9
Crawley Down to East Grinstead and to Cowden - 12 miles (Start point
TQ342372)
Parking in layby in Crawley Down at TQ341371, car-parks in Crawley
Down village centre and road-side parking in Cowden and in East
Grinstead town centre
A section which includes two lengths of disused railway, converted for
recreational use with some care for landscaping.
From the layby access the old railway track by taking the short track beside
the B2028 road bridge at Crawley Down (TQ341372). On meeting the old
railway course/SBP turn left (east).
Shortly after passing under the road-bridge pass to the side of a gate and
after 30 yards emerge onto a tarmac road (Old Station Close). Continue to
the shops and road junction by the ‘Royal Oak’ pub, turn right, then where
road curves right, continue ahead along Sandhill Lane.
Curve left with lane and where it divides, fork left along Burleigh Lane.
Where the lane ends (at Burleigh House), go over the stile to left of the
gateway and follow the right-hand edge of the next three fields.
Cross a track, go over a stile and keep straight ahead downhill beside the
left-hand fence. Cross another stile and then a plank bridge over a stream.
Keep ahead along the left edge of two fields. In the second field, where
hedge boundary turns away left, go straight ahead continuing in this field, to
a gap in the hedge and then crossing a third field.
When in line with the buildings of Tilkhurst Farm (about 150 yards away to
right) turn sharply left along a wide unfenced grass strip between two fields.
Maintain direction (NNW) on a faintly defined path across the next field,
passing to the left of a pond (concealed by several trees and bushes).
Carry on in the same direction across another field then pass through a kissing
gate to join the old railway.
Turn right onto the path along railway track bed until reaching East Grinstead
station’s car-park. Continue ahead over the footbridge and down the steps
to the station entrance and forecourt.
From East Grinstead Railway Station take road eastwards past Mid-Sussex
Timber Co. warehouses on left.
At mini-roundabout bear right along London Road and at second miniroundabout left along High Street.
About 200 yards past East Grinstead Church turn left along B2110 (College
Lane).
Cross bridge over bypass in cutting.
After 50 yards, turn right along Estcots Drive and immediately go left along
access drive to Council Offices.
After 50 yards, fork right along narrow lane.
After passing houses, continue along narrow path behind housing estate.
Pass to right of pond and continue along well-trodden path, soon with stream
on left.
After crossing footbridge, fork left, still with houses on right at first.
At T-junction with tarmac drive, turn left out to A 264 at TQ409395.
Turn left for a few yards, then turn right along signed path, soon veering
slightly right downhill across undulating area of patchy grass and scrub to
enter woodland.
Cross plank bridge and stile and head NE across field, aiming for gap in far
corner.
Cross two stiles and driveway and continue on same bearing across another
field.
On the far side, go through gateway with stile beside it into woodland with
pond on right.
In 150 yards, ignore track to right, then cross stream, curve right with main
track and climb to road. Turn right.
About 80 yards short of Old Surrey Hall which faces you, turn left along
fenced path which skirts to left of garden. Bear left and climb within hollow
way.
Where track opens out, turn right along narrow sunken path.
Keep left of pylon and continue between banks to road at TQ424406 and
turn left on road for ¼ mile. Beware this road can be busy at times.
Keep left of pylon and continue between banks to road at TQ424406 and
turn left.
Soon after passing entrance of drive to ‘Old Surrey Hall’ on left and cottage
on right, turn right into drive to ‘Bidbury’ and, immediately, go ahead through
field gate.
Pass to right of barn/stables and, in 50 yards, go ahead over stile.
Descend with plantation on right at first.
In a few yards, where plantation ends, keep straight on, passing to left of pit
and pond.
Immediately beyond pond, turn right over stile and cross field to join drive
over stile near far field corner.
Turn right along drive and, after 70 yards, go left over stile and follow
headland path with stream and belt of woodland on right.
At field corner go over a stile and along woodland track, crossing minor
stream (currently unbridged).
Leave wood and climb between fence and hedge.
Pass between buildings at ‘Old Lodge Farm’ to T-junction with drive and turn
right.
At ‘Dry Hill House’, go right and left between buildings and continue east on
wide track. Just after entering woodland, bear right along clear track.
After a quarter mile (TQ436418), fork left along track through conifer
plantation and then with wood on right, large field to left and good views
northwards.
A few yards after track bends left, turn right through wood and then along
right field edge with wood on right.
Go through bridle gate out into field corner, veer half left across field to stile in
corner and along left edge of next field.
In field corner go through metal swing gate, across track, through similar gate
and on along woodland path.
Follow path through wood, passing swampy pond on right. Path comes out
to corner of next field.
Turn right and follow edge of field.
At corner, turn left and continue along right field edge with woodland on
right.
Ignore first gate on right, continuing along right field edge.
In field corner at TQ448409, go over stile beside gate and head SE along left
field edge.
In next field corner, cross stile to left of gate and descend along right field
edge.
In field corner, go over stile, pass to right of dilapidated building and keep
near left edge of field.
In corner, turn left through wood.
Just short of gate at far side of wood, turn right and, once out into open,
head diagonally across field.
Go through gap and head squarely across next field.
Enter woodland, cross footbridge and climb along narrow woodland path,
ignoring signed path to left.
At top of wood, go through gate to join and follow drive from ’Weystrode
Manor’.
At road (TQ461407) bear right into Cowden village.
Route checked and revised Autumn 2016