SWC Walk 3 – Cowden
to Eridge
Length: 21.2 km
(13.2 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 370 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5
hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
or
Ashurst to Eridge
Length: 16.0 km (10.0
mi)
Ascent/Descent: 330 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4
hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
For the full walk take the 09.08 Southern service from London Bridge to Uckfield (although the departure board may say
‘Crowborough’, as a bus replacement is in place south of there), arrives Cowden 09.53; or the 10.08 train if walking the short version (arrives Ashurst 10.58, just about when the long walkers pass by).
Return trains: XX.50 (62 minutes journey
time). All three stations are on the Uckfield line. Buy an Eridge return ticket.
This is a beautiful walk on the Kent/East Sussex border
in classic, pretty Weald territory of pasture, woods and hills. In the lunchtime village of Hartfield you will find Pooh
Corner, selling all kinds of paraphernalia relating to AA Milne's famous
creation. Withyham has several
interesting buildings. The path into the village goes through the grounds of Old Buckhurst, in its time one of the
largest houses in England but with only a stone gatehouse standing today. Next
to the impressive Rectory, a corner
of the adjacent Monk's House has been cut off, supposedly because one 19th
century Rector wanted to be able to see Old Buckhurst, the home of his
ancestors. The Church of St. Michael and
All Angels contains full-size reproductions of four 14th century
Italian paintings and some impressive monuments.
Lunch is
either at the Anchor Inn, Hartfield
(10.9 km/6.8 mi into the
full walk, 5.7 km/3.6 mi else, food until 15.00 hours), or at The Hay Waggon just next door, or at
the Dorset Arms, Withyham (13.3 km/8.3 m into the full walk, 8.1
km/5.1 mi else, food served until 14.30 hours).
For tea in
Eridge, The Huntsman right by the station seems to
be the only option, it is open all afternoon these days.
A further shortcut is possible around lunch (cut 3 km and
the two pubs in Hartfield). Details in the walk directions, found here,
as are map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files.
T=swc.3
L=swc.3
5 comments:
is anyone doing the short version please ?
Where can I find the walk direction ? It is not in the linked page.
From the linked page click on the respective tab: 'Download Walk (pdf)'
I found it. Thank you, Thomas.
n=7 w=dry-then-wet-then-dry
5 intrepid souls alighted from the train to start the slide through the muddy fields and hills. 2 others had taken the later train to walk from Ashurst ('caught' at lunch). V beautiful countryside, quiet and undulating, with a fair amount of far views and gushing streams. Muddy paths, slithery hillsides, churned paths and lots of standing water turned this into a proper workout. We decided early on that the Withyham pub would be our lunch choice, so from the church in Hartfield spared ourselves the short out-and-back into the village. Fabulous lunch at the Dorset Arms (we took over the table from the short walkers). Welcome bevvy stop at The Huntsman in Eridge. 15.50 train for some, 16.50 for the others.
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