Length13.7 km (8.5 miles)
Difficulty 4/10
With gentle hills, classic
woods and tranquil valleys, this walk's attractions include the unspoiled
village of Burwash for lunch. Skull-and-crossbone tombstones in the churchyard
mark the graves of executed smugglers and inside the church is a poignant
plaque to the son of Rudyard Kipling who was missing in action during the
battle of Loos in September 1915. After lunch, it's off to Robertsbridge, along a
beautiful route, which climbs up onto a ridge, has fine views to the north,
then descends with panoramic views directly into the heart of Robertsbridge.
Trains: 09:08 Hastings
train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 09.17) arriving Stonegate 10.18
Trains Return from
Robertsbridge at xx10. (The Ostrich pub is a few minutes away from Robertsbridge station in case you miss your train).
Ticket: Get a return to
Robertsbridge.
Lunch: The Rose and Crown,
Burwash (01435-882600) serves pub food from 12 to 2.45pm. It is west down the
High Street from the church. The Bear Inn (01435-882260), is further along. Bateman's, once the home of Rudyard
Kipling, is a short detour shortly after Burwash. It can be a lunch venue or
early tea-stop but, unless you're an NT member, you have to pay to get in.
Tea: The Ostrich
(01580-881737), close to Robertsbridge station, is conveniently placed to act
as your afternoon tea/beer stop. Or there's the George in the High Street.
Directions can be found
here:https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/stonegate-to-robertsbridge
Strap your boots on tight
for this walk.
T=swc.112
1 comment:
Despite the w=cold-grey weather (and the early train!!) N=15 assembled at the start of this walk. Mr Party Pooper (me!) pointed out that with the morning of the walk being only 2.2 miles, we were in serious danger of getting to lunch too early. So all but one of us started off on the book two Stonegate Circular walk route to add a bit of length. We switched to the specified route at the railway line crossing.
Alas, we still got to Burwash at 11.35, with the pubs not opening till midday. Most of the group did I know not what here (or indeed hereafter), but six (seven?) of us hung around for a pub lunch. Two of us visited the church and found it en fete, with rich Christmas decorations and a tea urn on the go. There is a memorial plaque to Kipling’s son Jack, killed in WW1. One or two others visited a (very small) farmer’s market.
Back at at the Rose & Crown we barged in the doors at 11.53 and inveigled the barman into taking our orders. We had a cosy seat by the fire and the pub to ourselves for most of our time there. Nice food. A huge slab of steak and kidney pie.
In the afternoon the sun tried to struggle through the murk at times and briefly succeeded towards the end of the walk. We trudged along, finding the ground soft in places but not ludicrously muddy considering the season. The scenery was very pleasant and there were occasional dribs of colour on the trees. The time passed pleasantly.
We got to Robertsbridge in what passes for daylight at this time of year. Some got the 4.10 train. Myself and a companion were a bit behind and decided to instead go to the Ostrich for tea (two mugs each!) and chocolates. A third hung back with us and we had a cheery chatty ride home on the 5.10 to the Christmassy confusion of London.
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