The Cuckoo Trail in East Sussex is a footpath and cycle route that runs from Heathfield to Polegate, via Horam, Hellingly and Hailsham. It is a great route and a fun way to explore this corner of Sussex. It runs along an old disused railway that was opened in 1880 but closed in 1968. It’s called the Cuckoo Line or Cuckoo Trail after the tradition of releasing the first cuckoo of the spring at the local Heathfield Fair.
Heathfield is a market town, sometimes referred to as Heffle. It’s also a Wealden town which means it’s surrounded by the rich countryside of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It dates back to the 13th and 14th century but prospered in the 16th and 17th industries as a result of the Iron Industry.
Polegate is just north of Eastbourne and although situated on an old Roman road, it didn’t develop as a settlement until the mid 19th century with the arrival of the trains.
Essential information
Parking: The start point in Heathfield is Newnham Way car park. Turn south off the High Street down Station Road and you’ll find it there. There is free parking for 23 hours. At the other end, the trail starts (or finishes) at School Lane just off Station Road in Polegate. It’s a short distance from Polegate train station. There is some on street parking and car parks near the old library and at the train station but you’ll need to pay for this parking. There is further parking at Horam, Hellingly, and Hailsham.
Trains and Route 21: There is a train station at Polegate but not at Heathfield. However, for keen cyclists, from Heathfield you can follow National Cycle Route 21 all the way to Greenwich via a number of towns with train stations such as East Grinstead or Crawley.
Camping and Cafés: There is a campsite at Horam as well as just north of Polegate, and cafés on route (or at least, close to it) at Maynards Green (Iron Horse Café – trailer) and Horam (Cuckoo Café). There are cafés in the various towns on route.
Exits and repairs: There are bike repair stations at either end and you can join or leave the trail at a number of different points along the way.
What to expect
This is roughly a 22.5 km surfaced route along the disused railway line. It’s tranquil and evocative, with a real sense of the past. At times, you can easily imagine a steam train chugging its way through this sleepy landscape.
As you pass through the main towns, the trail is bustling with walkers and other cyclists of all abilities but there are also long stretches between the towns with very few people about. Users of the trail seem well used to each other and dog walkers and cyclists are on the whole considerate.
The Cuckoo Trail passes through a diverse landscape, sometimes wooded, sometimes with views and sometimes with the old railway embankments either side. The route is well maintained and very well signed with lots of way markers letting you know how far you’ve come and how far you have to go. There are also information boards dotted along that tell you more about the old railway line. At times, you have to come off the trail for short sections and pass through the various settlements but nothing too bad.
You also pass over bridges and under bridges, and there are benches and picnic areas for when you want a break. It’s pretty flat but going from Heathfield, it does feel like you’re going down hill for sometime which is great, until you head back!
Look out for
Frenches Halt is just outside Heathfield and is a bit of fun. A local resident whose home backs on to the trail has turned his garden and shed into a signal box. There is a crossing gate, a fingerpost pointing ‘This Way, That Way and No Way’ and a red button (on a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine). Look out for the signal man too. Other things to look out for are the sculpted gateways and sculptures towards Polegate end and the river Cuckmere.
There and back option
If you want to do the whole trail there and back in one day, our recommendation would be start at Polegate and break in Heathfield for lunch before heading back. There are a number of little cafés in Heathfield although you may need to chain your bike at the main Cuckoo Trail car park. From there, it’s a shortish (but uphill) walk into town.
Things to see nearby
There are a number of nearby attractions that include:
- Markly Wood
- Michelham Priory
- Knockhatch Adventure Park
- Herstmonceux Castle
- Bateman’s National Trust
Markly Wood is north of Heathfield and the same disused railway runs through it. It has a magnificent bridge and old tunnel which are worth a look.
If you’re in the area, you may also wish to explore Eastbourne or Lewes.
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