© Colin Saunders, 2006

The new, 4th edition of the route description will be available to download later in 2008

From  Moorhouse Bank the VW crosses the relatively flat and "wet" section of the Eden Valley via Troy Town and Haxted Mill to the site of Starborough Castle before climbing to Dry Hill Fort; then over a succession of ridges before dropping down to Forest Row among the headwaters of the River Medway.  The route description used to include an optional diversion into Crockham Hill for the benefit of those staying at the hostel there, but as that has now closed it has been omitted (those wishing to visit the Royal Oak pub at Crockham Hill should refer to their OS maps).  The VW makes contact with the Tandridge Border Path several times in this section.

Lowest and highest points: River Eden (43m); Dry Hill Fort (172m).

2.1.  Cross Rd at Moorhouse Bank Hv and take Bw opposite, which goes at first between fences and swing gate, then SA across field and through two more swing gates into wood.  (Here cross the London Countryway.)  Bear half R uphill and keep SA to reach path junction with signpost.  Keep SA along edge of wood to reach tree-girt depression, then continue SA keeping R of low embankment.  In 70m at fork with signpost, take R fork to reach Rd by lamppost at Limpsfield Chart Hv.  Cross Rd and continue SA along Tk (becoming surfaced Rd) with common on L.  At Rd junction (here cross the Greensand Way; TR  for Carpenters Arms pub) continue SA and pass St.Andrew's Church.

(Grid Reference TQ426518)

2.2.  Cross main Rd (B269 again) to lane (Trevereux Hill; sign to Marie Curie Memorial Foundation).  After 200m keep SA downhill, ignoring entrance drive on R to Marie Curie centre.  After a further 700m at foot of hill, fork R to pass Trevereux Manor.  In 50m cross stile on L in hedgerow opposite Trevereux Cottages and go SA, passing on your L large pond with model temple in island, towards tree by small pond.  For Crockham Hill Hv TL on Fp between ponds.

(Grid Reference TQ431508)

2.3.  Keep SA past smaller pond and continue on faint path across large field to double stile with footbridge over ditch.  This is Kent Brook, where you cross from Surrey (Tandridge District) into Kent (Sevenoaks District).  Go SA across next field, soon joining fence which keep to your R past house and small gate to cross stile on R.  Follow field boundary on your L to gate and stile leading on to Rd.  Go SA on Rd.  (This short stretch of Rd is on the line of a Roman road - actually the Roman equivalent of the VW as it connected London with Seaford!)  The Rd passes Hurst Farm then bears L to drive of Dairy Green on R.  (Old Dairy Farm is the next building along the Rd on your R.  For Crockham Hill keep SA on Rd then at next bend take Fp on L.)

(Grid Reference TQ435501)

NB: Some older editions of Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50 000 sheet 187 show the VW running erroneously along a yellow road west of Crockham Hill.  Please note that the correct line is further east along the footpath running roughly north-south on the east side of Guildables Wood.

2.4.  Follow Dairy Green drive for a few metres to stile on L in fence.  Cross it and, keeping close to L-hand fence, continue up field to far L corner (crossing line of Roman road - see 2.3).  Where trees start, bear R to cross stile in fence, then follow L side of next field for 40m and cross stile L into copse.  Go SA on Fp through copse, then cross stile into field and TR along edge.  In 100m cross stile SA and TR.  Keep SA into small wooded enclosure with pond (may be dry) and leave by another stile on to crossing Tk.  TL for 10m.  TR following field edge to stile in field corner.  Cross stile and go SA along field edge with wood still on your R.  As wood ends and field begins to rise, go SA to stile on L of metal gate and cross to Rd.

(Grid Reference TQ432488)

2.5.  TL on Rd for 30m to gate on R (metal fingerpost), cross stile and follow L edge of two fields.  At far corner of second field, at junction with Bw, TR to follow hedge on your L for 50m and TL through gate (Fp 591 marker) on to enclosed Tk.  TR to Rd at Troy Town.  TL along Rd past cottages to Rd junction.  (TL here for Marlpit Hill and Edenbridge station on the Redhill-Tonbridge line.  For Edenbridge Town Hv station continue to next Rd junction then TL.)

(Grid Reference TQ427478)

2.6.  TR on Rd.  After 100m cross railway bridge (Redhill-Tonbridge line).  TR at Rd junction (Hilders Lane, Little Browns Lane, Honeypot Lane) to follow Rd for 600m (crossing back into Surrey from Kent) to stile on L by farm entrance (Ash Farm).

(Grid Reference TQ421476)

2.7.  Go up field to stile, cross it, continue another 50m to second stile and cross into next field.  Bear slightly R to stile in line of trees.  Cross it and go SA across field.  Just before hedge TL through metal gate with yellow waymark.  In next field continue in same direction on R edge passing defunct stile and farm buildings before bearing R to stile and Rd at Shingle Barn Farm (with "Wintersell Herd" sign).  TL along Rd for 1.7km, passing Dwelly Farm and Haxted Kennels, then TR at Rd junction to Haxted Mill H in 100m.

(Grid Reference TQ419455)

2.8.  Opposite mill and before Rd crosses stream, TL over stile and walk through field with hedge on L.  Cross footbridge and go half L towards road bridge.  Cross stile, TL and cross bridge over Eden Brook.  At fork go L and after 400m, as Rd turns sharp R, go ahead over stile, bear L around line of trees and follow with it now on your R along field to end, where bear slightly L to locate stile.  In next field continue along hedge on R for 30m then SA across field to stile by pond; cross this and TR on Tk at Cernes Farm.  (Here is the start of the Eden Valley Walk which provides a good link to Edenbridge Hv.)  At Tk junction by The Coach House, bear R along Rd with railings to your L until reaching stile on L.  Cross it to follow railings and hedge on your L then cross another stile on to drive.  L is the moat and site of Starborough Castle.  TR along metalled drive (it is worth a short diversion along a Fp to your L here to see the lake with its incongruous narrow boat).  After 200m cross stile on R, go diagonally to far left corner of field and cross stile to Rd (B2028) at Skitts Farm (with Starborough Nursery on R) v.

(Grid Reference TQ425434)

For the Wheatsheaf at Marsh Green H TL for 1.9km along Rd.  Or for the Plough at Dormansland H TR for 2.3km along Rd.

2.9.  TR on Rd for 20m then TL on to clear Bw just before cottages and opposite lane.  Follow Bw through several fields.  At junctions with Fps, keep SA on Bw to L of copse.  At Bw junction TR and in 20m TL through gate (or SA for 1km for Greathed Manor) and bear L uphill along another enclosed Bw which goes through wood.  Where wood ends, TL to follow Bw around L side of field and garden.  At Bw junction by house TR for 75m (here VW corresponds with the Sussex Border Path) then at next Bw junction (by Dry Hill Farm H) TL uphill.  Keep to main Tk which after 350m bears L into Dry Hill Fort.

(Grid Reference TQ431416)

2.10.  TR along Tk on edge of field (with trig point on left at altitude 172m), then after 200m go through gateway to descend straight across field.  At foot of slope, bear R on Tk through trees.  At Bw junction keep SA to concrete Dutch barn by Beeches Farm.  TL to join farm Tk, on which TR and follow for 1km to Rd.  About 1km to left is Scarletts, site of a 17th/18th Centuries furnace which has been excavated by its owner; as well as the furnace itself, it contains a wheelpit for the furnace bellows and a gun casting pit.

(Grid Reference TQ435404)

2.11.  TR on Rd then at next junction TL on Rd for 300m passing Gotwick Manor - take great care on this Rd as it is quite busy and has several blind bends with no pavement.  Just before Gotwick Manor you cross from Tandridge District in Surrey into Wealden District in East Sussex.  At main Rd (A264 at Hammerwood, 5km E of East Grinstead Hv) cross to drive opposite (signposted "To Gotwick Brook and Brooklands") and follow for 500m.  Where lane bears sharp R, TL sharply on Fp passing through gateway beside field.  Keep L for 150m then cross stile by metal gate into another field and TR.  Continue along R side of two fields, passing through metal gate.  At wooden gate into wood, go SA on Bw with ditch on L.  On leaving wood, continue SA on embanked Bw and continue uphill between bushes for 400m.  At Dog Gate Lodge TR on metalled Tk and follow it for 1.5km, passing Owletts House, Barton House and the imposing grey stone Thornhill, all on your L.

(Grid Reference TQ430368)

2.12.  At Homefield Cottage TL, then after 50m TR along rough Tk for 200m to lane.  Bear L and follow lane past Grove Farm Cottages and Home Meadow.  After 200m, where lane bears L, TR (joining one of the Forest Way Circular Walks) and follow Fp through trees crossing several stiles.  Eventually Fp leaves trees at stile then follows R edge of fields, with small reservoir to your L, to join Tk by waterworks.  After 100m cross lane and bear slightly R between concrete posts into car park.  (Here is site of former Forest Row railway station on line now forming Forest Way Country Park, which is also followed by the High Weald Landscape Trail.)  TL then immediately TR along pavement by Station Rd.  Continue along Rd for 300m to Foresters Arms on B2110 Rd at Forest Row Hv (toilets at back of car park).

(Grid Reference TQ426351)

© Colin Saunders, 2006