East Grinstead to Wivelsfield or Sheffield Park Walk

31.9 km (19.8 mi), with 453/532m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10, with 7 ½ hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 10 hours.

This route in the East/West Sussex boundary lands descends from East Grinstead into the Upper Medway Valley and past Weir Wood Reservoir and then meanders through an undulating landscape of hills, streams, ponds, heaths and mixed woodland, rich in bluebells and wood anemones in season. For the most part, it largely shadows the course of The Bluebell Line steam railway, and lunch is either in tranquil Horsted Keynes or in Scaynes Hill, near the (Sussex) Ouse River. Later you pass through several parts of the large Chailey Common heathlands and continue westbound through flatter ground – mostly pastures with fine South Downs Views – to Burgess Hill (for Wivelsfield station).
As this is a very long walk, an Alternative Finish at Sheffield Park, the terminus of the Bluebell Line, for a return by steam train, is described, as are other alternatives to shorten the route by taking buses at the start or near the end.

This walk is a re-imagining of one originally devised by AJ Kennedy in 2007. His walk was from Forest Row (bus only) to Sheffield Park (expensive steam train only). Due to the awkward public transport and early last train, it was rarely used. This rewritten and extended walk now starts and finishes at train stations. This does make it quite long, so there are several options (three buses and one heritage steam train) to shorten the walk. The Bluebell Line has been extended since 2007, so it is now possible to walk from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park, and return by steam train.

A diversion along a permissive path along the Weir Wood Reservoir’s dam and past the Water Works avoids a mud and flood prone footpath north east of the reservoir; see the route map for details.
Start from Forest Row (bus stop by the Chequers Inn, Line 270 from East Grinstead, hourly Monday-Saturday, 4 buses on Sundays or Line 291 from East Grinstead, ferquent service Monday-Saturday, 5 buses on Sundays): cut 3.6 km/2.2 mi.
Start from Horsted Keynes (bus stop on the Village Green, line 270 from East Grinstead or Haywards Heath, as above): 18.0 km/11.2 mi and 225m ascent, 3/10.
Finish in Horsted Keynes (bus stop on the Village Green, line 270 from East Grinstead or Haywards Heath, hourly Monday-Saturday, 4 buses on Sundays): 13.7 km/8.5 mi and 226m ascent, 2/10.
Finish at Sheffield Park station (Bluebell Line back to East Grinstead) for a 22.5 km/14.3 mi walk with 336m ascent: 6/10 for the train back or for a bus: Line 121 from Newick to Lewes, 6 buses on Saturdays, 4 buses on Sundays).
Finish at a bus stop in North Chailey (Lines 31/31A/31B from Uckfield to Haywards Heath, hourly Monday-Saturday and Line 121 from Uckfield/Newick to Lewes, about hourly Mon-Sat and 4 buses on Sundays): cut 7.9 km/4.9 mi and 75m ascent for a 6/10 rating.
Finish at a bus stop outside Wivelsfield village on the B2112 (Chapel Hall stop; Lines 166, 271, 272; last buses as of Nov 2023: late midweek, 18.42 Saturday and 18.08 Sunday): cut 2.6 km/1.6 mi.

OS Explorer: 135 (Ashdown Forest)
OS Landranger: 198 (Brighton & Lewes)

East Grinstead station, map reference TQ 388 382, is 43 km south south east of Charing Cross and 122m above sea level and in West Sussex. Wivelsfield station, map reference TQ 320 200, is 19 km south east of East Grinstead and 43m above sea level; Sheffield Park station, map reference TQ 403 236, is 15 km south of East Grinstead and 22m above sea level; both are in East Sussex.. East Grinstead station is on the East Grinstead branch of the Oxted Line from London Victoria (journey time from 60 minutes, at least hourly every day). Wivelsfield station is on the Brighton Main Line, with frequent services to Victoria and London Thameslink stops (journey time from 51 minutes). Sheffield Park station is the southern terminus of the Bluebell Railway from East Grinstead (journey time 40 minutes). Buy an East Grinstead return, you then may have to buy an additional single from Wivelsfield to East Croydon.

Saturday Walkers' Club: Take the train closest to 9.00 hours.

The Green Man The Green, Horsted Keynes, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7AS (01825 790 656). The Green Man is located 13.7 km (8.5 mi) into the walk. A Greene King pub.
The Crown Inn Horsted Keynes, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7AW (01825 791 609). The Crown is located 13.8 km (8.6 mi) into the walk.
The Sloop Inn 99 Sloop Lane, Scaynes Hill,Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7NP( 01444 715 388). The Sloop is located 19.2 km (11.9 mi) into the walk.

The Sloop Inn As above.

Tea (Wivelsfield):
The Watermill Inn 1 Leylands Road, Worlds End,Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 0QF (01444 235 517).

Tea (Sheffield Park):
360° Brewing Company Taproom Unit 24, Bluebell Business Estate, SSheffield Park, East Sussex, TN22 3HQ (01825 722 375).
The Bessemer Arms Station Approach Road, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, Uckfield, TN22 3QL (01825 720 800).

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Apr-24 Thomas G