The High Weald Landscape Trail is a 145 km route that starts in Horsham in West Sussex and ends in Rye in East Sussex.
Along the way, it passes through or near Cuckfield, East Grinstead and Groombridge. Then it leaves Sussex and heads into Kent via Matfield and Rolvenden before re-entering East Sussex for the finish at Rye. Borde Hill, Wakehurst, Standen House and Groombridge Gardens are all on route.
The High Weald Landscape Trail
The official route starts at Railway Station in Horsham and ends at Strand Quay, Rye. For those that want to walk the whole trail, it is broken down into seven sections of varying lengths between 20 km and 30 km (although the last section from Flackley Ash to Rye is just 7 km). You will need Ordnance Survey Explorer 134, 135, 136 and 125. It is waymarked with an an image of a tree and church.
The High Weald is an historic area. Weald means wilderness or forest and the High Weald is made up of woods, grassland and heathland. It dates back to before the Domesday Book and these days is a diverse landscape of meadows, heathland, hop gardens, orchards, woods, and hammer ponds. It is considered to be a Medieval and quintessentially English landscape and The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is the fourth largest such are in the country.
Horsham to Cuckfield
The first stage of the HWLT takes you from Horsham out to St Leonard’s Forest. From there you pass through Slaugham and Warninglid, walk close to the vineyard at Bolney before emerging in Cuckfield via Cuckfield Park. This section is just over 23 km.
Cuckfield to East Grinstead
From Cuckfield you head east and then north to Ardingly Reservoir and passed Ardingly College. You carry on north close to Wakehurst and on to West Hoathley where you pass Gravetye Manor. You walk through woods before emerging at Weir Wood Reservoir from where you pass Standen House and head into East Grinstead. At27 km, it’s one of the longest sections of the trail.
East Grinstead to Groombridge
Heading out of East Grinstead, you pick up a section of the Sussex Border Path as you head south to Forest Row. Then it’s cross country to Hartfield (you’re just north of Ashdown Forest) before on Withyham and then Groombridge skirting the north of the forest. This section is a doable 21 km.
Groombridge Matfield
Prepare to leave Sussex. This section takes you just south of Tunbridge Wells (still in Sussex) before making a break for the border and heading north east into Kent via the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk and then on to Matfield. This section is 22 km.
Matfield to Rolvenden
Still in Kent, on this section you walk due east to Brenchley and then gradually south to Goudhurst, Cranbrook and Beneden before you finally make it to Rolvenden. This section is the longest at 30 km.
Rolvenden to Flackley Ash
If you’re missing Sussex, fear not, because after a deviation north to Tenterden, you start walking south to Wittersham and back into Sussex at Flackley. Look out for where you cross the Sussex Border Path and the River Rother. This section is 20 km.
Flackley Ash to Rye
You’re on the home straight with just a short 7 km section. The route takes you via Peasmarsh before ending at Strand Quay in Rye.
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