Length: 36.5 km (22.7 miles). Toughness: 3/10
Option to end at Horsted Keynes after 15.5km
Catch the 9:07 from London Bridge arrives Uckfield 10:22.
Buy a single to Uckfield.
(If quitting at Horsted Keynes and catching the bus back to East Grinstead rather than Haywards Heath a return to Uckfield might be best.)
Return from Pease Pottage, by the fairly frequent bus 20 (24 hour service) to Gatwick or Horley stations for trains through the night to London.
Ending at Horsted Keynes:
Bus 270 from Horsted Keynes to Haywards Heath 15:39 16:39 17:57 19:34
Bus 270 from Horsted Keynes to East Grinstead 15:43 16:44 17:43 18:40 19:29 20:37
This is a map based walk - it is preferable to have the gpx on your smartphone / gpx device.
This is the 2nd stage (of 5) of a walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, inspired by Hilaire Belloc's walk undertaken in 1902, and detailed in his book The Four Men: A Farrago. Sections of the route taken in 1902 were along "cart tracks" which are now roads. Consequently the route taken varies from the 1902 route, but passes by sights and villages and pubs detailed in the book.
This second section is from Uckfield to Pease Pottage, although there is a convenient drop out point at Horsted Keynes.
Belloc took four days to complete the walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, so we are already behind. Friday 31st October 1902: Set off early for Ardingly and then onto Tilgate to stop at the Swan Inn*, Pease Pottage for some ale. Then onto St. Leonards Forest and Shelley Plain, Leonards Lee, Crabtree Inn, Crabtree to arrive just after 3pm at Little Cowfold. South towards Henfield to stop at an inn for a meal. After which took the Ashurst Road to spend the night in a barn. (Sent out to the Fountain Inn, Ashurst for bread, cheese and Steyning ale.)
*Now the Black Swan Inn
T=swc.432