Bolney to Lindfield – 8½ Miles

Bolney to Lindfield – 8½ miles Cross the new A23 by means of the underpass, go straight ahead at the cross path and proceed downhill through woodland. This path is narrow and in places growth has obscured a rut or small ditch on the left so care is needed. The path emerges on to Buncton Lane. Turn left along the lane. Ignore the first footpath sign to the right at ‘Pickwell’ and take the next path on the right, TQ273233. Follow signs uphill to the north-east making for the distant house visible across two fields. A stile and a gate lead out to Bishopton Lane by the house, TQ277237. Cross at the stile opposite and enter Black Forest. Turn left (north) at the signposted 3 way footpath junction. Now proceed downhill into Long Wood and cross the stile into Broxmead Lane and turn right. After about 200 yards the lane turns sharp left, at this point take the footpath leading off to the right. Go down a short track and enter the vineyard through the gate. Cross the vineyard and go out of the next gate, turn right at the field boundary and follow the track to Deaks Lane, TQ288246. Turn left, past ‘Cuckfield Cattery’ and go right through a gate into a field opposite ‘The Wylies’. The route from here into Cuckfield follows the ‘High Weald Landscape Trail’. Continue down the slope to a bridge over a stream and ascend a track through woodland. Ignore a cross track. Follow signs along a chicken wire fence, then across the stile into the open with views opening up to the South Downs and the spire of Cuckfield Church ahead. After crossing another stile, the path continues eastwards with a wire fence on the left and scattered trees on the right. The path now descends to a bridge over a stream and after a short steep ascent the path runs alongside an iron fence, the boundary of ‘Cuckfield Park’, into the village of Cuckfield. There are several pubs in Cuckfield, and toilets and parking off Broad Street. Cross the road and take the left hand fork, Church Platt. Walk to the far end of the road and go through the lych gate into the churchyard. Take the path that goes straight on with the church to the right. Continue along the top side of the churchyard and exit through the gate at the end. Continue along this enclosed footpath which comes out into Courtmead Road. Walk to the end of the road and turn right. Take the second road on the left, Horsgate Lane. Go to the end of the road and take the track on the right, follow this all the way through to Horsgate Farm. Take the path to the left of the hedge by the entrance to Horsgate Farm. Bear left and go over a stile and climb some steps into the field. Take the diagonal path across the field, ignoring the one to the left. At the far corner bear left and follow the between hedge and treeline to a metal kissing gate. Go through the gate and follow a reasonably well walked path diagonally across this scrubby field. At the top go clockwise round a fenced enclosure and exit through a gate onto a track. Follow the track out to the road, Hanlye Lane, and turn right. Follow the road around the bend and then continue alongside the road within and enclosed stretch. Look for a gap in the hedge directly opposite a sign board for ‘Borde Hill Estate’. Cross the road at this point and follow the lane to the estate. At a crossroads, giving access to ‘Lullings Farm’, continue straight ahead. Go through the gates and past the gatehouse to ‘Borde Hill’ and carry on along the track in the same direction as previously. At a crossing of three footpaths, bear to the right and continue on the more made up of the options. Carry on along this path for just under ½ mile, passing ‘Borde Hill House & Gardens’ on the left and restaurants on the right at the far end. Go through the gate to the road and turn left. This is a very busy road with some poor visibility for drivers, it is essential to walk in single file. There is a verge on the left to begin with, at the house cross to the other side and make for the junction and then turn right into Copyhold Lane. This road is not quite so busy, but it is very twisty, so take care walking along it. After just over ½ mile, look out for kissing gate on the right hand side. Go through the gate and follow a well defined footpath uphill through the wood. The path eventually emerges onto ‘Haywards Heath Golf Club’ course. Go to the left of the tall Cupressus hedge and then to the left of the Beech hedge. At the end of the Beech hedge cross the fairway diagonally to the right making for a line of trees. Bear left through this line of trees and eventually go through a gate to a private road, ‘Sandridge Lane’, walk to the far end of the road. At the end turn left onto ‘High Beech Lane’, this is another busy road with bends, so do take care, there are various stretches with verges so try to keep to the appropriate side of the road. After ¼ mile turn into a wide driveway on the right, go the short distance to the bottom of the hill and take the right turning along an enclosed path. As the path enters woodland, and starts to go downhill, follow the track to the left, ignoring the path on the right. Ignore a second path off to the left and continue uphill with a large Victorian building on the immediate right. At the top of the hill turn left and follow an enclosed path for about ¼ mile. The path eventually has a close boarded 6’ foot fence to the right and then turns right and comes out adjacent to a double garage. Turn right to the end of a gravel drive and then turn left and continue out to the road, the B2028 at the top end of Lindfield. Turn right along the road, with Lindfield Church ahead on the opposite side of the road. Cross the road at the far end of the churchyard wall, between the war memorial and the first house and follow the path alongside the churchyard. .

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