Book 2 Walk 18: Etchingham Circular (with options to Robertsbridge or Wadhurst) t=2.18
Distance: Something for everyone:
Main Etchingham
Circular walk: 13.7 miles/ 22.0 km
Shorter walk
to Wadhurst: 10 miles-ish/ 16km-ish (with
options to extend)
Longer walk
to Robertsbridge: 15.5 miles/25 km
Difficulty: 4 out of 10
Train: Take the 9:10
AM Southeastern Hastings bound train from London Charing Cross (9:13 Waterloo East; 9:18 London Bridge) to Etchingham,
arriving 10:33. Return trains from Etchingham are at 18 past the hour; from
Robertsbridge 14 past and Wadhurst 02 and 30 past the hour. Buy a day return to Etchingham – unless
walking to Robertsbridge, in which case, Robertsbridge.
With the
recent spell of dry weather, I thought a foray into the High Weald may actually
be enjoyable during the winter with a reduced mud factor…In checking out the
options, I found this gem which seems to be a bit neglected and I am very intrigued
to explore the route as I am not sure it has been done in quite some time!
For those
wishing for a shorter walk, it would be possible to pick up the walk instructions
for walk SWC 208 after lunch and finish in Wadhurst.…..More information
and the walk instructions can be found here – make sure you print out
the “Wadhurst to Robertsbridge Long Option” PDF instructions, as the intended
route is cleverly hidden within (and there is no GPX).
Lunch: The Bull Inn (01580 200 586) in Three
Leg Cross (near Ticehurst).
Tea: Options limited to none back in Etchingham; the
Ostrich in Robertsbridge or various in Wadhurst.
2 comments:
I've just added the GPX - if you look at the walk's map page, its the red line from Etchingham to Ticehurst (lunch) and Bewl Water path. Then the blue line (the long walk). The long walk continues to Robertsbridge, or you can pick up the red line back to Etchingham.
Perhaps it was the earlyish start or the lack of a GPX file, but only n=4 explorers gathered at Etchingham Station in w=bright-sunshine for an adventure through the High Weald in an old-fashioned manner -- using written instructions! A real pity that so many missed out on such a grand day along a grand route -- it was really lovely. The instructions provide ample guidance along an interesting and varied route with plenty of excellent views. A somewhat less trod area of the weald, we did not encounter many others -- but did see a magnificent stag galloping across a field in the morning and two further roe deer later in the afternoon. Most of the day we were accompanied by a lovely background of birdsong as the fading snowdrops seemed to be passing the baton of Spring onto eager and early daffodils. The lunch pub was very good and the afternoon refreshment options not as dire as described in the walk notes. The Orchard Farm shop passed on the way has been transformed into Planters -- a garden center, licensed cafe, Spar and farm shop all rolled into one. Although they close at 4pm on Sunday, they did not mind yours truly popping in about 10 past 4 to buy a couple of beers for the train -- even better Monday-Saturday, they appear open until 8pm -- with just a 45-minute walk on to Etchingham Station, this would make a fine tea/drinks stop near the end of the walk. Needless to say, we comfortably arrived in time for the 17:18 enjoying the soft evening light on the final approach to the station. A fine day out!
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