17
Scaynes Hill to Ditchling - 6½ miles (Start point TQ368230)
Parking in the Millenium Village Centre or roadside parking in Church
Road, Scaynes Hill and roadside parking in Ditchling
At A272, cross road and follow path which starts to right of The Inn on the
Green PH and between houses.
Cross two estate roads and at junction of lanes, go ahead along metalled
access road signed to Ham Lane Farm.
At TQ360224, just before new house on right, turn right on path down through
wood, (not the concrete track; this turns left so you cross it before reaching
the T-junction).
At T-junction, turn left, leave wood and follow right field edge to stile and on
along tree-lined path, (Ham Lane).
Where the path emerges into the open the going becomes difficult with high
growth and boggy patches. A more amenable route has been trodden out
to the east, which joins the main track again afte about 150 yards.
Follow for two thirds of a mile to road at TQ350213.
Turn left to follow road (Slugwash Lane) for half a mile to Wivelsfield.
Go straight over crossroads at the southern end of Slugwash Lane along
Eastern Road.
Curve to the right with the road and opposite a large oak tree turn left
alongside Oak Cottage on a roughly metalled track.
Just past Woods Cottage enter West Wood.
Here there is a choice of tracks but keep to right-hand one and head almost
due south for a mile or so - always keeping fairly near a fence on right side of
wood. This path can be very muddy in winter.
The track finally becomes a drive and reaches a road at TQ341178.
Here turn right.
In 50 yards, where the road curves to the right at a junction, keep straight on.
Immediately to the left of a road signpost, on an enclosed path at first and,
beyond a stile, along the right edge of a field.
At the far corner, go over a stile and ahead on a track.
In 50 yards, turn left over stile onto Ditchling Common and head south across
the open common.
Keep a look out for a railway bridge ahead and cross it.
On the other side bear left across field under power lines to stile in far left
corner.
The path continues to the south for about ¾ mile.
In 50 yards continue ahead on the path which is now an old wide track,
slightly sunken and very wet in winter, enclosed by mature trees, a so-called
rew.
Cross two stiles and follow path parallel to the rew. Look out for left turn onto
signed path and cross stile back into the rew
50 yards beyond a crossing path, the path enters a field.
Cross six fields, the middle two between three high dilapidated deer fence
gates, and re-enter the rew.
In about 250 yards the path bears right and continues in the rew.
Where path comes out of the rew with a large oak tree ahead, turn left and
continue with hedge on right.
The path passes through a chicken farm using two high gates.
Cross farm track and continue on a few more yards to find a stile in the
hedge on the right.
Cross this and go diagonally half left across the field to a stile, and cross the
next field, trending right to find a swing gate.
Pass stables to another swing gate.
Turn left into an enclosed path.
This joins the track which leads out to Ditchling High Street.
Route checked and revised Spring 2017