Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway & village

Highlights

• The Bluebell Railway
• Field and farm
• Horsted Keynes village

This walk has a longer (4½ mile) and a shorter (2¾ mile) version, in either case starting from the Bluebell Railway station at Horsted Keynes. A pleasant walk for the whole family.

The Route

From Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway station car park, pass in front of the station and continue on the road to the T-junction (OS ref: 372291). Turn right at the T-junction. Immediately before the arched railway bridge over the road, turn left over the stile into the field. Bear left on the ascending cross-field path, aiming at farm buildings seen on the ridge. Look for public footpath finger post at the far side of the field and join a track curving behind the hedge. Go through the farm gate into the field and turn right, to the gate at the right of the farm buildings at Oddynes Farm. Go through the gate.

[FOR THE OPTIONAL SHORTER WALK - Having gone through the gate at Oddynes Farm, turn left between the farm buildings and then almost immediately right, at the finger post. Keep the farm house on your right, and go forward into a green lane between hedges. After about 100 metres, cross the stile on the left and bear right, following a descending cross-field path to a stile and gate at the road. Cross the stile and turn right on the road. Go over the bridge and turn left at the corrugated barn, into a track. Continue along the track until reaching the lake on the left. Turn right at the four-way finger post, onto a rising footpath. Continue over a crossing track, and stay on the gently rising footpath between fences to Church Lane, Horsted Keynes. On reaching Church Lane, you rejoin the main route.]

Cross the stile at the side of the gate facing you, and continue on the same line on the right side of the next field. Continue to the bridge over the Bluebell Railway (OS ref: 370285). The line to your right goes to Horsted Keynes station, Sharpthorne tunnel, West Hoathly and Kingscote (and eventually East Grinstead); and to the left to Sheffield Park.After crossing the bridge, continue along the right side of the field. At the far right corner, do not cross the stile but stay in the field and turn to your left, following the field edge, with the hedge on your right. Just past the farmhouse and farm buildings, cross the stile in the hedge on the right and go forward to the track. Turn left on the track and (ignoring tracks to left and right) continue along it until it reaches the road (OS ref: 371277).

At the road turn left and go under the Bluebell Railway bridge (TAKE CARE! There is limited visibility at this narrow bridge over a twisting road.) In about sixty metres, turn right (opposite double bend road sign) through a gateway onto a track curving through trees. Where the track reaches the field gate, cross the stile and continue ahead on a straight line on a cross-field path. At the far side of the field, join a track at the corner of the copse, and continue for-ward on the track, keeping the copse on your left. At the far left corner, turn left and go through the gap (or go over stile in the corner) and turn right. Follow the right side of the field, keeping the fence on your right, and immediately before a bungalow, turn right over the stile to the road - this is Treemans Road, Horsted Keynes. (OS ref: 381275)

Turn left on the road. In about one hundred metres, immediately before 'Tedders' on right, turn right through a five bar gate (also marked 'Tedders'). After a short distance on a grassy track, cross the stile and follow the right side of the field. At the far right corner, cross the stile and continue to descend to the entrance of the wood at the far side. Cross the stile and footbridge and continue ahead on a clear track through the wood. Turn left at the house on the left, where the footpath makes a T-junction with a wide track (W. Sussex Border path signposted left and right). Where the footpath track divides each side of a small brick building, turn left (signposted W. Sussex Border Path). When the track becomes a small metalled road, continue on it: and when eventually this small winding road (Wyatts Lane) turns sharply right, continue forward on a rough lane between cottages and playing field. At end of the hedge on the right, go through a gap into the playing field. Bear left, keeping to the left of the cricket pavilion, and continue to the road (OS ref: 385282). This is Horsted Keynes village and the public house is The Crown

Cross the main road, into the small road opposite - Church Lane, signposted 'To Church and School only'. Church Lane descends to a T-junction, where you turn right. [the shorter walk re-joins the main route in Church Lane and continues as described here]Continue on Church Lane, pass the church, and opposite the school turn left onto a descending track. Stay on the track past a timber-framed house and barn on your left. When you reach the lake on your right, turn right at the four-way finger post, taking the footpath along the lakeside. Continue on the main path where it descends and just after the lake's outfall and shortly before the field gate, turn left onto a footpath rising through trees. On reaching the field, cross the stile and continue with the fence on your left as far as the stile at the road.Cross the stile, turn right along the road, and in about 80 metres (opposite Leamlands Barn) turn left into a footpath. Go over the stile and keeping the line of the wood on your left, walk to the end of the paddock. Cross the stile and continue along the wood's edge until reaching the fields. Bear left and return to the Bluebell Railway car park and the end of the walk..

Safety

Walking boots are advisable as some parts (particularly the farmyard) may be muddy. Take care when using roads, especially when crossing the narrow bridge over the Bluebell Railway.

Notes

Bus Routes

Check services and times with Metrobus at 01293 449191 or www.metrobus.co.uk

Main route sections 5 and 6: and Circular walks 4, 5 and 6
Bus 270, Haywards Heath/ East Grinstead calls at Horsted Keynes station.

Car Parking

Park at Horsted Keynes railway station car park.