© Colin Saunders, 2006

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

This section goes through relatively low-lying but undulating terrain.  The route from Blackboys is via Hawkhurst, Graywood (to the east of East Hoathly) to Chiddingly with its interesting church.  From there the route is via Golden Cross, Limekiln Farm and Chalvington to Berwick Station and Inn.  A very muddy track has to be negotiated at paragraph 4.9 – a walking stick or pole may be helpful there.

Lowest and highest points: S of Golden Cross, Limekiln Farm, E of Chalvington and Berwick Inn (all 19m); Hawkhurst Common Wood (93m).

4.1.  Cross B2192 at Blackboys Hv with care and TR for 30m to a squeeze-stile (with Woodland Trust disc).  Follow Fp down L side of plantation to telegraph pole.  Bear R on Tk to next telegraph pole then down over culvert.  Follow Fp under telephone wires, down steps and over plank bridge to Tk.  TR to gate and stile on to Rd (Hollow Lane).

(Grid Reference TQ524201)

4.2.  TL and after passing farm buildings (Meadhurst Farm) in 500m, TR through wooden gate to R of entrance to Bushmere.  Go along grass track to next Rd (Bushbury Lane).  Here TL and, where Rd turns R, continue SA along Fp by entrance to Pear Tree Cottage to cross stile and follow R edge of field to Rd.  TR and at first Rd junction TL through gap in hedge.  Bear half R, cross field towards corner of wood but, before reaching it, bear R again along wood edge to Rd.

(Grid Reference TQ531184)

4.3.  TL and after 100m TR on to Tk.  Pass garden and continue SA in field.  Go on through gap into next field and TL to go through another gap in corner into next field.  TR and after about 60m bear half L downhill to cross bridge over stream and stile beneath trees.  Continuing in same direction, go uphill along Tk (faint at first then broad and muddy) which curves round to R.  Cross stile in fixed gate on to Rd (Moat Lane).  TR for 1km to Rd junction (Scallow Bridge).

(Grid Reference TQ538176)

4.4.  TR then immediately TL and go along this Rd for a further 1km, passing barns and Rd junction.  At second junction, with Rd on R signposted to East Hoathly Hv, TL through gate along fenced Fp to L of Graywood House, which continues through wood.  Soon Fp crosses private drive and runs between garden fences.  Continue SA through wood to stile.  Cross Tk to another stile into field and continue SA in same direction over next three fields.  Follow L side of first field, and at end cross stile to L and continue along side of caravan park.  Then cross stile to R into field and shortly go through gate into another field, continuing in same direction.  At hedge corner cross field SA to cross stile in fence, then SA to gate and stile in far R corner.  TL along Tk then TR at Rd for 300m, passing Chiswells Farm.

(Grid Reference TQ547158)

4.5.  At end of hamlet, continue along Rd, passing gates set back from it.  Shortly afterwards climb to stile on R by wooden fingerpost.  (For much of the next 1.5km you will see the spire of Chiddingly Church against the backdrop of the South Downs.)  Cross field SA to corner of fence, passing 20m to R of telegraph pole.  Continue with fence then hedge on R, crossing stiles to keep to R side of the following three fields.  TR at Rd.  Before reaching sign to Hilders Court, TL through kissing-gate with stile.  Go SA to stile.  Follow R side of next field to gate then L side of following field between fences to another gate.  Continue SA past horse trough to another stile into a small plantation and SA to next stile.  Follow L side of field towards church spire, crossing stile and along Fp between hedges to Rd at Chiddingly Hv.

(Grid Reference TQ544143)

4.6.  TL at Rd (Six Bells pub is to R).  Along this stretch of Rd the VW again corresponds with the Wealdway.  Enter churchyard and go along paved Fp to R of church and over stile into field.  Follow R side of field past pavilion to stile by gate and Rd.  Cross half L to stile L of gate.  Cross field half L aiming just to R of hedge corner.  Shortly you will see Place Farm to R.  Keep SA to pass through gate and continue in same direction to stile into wood.  Cross stile and plank bridge and walk through wood to second stile; cross it and TL.  Proceed along L side of field.  Pass L of pond among trees into wood and cross footbridge – note that this section can be waterlogged after heavy rain.  50m further, cross another stile (R of a larger one) into field and turn half R across field, ignoring more obvious field edge path, to walk uphill towards horizon roughly R of centre between two woods.  At top of rise head SA for double stile in hedge.  In next field bear quarter L to stile by trees.  Cross field, passing R of lone tree, to gate into next field then bear slightly R to far R corner and gate in corner of wood.  Go through wood to gate and go SA to Rd (A22) at Holmes's Hill v.

(Grid Reference TQ532129)

4.7.  TL and, just before hairdressing salon (the former Wattle Tearoom), cross Rd.  Note: vehicles come round the bend very fast; it's better to cross by the salon to give drivers maximum visibility.  Go down enclosed and often overgrown Fp to R of salon - watch out for ditch on R which may be hidden.  (If you cannot get through the brambles, return to the road, TR then in 200m turn sharp R along the B2124 Rd; in 200m TL down Tk to Mohair Centre.)  Cross stile in fence and follow R side of field to Rd.  Cross and go down Tk ahead.  Where it divides, go SA on Tk signposted Mohair Centre (Brickfields Farm) H.  At yard between buildings take Tk half L.  At the Centre's shop (with toilets and vending machines) TL past barn, ignoring nature trail signs, and cross stile by gate between ponds.  TR along Fp with red arrows (part of farm trail) and cross two stiles on to Rd by white railings.  (TL along Rd for 500m for Golden Cross Inn H.)

(Grid Reference TQ535122)

4.8.  TR on Rd then immediately TL over stile (keep SA along Rd for 750m for Deanland H).  Go SA to field corner and cross stile by gate.  Cross next field to stile and ditch.  Continue along R edge of next four fields, with stiles in between, which later runs beside a stream.  Ignore stile on R which leads to fishery only.  At Rd TR and after 75m TL down drive through gate signposted Limekiln Farm.

(Grid Reference TQ536113)

4.9.  When drive turns R, continue SA to gate.  Go SA through next field, bearing L at end.  Go through gate to lane.  TR and follow it for 2.5km.  After Mount Pleasant Farm, Rd deteriorates into very muddy and sometimes flooded Tk eventually emerging on Rd near Chalvington (TR here for Yew Tree Inn H, or you can reach it by either of two Fps to R shortly before reaching Rd).

(Grid Reference TQ525091)

4.10.  Continue SA on Rd and TR at Rd junction.  Pass buildings on L then cross stile on L.  Follow L side of field to stile in corner.  Go over stile (beware wet ditch) and cross next field on clear Fp, aiming for large block of buildings to R on horizon.  Cross plank bridge and stile into next field, then go SA towards gap between two barns on horizon.  Enter farmyard then cross Rd to gate L of buildings.  Go round pond and continue along back of buildings, turning L through gate before house, then half R through field.  Aim for large barn behind trees to locate stiles and bridge in field boundary.  Cross these and go towards house (Ludlay) L of barn.  You can cross a stile to follow the Fp through Ludlay’s garden (public right of way), but the VW follows a permissive Fp to R then L at barn.  Follow drive for 300m, then, after second cattle-grid and small barn, TR over stile in fence into field.  Go half L to cross in top R corner into wood.  Follow Fp which emerges from wood to go SA along back of gardens to stile.  TL to Rd then TR to Berwick Station and Berwick Inn Hv.

(Grid Reference TQ526067)

© Colin Saunders, 2006