reservoir
Train: 9:45 Hastings train from Charing Cross, (London Bridge 9:54) arriving Etchingham 11:11.
Return trains xx:29 xx:00 from Wadhurst. Get a return to Etchingham.
Lunch
You first encounter the Bell in Ticehust 01580 200234, due to reopen on the 20th. It’s quirky. Garden's quirky, decor's quirky. There's another untried pub nearby, the Chequers – and a churchyard that would do for picnics.
The recommended pub is the Bull Inn in Three Legged Cross 01580 200 586, a further 1.1km. Open 12-6. In these days of covid you might do well to bring snacks and carry water just in case.
Tea
There are two pubs in Wadhurst. The Greyhound 01892 783224, and the White Hart 01892 782850. Note that it is still quite a trek from Wadhurst to the station, so allow 40-50 minutes for the recommended route, 25-35 for the roadside route.
Directions: here.
T=swc.208
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Mon, 26-Jul-21
Just 3 hardy all-weather types today. Others presumably deterred by those scaremongers at BBC Weather. Off we set, with a song in our hearts and a spring in our step. A bit cloudy but nothing special. Until, that is, we approached Ticehurst. Skies darkened, thunder rumbled. Maybe they weren’t mongering scares after all. One faster walker went on to the Bull for a meal. Service was said to be good. The other two ducked into the Bell for a drink. They were shepherded into the quirky garden under a complex of umbrellas and woven mulberry trees. The garden is smaller than it used to be, filling up with sheds you can sleep in. But still quirky. Staff were friendly.
After a while, one of the two decided to press on. There’s only so much alcohol you can drink while waiting for better weather. The other stayed.
It started raining in the orchard. Not as much as what London got, but enough to mention. The rain stopped after a while, but the damage was done. If you can imagine running a wet gauntlet, that’s what the afternoon was like. Overgrown paths, treacherously slippy at times. You know me, I’m not one to complain, but by the time I reached Wadhurst, I swear I had webbed feet and started quacking. And it was raining again.
I was reunited with the faster walker at the station. The third had diverted to Stonegate, having got a ‘bit wet’. Perversely, I think all three enjoyed this cloudy then wet adventure. The scenery was a contributory factor.
10.15 train from Charing Cross (10.18 Waterloo East, 10.24 London Bridge) to Etchingham, arriving 11.30.
Starting from Robertsbridge: 21.1km (13.1 miles), extendable up to 27.1km (16.8 miles): 9.15 train from Charing Cross (9.18 Waterloo East, 9.24 London Bridge) to Robertsbridge, arriving 10.34
Buy a day return to Etchingham or Robertsbridge as applicable
For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For a map of the route click here.
This walk was suggested by Brian. I, as walk poster, will not be on this walk, so it is up to participants to a) observe appropriate social distancing by splitting into smaller groups b) to exchange contact details.
This is a pleasant and varied walk in the Weald - pleasingly hilly without being too demanding. In the afternoon there are options of various lengths that take you down to the edge of the Bewl Water Reservoir. The Robertsbridge start adds 2.5 miles and takes almost exactly an hour, so you should arrive at Etchingham about the same time as the main group.
Lunch pubs include The Bell in Ticehurst (no outside tables?) and The Bull in Three Legged Cross 1.1km further on (lots of outside tables). It might be an idea to phone either one of them before you rely on them. Another option is the Greedy Goat Cafe in Ticehurst: its Facebook page says it is now open till 3pm on Saturdays. The village also has a convenience store, opposite The Bell, so if the above options let you down, you could probably buy a sandwich there.
Tea will probably be in one of the pubs in Wadhurst, the Wealden Wholefoods Cafe being impossible to reach in time, even assuming it is open: but the village also has a convenience store with pastries and a hot drinks machine.
The back lanes route from Wadhurst village to Wadhurst station is highly recommended over the shorter main road route, but the latter does have a pavement all the way.
Trains back from Wadhurst are at 29 and 59 past until 19.29, then 29 past. T=3.208
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Thu, 27-Aug-20
Thanks to the lady who suggested Yalding Circular: it looks like a nice walk, but does overlap about 50% with Wateringbury Circular which was posted just two weeks ago and got a good turnout. One to bear in mind for the future, however
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Sat, 29-Aug-20
5 off the train at Etchingham synchronised neatly with 2 who had started earlier from Robertsbridge and 7 set off under overcast becoming sunny with occasional clouds across the Rother valley to Ticehurst, a very pretty Sussex village, where lunch was taken in the grounds of the parish church. After lunch we walked on, passing up the chance of a drink at the Bull at Three Leg Cross and choosing instead a bit of impromptu windfall gathering in an orchard of apple and plum trees. A discussion ensued on the difference, if any, between Private and Strictly Private, as proclaimed by several signs we passed. We decided that Strictly Private meant you had to be able to foxtrot. Thereafter the group separated, some opting for the Bewl Water loop, others making their way across picture-postcard landscape (think a church spire rising on a wooded hill, oast houses in the foreground) to Wadhurst and, for 1 at least, a pint of Harvey's before catching the bus to the station.
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Robertsbridge start: 9.15 train from Charing Cross (9.18 Waterloo East, 9.24 London Bridge) to Robertsbridge, arriving 10.34.
Etchingham start: 10.15 train from Charing Cross (10.18 Waterloo East, 10.24 London Bridge) to Etchingham, arriving 11.30.
Buy a day return to Etchingham or Robertsbridge, depending on which station you intend to start from.
For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
The Robertsbridge start adds (on past experience) exactly an hour’s walking, so that you arrive at Etchingham station just as the main group are arriving.
This pleasant Wealden walk, with all the usual delights of hills, woods and views, brings you to the village of Wadhust for tea. The original idea was to then go to the Wadhurst bonfire and fireworks but sadly due to weather conditions this event has been CANCELLED . T=3.208
Lunch is 4 miles in at the Bell in Ticehurst or in another 1.1km (0.6 miles) at the Bull in Three Leg Cross. Both are nice: if planning to eat at the Bull ring to check they have a table as they are quite popular (but usually also very accommodating).
You get to Wadhurst after 8.6 miles from Etchingham or 11.1 miles from Robertsbridge. Tea will probably be in one of the two pubs since the Wealden Wholefoods Cafe shuts at 4.30pm and the Cottage Tea Rooms seems to have permanently closed. There are shops in the village where you can buy cakes or snacks, however.
From Wadhurst to Wadhurst station via the main road there is a pavement all the way, so this can easily be done after tea in the dark (2.2/1.4 miles - 40 mins). Doing the main walk route, via the back lanes is 3.3km/2 miles - 55 mins.
There is also a bus from Wadhurst village to the station: it leaves outside the Greyhound pub on the hour until 6pm, reducing the walk (from Etchingham) to 14.8km (8.6 miles).
Trains back from Wadhurst are at 00 and 29 past till 19.29, then 29 past only until 22.29.
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Tue, 29-Oct-19
Hi, Carmen: it will be great to have you along.
We meet on arrival at Etchingham (or Robertsbridge, depending on which start you aim to do). The group will be obvious as both are quiet rural stations. Otherwise, if you walk down the train during the journey you may see a group of people who look like walkers, but we are often scattered here and there throughout the train.
If you have not already, do read this;
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml
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Fri, 01-Nov-19
Thanks for asking, Karen. I checked and sadly the event has been CANCELLED due to the weather forecast.
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Sat, 02-Nov-19
The 10.15 train is starting from London Bridge (10.24)
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Sat, 02-Nov-19
So often on the walks we are threatened with dire weather and it proves to be a lot less dire. But not today. Strong wind and heavy rain was forecast and that was what we got. Despite this an impressive 12 walkers turned out, 5 doing the longer Robertsbridge start and 7 the later Etchingham one. As predicted, the longer walkers arrived at Etchingham just in time to meet the later starters, and we walked together till lunch.
The weather was as described, though the wind almost never felt dangerously strong. At times I suspected the rain was not that heavy either, only that it was driven by a strong wind and so seemed more pervasive. But approaching lunch in Ticehurst it definitely sheeted down, turning the main road into a lake at one point. I think almost everyone found their wet weather kit deficient in several places.
Gratefully gaining the sanctuary of The Bell, we were told the arrival of a wedding party was imminent, but they sped our orders through to be ahead of it and the very nice food came quickly. A blazing fire might have also been nice, but you can’t have anything.
After lunch the Etchingham Seven all decided to take the bus to Tunbridge Wells for tea. The Robertsbridge Five carried on with the walk. The rain was now much less and there were even dry periods, but on the road section mid afternoon there were some amazing floods, a little side stream at one point bursting onto the lane and turning it into a river, which for forty or fifty metres we just had to wade through (I will try to put a video on the group Facebook page). Towards Wadhurst we did the short extension along Bewl Water which was very scenic. Despite all the rain the reservoir is still some way from being full.
I have not so far mentioned the autumn colour, which was spectacular, when the driving rain allowed one to raise ones eyes to look at it. Oaks are now turning en masse, producing gorgeous orange tints. Norway and Field Maple are not just yellow but an almost unprecedented gold. Sweet chestnuts and beech were glorious in yellow, gold and brown. I predict that next weekend will be the best for colour - if the wind does not blow everything off first.
Approaching Wadhurst at 4.15pm, one of the party went straight to the station to finish the walk in the daylight, while the remaining four of us went to the White Hart with the opposite intention. The pub was eerily quiet on what is usually a busy night, the last minute cancellation of the Wadhurst Bonfire having stripped it of clientele.
We set off again at 5.30pm and had a magical walk down the back lanes in the deep darkness - always a treat - at one point seeing a crescent moon (well, two of us did). We caught the 6.29 train and dried off with a bottle of red wine.
From Robertsbridge: 21.1km (13.1 miles) to 27.3km (16.9 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10 T=3.208
Etchingham start: 10.00 Charing Cross (10.03 Waterloo East, 10.09 London Bridge, 10.26 East Croydon) to Etchingham, arriving 11.31
Robertsbridge start: 9.00 Charing Cross (9.03 Waterloo, 9.09 London Bridge, 9.26 East Croydon) to Robertsbridge, arriving 10.34
The eagle-eyed will notice that these trains are travelling via the Redhill-Tonbridge line today, adding 20 minutes to journey times. But the extra time will pass swiftly in stimulating conversation and this routing means the trains also call at East Croydon.
Buy a day return to Etchingham or Robertsbridge, depending on where you plan to start.
For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.
The standard version of this walk, starting in Etchingham, makes a pleasant 10.6 mile Wealden walk, but to add extra spice to it you can take one of three extra loops that take you down to the edge of the Bewl Water Reservoir. These add 1-2 miles to the walk, or you can combine two of them to add as much as 3.8 miles.
It is also possible start this walk from Robertsbridge, adding 2.5 miles to the route. Conveniently, this takes about an hour to walk, so if you take the 9am train outlined above, you should arrive at Etchingham just as the later starting walkers are arriving there. You can then go on to do just the standard walk, or also one of the Bewl Water loops.
*** LONG WALK CHALLENGE: The longest possible combination of options is to do the Robertsbridge start and then BOTH the a) and b) loops to Bewl Water. This would make a total walk of 27.3km (16.9 miles). As far as I know, no SWC walker has yet done this.....
Whatever option you choose, lunch is at The Bell in Ticehurst or The Bull in Three-Legged Cross 1.1km further on. Both are often quite booked up, but the Bull in particular has been good in the past about squeezing us in. Having said that, The Bell has received good reviews from walkers in the past. The Greedy Goat Cafe in Ticehurst is, alas, only open to midday on Saturdays, which is not much use, but when I last looked the village did have a convenience store in case of emergencies.
For tea, Wadhurst has two pubs, both doing tea, and several shops. If you can get there before it closes at 5pm, Jempson's Cafe has good cakes. The Cottage Tea Room (if it still exists) is open to the same time. The Wealden Wholefoods Cafe stops taking orders at 4pm.
It is about 50 minutes walk by the back route or 40 minutes down the main road from Wadhurst to Wadhurst station. Time your arrival at the latter carefully as there is nothing to do but wait on the platform if you miss your train. If you are feeling lazy, there is a bus, the 254, from the stop just outside the Greyhound pub in Wadhurst village (on the same side of the road), at 05 past to 18.05, taking 5 minutes to get to the station (so connecting very comfortably with the 29 past train)
Trains back from Wadhurst are at 29 and 59 past till 19.29 and then hourly at 29 past till 22.29.
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Fri, 01-Jun-18
Now I might do the Walk Tomorrow. But what I suggest is to take the 09:09 Train just Incase the 10:09 Train could be Delayed or something like that. You never know.
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Fri, 01-Jun-18
Hi What's the plan. Can we meet to buy group save tickets together ?
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Fri, 01-Jun-18
Well no not nessasery. But you hear about on the News about the Cancellations etc which is the thing.
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Sun, 03-Jun-18
12 on the early start from Robertsbridge arrived at Etchingham just in time to greet 10 on the later train, making 22 on this walk in all. It was a lovely day, mainly hot sun but with some cloud around lunchtime. Buttercups and other lovely meadow flowers were the chief nature feature of the walk - particularly on the Robertsbridge to Etchingham leg and also on the Etchingham start. Once we had to do some cattle herding and once we did a detour to avoid them.
I think we split fairly well between the two pubs. It was my first time at the Bell in Ticehurst and though staff were friendly, food service reasonably quick and their patio garden very pleasant, we all, I think, thought the portions small for the money - in one or two cases derisorily so. I hope the Bull lunchers had a good experience.
Four of us definitely did the full 16.9 mile long option - possibly others since some at the start had said they would do it. Several other walkers definitely did the first loop down to Bewl Water as we saw them ahead of us but never caught up with them. The start of the second, longer loop, is on a permissive path that seems to have fallen out of use, so sorry to anyone who tried to use that: I will amend the directions to a slightly different route on public footpaths.
In general, though, the sections beside the reservoir were an utter delight. They were knee high in buttercups and grasses and other flora, and Bewl Water itself - which was very low when we last walked along it in November - was full to the very top. The recent rain must have helped but I suspect also they have filled it from the River Medway (as they have the ability to do). Whatever, to see the water lapping right up to the path, flooding willow woods and filling every creek was charming. It did mean for some muddy patches on the path in places, which was an odd experience for June.
We four 17 milers got to Wadhurst at 6.30pm. All tea places were closed by then (it seems the Jempson's cafe has gone for good anyway), but we had tea/drinks in the Greyhound before the final walk down the back lanes to the station in beautiful golden evening light, catching the 8.29 train.
So pretty much a perfect day's walking. I would be happy to hear how others in the group got on, however.
Length: 16.9km (10.5 miles)
Difficulty 5/10 hilly but gentle
This classic Wealden walk, a mix of pasture and woodland, features fine panoramic views, oast houses, and the villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst. Optional loops will take you past Bewl Water reservoir.
Trains:
Get the 09:55 Hastings train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 10:04) arriving 11:12. Return from Wadhurst at xx:00 and xx:29. Get a return to Etchingham.
Lunch:
The notes recommend the Bull Inn in Three Legged Cross (01580 200 586)
An earlier quirkier option is the Bell in Ticehurst (01580 200234) quirky garden, quirky décor.
There is another (untried) pub near the Bell - the Chequers.
Tea:
You are unlikely to make Wadhurst’s teahouses before closing time (if indeed they open on Sunday) but there are two pubs, The Greyhound, encountered first, being perhaps the more amenable (serves tea in pots) and the White Hart a little later. Note that its still quite a trek from Wadhurst to the station so allow 40-50 mins minutes for the recommended route, 25-35 for the roadside route.
Directions: here
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Mon, 26-Feb-18
Just another fab 4 on this walk with me again as Ringo. (Can we stop this silly joke everytime there is just you and 3 other people on a walk! SWC Ed)
I'm glad there were a few nights of hard frost before doing this walk as this made the early fields passable but generally the ground was firm except for one short slippery slope and a couple of patches of black ice on the lanes. The weather was unbroken sunshine . At times in sheltered spots it felt almost warm and then a few yards further on you would be hit by a blast of wind just to remind you that the "beast" was on its way.
We had a short pit stop in Ticehurst but the Bell Inn had a "wedding fair?" on and as we were not quite dressed for the occasion we did not stop there. We pressed on where one of our number went to the Bull for a meal whilst 3 of us continued on to Wadhurst hopeful there would be a cafe open for tea and cakes. We were making good time so decided to do the last loop around Bewl water reservoir where the water levels were perhaps a bit lower than one would expect. We reached Wadhurst around 3.15pm but no cafe was open so we had a quick refreshment stop at the church. By setting a steady pace (or really fast as I have to call it now!) we did the stretch to the station in a little over 30 mins and caught the fast 4pm train with 5 mins to spare. An invigorating and convivial day out. (Did anyone take an earlier train from London?)
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A few comments need to be made about the directions between Sheepstreet Lane and Ticehurst. In para 22, there is a suggestion to go uphill towards two solitary trees and then, beyond, to cross "two strips of land planted with maize". We followed the directions, but once across the strips of land realized that it would have been better to do two sides of a triangle (i.e. turn left with the footpath arrow on entering the field and then, once past the strips of land, turn right uphill to rejoin the path heading towards the clump of trees referred to in para 25. In para 28, we negotiated the "wooden hurdle" with difficulty only to discover there appeared to be a way of bypassing it by going over the "well-made stile" to the left and then walking through a short patch of undergrowth to reach the other side of the hurdle. This needs to be investigated further. Finally, in para 30, I suggest removing the reference to the right of way crossing the field. The obvious route is up the righthand field edge, as mentioned later in the same paragraph.
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Thank you for this feedback.
I am actually planning to give this walk a check in the spring, so I will check out these points then. I am aware of the ROW route on the map in para 22, but when I was researching the walk and tried it, this was blocked by barbed wire, while footpath posts marked the route I describe. Maybe that has now changed.
The walk author
Length: Around 18½ km (11.5 miles). Toughness: 5/10
10:15 Hastings train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10:18, London Bridge 10:23, Orpington 10:40), arriving Etchingham at 11:30. Buy a return to Etchingham.
Trains back from Wadhurst are at 29 & 59 minutes past the hour until 19:29, then hourly.
One of the first extra walks in the SWC repertoire included some attractive sections along the western side of Bewl Water and this walk extends that by approaching the reservoir from the south-east. You can choose whether to stick to the walk's main route and enjoy views of the water from the surrounding hills, or take one or two optional diversions down to its shoreline. As with all SWC walks you can decide for yourself what you want to do, but reading the notes I find option (c)'s “ideal way to visit the reservoir with a minimum of effort” particularly appealing, so I'll propose that as the basis for discussion.
In the morning you'll pass some refreshment places in the village of Ticehurst at around 1pm, but the notes urge you to keep going for another 15 minutes to the Bull Inn in Three Leg Cross: “very much the recommended pub stop for this walk”. Even if you take some detours in the afternoon you should reach Wadhurst's tearooms in good time (the Cottage Tea Room should stay open until 5pm), but in any case there are a couple of pubs as alternatives. As regulars will know it's a long way from the village to its station, but if you're pressed for time you can forego the pleasant back lane route and simply walk down the main road.
You'll need to download the directions from the Etchingham to Wadhurst walk page. T=swc.208
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Fri, 04-Aug-17
I'm planning to do a circular from Wadhurst and will look out for the group at the lunchtime pub.
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Tue, 08-Aug-17
16, including two late starters who caught up with us at the lunchtime pub. Mainly dry with a couple of sharp showers in the afternoon .
Length: 16.9km (10.5 miles)
Difficulty 5/10 gently hilly
This classic Wealden walk is a hilly mix of pasture and woodland, fine panoramic views, oast houses, a cobnut orchard, and the villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst.
Optional loops take you to the beautiful Bewl Water reservoir.
Trains
Get the 09:49 Hastings train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:06) arr 11:12 Get a return to Etchingham.
Trains return from Wadhurst at xx:00 and xx:29
Lunch: The notes recommend the Bull Inn in Three Legged Cross (01580 200 586). Walker (and dog) friendly pub with an interesting and not overpriced menu.
An earlier quirkier option is the Bell in Ticehust (01580 200234) quirky garden, quirky décor, even a quirky gents.
This pub is also handy for a nearby picnic spot in the churchyard.
There is another (untried) pub nearby - the Chequers, if you want to chequer it out.
Tea
You are unlikely to make Wadhurst’s teahouses before closing time (if, indeed, they open on Sunday) but there are two pubs. The Greyhound, encountered first, is perhaps the more amenable (tea in pots) and the White Hart a little later.
Note that it is still quite a trek from Wadhurst to the station so allow 40-50 minutes for the recommended route, 25-35 for the roadside route.
Directions here
T=swc.208
Length: 16.9km (10.5 miles), extendable to 20.9km (13 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10: quite hilly, but gentle gradients
10.15 train from Charing Cross (10.18 Waterloo East) to Etchingham, arriving 11.30
Buy a day return to Etchingham
For walk directions click here.
(Longer walk option: 9.15 train from Charing Cross or 9.18 Waterloo East to Robertsbridge, arriving 10.34: Buy a day return to Robertsbridge)
In past years I have really enjoyed the Wadhurst Bonfire and Fireworks, a friendly village event that nevertheless boasts a good-sized firework display and a roaring big fire (and lets you stand close enough to feel the heat). Though it is very much a community undertaking, they don't seem to mind a few walkers joining them.
To get you there, this pleasant Weald walk which though it has had a Sunday and ?midweek? outing, has not, as far as I know, had a Saturday airing since its check walk in March 2014. While having plenty of fields and views, the walk has a decent amount of trees, which should be showing good autumn colour. It has several sections on quiet tarmac, keeping the mud count down.
The recommended lunch stop, the walker-friendly Bull Inn in Three Legged Cross, accommodated us even when fully booked on a Sunday back in February ("Don't worry: we WILL feed you"), but the posher Bell Inn a kilometre or so earlier in Ticehurst is also an option and has been recommended by some walkers.
In Wadhurst the Wealden Wholefoods Cafe is great if you can get there by before 4pm (last orders: closes 4.30pm). The White Hart pub sells tickets for the bonfire (though you can pay on the door), but we usually find the Greyhound down the road more congenial, and it serves tea in pots.
LONGER WALK OPTIONS:
- You can take an earlier train (see above) and start from Robertsbridge (option d, page 10), adding 4km/2.5 miles to the morning of the walk (= 20.9km/13.9 miles in all). As the extension takes almost exactly an hour, it is possible to meet up with the main group at Etchingham. This route has not been checked since March 2014, so if you discover any areas that need correcting, please make a note of them.
- Those starting in Etchingham can also extend the walk to the shores of Bewl Water Reservoir. Three options are given for doing this, but the easiest, for these short days, is c) (paragraph 54 of the directions) which adds just 1 mile (1.6km) to the walk length and is actually a slightly less strenuous way to Wadhurst than the main walk route.
THE BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS
Gates open 5.30, bonfire 6.30pm, fireworks 7.30pm: to find the site follow the crowds or ask a local
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17 bloody awful in the morning wet and windy then drier in the afternoon
Wind and rain in the morning. The fields around Etchingham were flooded but we avoided them by following the recommeded detour. The ground on this walk was generally quite soggy so probably this walk s best done in drier times. At least 4 gave up after (a very delicious) lunch at The Bell and hopped on the bus to Tunbridge Wells for tea and cake. Others carried on and the weather improved in the afternoon, with less drizzle and eventually dry weather. Some stopped for well-earned refreshment in the pub at Wadhurst before heading to the station or onto the bonfire and fireworks.
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Sun, 08-Nov-15
Five of us went to the Wadhust Bonfire (possibly three more who stated their intention to go over tea but were last seen deep in a bottle of champagne). As ever, this was an excellent event, well attended but not crowded, with a great big bonfire in whose heat one could sunbathe, and then a firework display as good as one can get anywhere. For me, however, the highlight always is, and was on this occasion, the walk down the back lanes in the deep dark (torches discouraged! They ruin your night vision!) to the station, a magical 50 minutes. We got the 9. 29 train home.
Length: 16.9km (10.5 miles)
Difficulty 5/10
This classic Wealden walk is a hilly but gentle mix of pasture and woodland, fine panoramic views across valleys, oast houses, a cobnut orchard, and the villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst.
Optional loops take you to the edge of Bewl Water reservoir.
Trains
Get the 9:55 (Waterloo East 9:58) Hastings train from Charing Cross arriving 11:12
Trains back at xx:00 and xx:29
Get a return to Etchingham.
Lunch The earliest option is the Bell in Ticehust (01580 200234 ) – this would also tie in well with the picnic spot in the nearby churchyard. (As a sign near the pub says, “12th C church that way, 21st C dingdong this way”) Gentlemen will be intrigued by the 'facilities' in the Bell. Once seen, never forgotten.
There is another (untried) pub nearby - the Chequers.
The notes recommend a later pub, the Bull Inn in Three Legged Cross (01580 200586), 1.1km/0.7 miles further on.
Tea
You are unlikely to make Wadhurst’s teahouses before they close (if indeed they open on Sunday) but there are two pubs, The Greyhound, encountered first, being perhaps the more amenable (tea in pots) and the White Hart a little later.
Note that it's still quite a trek from Wadhurst to the station so allow 40-50 minutes for the recommended route, 25-35 mins for the roadside route.
Directions here
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Wed, 29-Jul-15
Mr Tiger ain't afraid of no dentist. Not unless he’s near his teeth he ain’t. Grrr!
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11 walkers for this. very hot and sunny
One or two navigational challenges. We had to enveigle our way through the maize strips at point 24. This required an element of faith, there being no visible path. It’s fairly robust stuff so no damage done. Later we encountered an overgrown oat field.
Most went to the Bell for lunch, much to the surprise of one walker who had sped ahead to the Bull in the belief he had fallen behind. The Bell have an interesting back garden and provided some fairly posh grub that seemed to go down well. Starters, though, were described as “hit and miss”. The beetroot and quinoa salad was particularly minimal. More chutzpah than quinoa.
Some got the bus after lunch. For the remainder, on return, some went to the Greyhound, others the White Hart. Some went via the reservoir, some didn’t. Some went along the road to the station, some took the back way.
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Tue, 04-Aug-15
Very hot and sunny????.Pleasantly warm and sunny I think is nearer the mark. Wadhurst church is lovely and worth a visit before the last leg along the lanes to Wadhurst station. The 2 teashops in the village are closed on Sundays but the Greyhound does a decent cup of tea for £2.
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Tue, 04-Aug-15
Someone didn't pay for their lunch. It was paid for by other walkers. She had Brixham Crab and a drink. Ring any bells? Please remember to pay for your food, drinks and service before leaving the pub. The Lunch Monitor.