Treemans & Horsted Keynes

Highlights

• The Bluebell Railway
• Field and farm
• Woodland walks

A pleasant family ramble in delightful Sussex countryside, this undemanding walk takes in part of the village of Horsted Keynes and frequent sightings of the Bluebell Railway itself.

The Route

About 100 metres downhill from the entrance to Treemans, cross the stile on the west side of the road (the same side as Treemans) and walk through a narrow belt of trees. Cross a stile and bear left across the paddock to a stile in the post and rail fence. Cross the stile and continue to the stile in the next post and rail fence. Cross the stile and bear right to stile at gateway. Cross the stile and continue to the next stile in the post and rail fence. Over the stile and cross the corner of the paddock. Turn left between fences, with spinney on your left. At the corner of the post and rail fence, bear right to a stile, footbridge and railway crossing.

Stop, look and listen, before crossing the Bluebell Railway line, and make certain the line is clear.
Cross the railway track and descend to stile and footbridge. Continue on the footpath through the spinney. At the end of the spinney, cross the stile and go ahead to the cart bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the right side of the field, which curves uphill and to the left. At the far corner, near a clump of conifers, cross the stile at the side of the gate, and go forward to a farm track. Bear left on the farm track and follow it to its junction with the road (opposite Cockhaise Farm, OS ref: 373259).

Turn right on the road. Where the road turns sharp right, continue forward on a farm track between barns. At the end of the yard, go forward over a stile onto a cross-field path. Keep to the left of a breeze block building in the field and follow the line of two oak trees, to the trees on the far side of the field. Cross the stile and go forward through the trees to the road. At the road, turn left.

Pass the entrance to Paxhill Park Golf Club on the right. On the double bend in road, opposite walled garden of timbered house - East Mascalls, dated 1578 - turn right over the stile by double gates (OS ref: 366257). Turn right on the gravel footpath toward the golf clubhouse. Pass in front of the clubhouse and shop; and where the path bears to the left, continue ahead on grass to the stile. Go over the stile and footbridge, turn left and walk up the left side of the field to the house at the corner.

Go through the gate, with house on your right, join a rough track, and turn right through a line of trees, onto a cross-field track, aiming for the right-hand corner of the copse seen on the ridge. At the corner of the copse, keep forward, with the copse on your left. In about one hundred metres, at a three-way finger post, turn at right angles to your right on cross-field path, aiming for left of tiled house and corrugated farm buildings (Great Plummerden Farm, OS ref 367264).

On reaching the road, turn left for about 75 metres. Where the road bends sharply to the left, turn right into gateway and continue on cross-field track to wood at the far side. Continue on the track into the wood. Where the track bears right to a field, a finger post indicates the grassy footpath straight ahead. When this path eventually meets crossing farm track, turn right onto track; and in one hundred metres, on reaching trees, turn left and cross the stile at the side of the gate.

Follow the left side of the field, curving down hill to the right, and cross the cart bridge. Go forward, cross the stile, and follow the footpath through the spinney to the Bluebell Railway crossing. Retrace your steps diagonally over paddocks, to return to road and completion of the walk.

Safety

This is a family walk of just over 3 miles and presents little difficulty for people of normal fitness. Take care when crossing roads of the railway line.

Notes

BUS ROUTES

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

Bus 270, Haywards Heath/ East Grinstead calls at Horsted Keynes station.

Car Parking

It is possible to park just down hill from Treemans on the wide verge at the left of the road