Our group offers walks which are accessible by public transport and take place throughout the South East of England plus a summer holiday and a New Year break
A moderate- to fast-paced linear walk to Pease Pottage (bus to Three Bridges Station) led by David C (Mobile No: 07747 187036) over undulating terrain. Route: Uckfield –Fairhazel – Piltdown – Fletching – Furner’s Green – Latchett’s – Horsted Keynes (drop-out by 270 bus to East Grinstead Station after 9 miles) – Ardingly – Wakehurst Place – Paddockhurst Park – Worth Abbey- Oldhouse Warren – Tilegate Forest – ‘The Black Swan’, Pease Pottage. Lunch stop after 4½ miles at ‘The Griffin Inn’, Fletching TN22 3SS (Tel: 01825 722 890), or picnic nearby. Joint walk with Hammersmith, Fulham & Wandsworth Group. Map: E135, L199.
See separate entry for first part of Stage 2, ending at Horsted Keynes.
Check trains the day before. Buy £20.70 single from London Bridge to Uckfield, £11.80 single from Three Bridges to London Bridge.
NOTE: 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 we will take will vary slightly from the 1902 route, but importantly we will pass by sights and villages and pubs detailed in the book.
The full 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 (Black) 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.)”
Uckfield Station (train from London Bridge (Platform 10) at 09:07, calling at East Croydon at 09:22).
Pease Pottage (270 bus to Three Bridges Station)
