14
Northiam to Rye - 11½ miles (Start point TQ829245)
Parking in the village car park in Northiam at TQ829245 and in car parks
in Rye
A series of attractive field paths, now in much better shape than when the
Sussex Border Path was first established in the early 1980s. The last six miles
follow the Rother river bank and present no difficulties.
From car park turn left along main road and after 200 yards; fork left along
slip road, past low metal posts.
Beyond second set of posts, go left along gravel drive which soon curves right
past cottages.
Where drive bends left, go over stile beside gate and follow left field edge,
soon curving right and losing height.
At bottom of slope, go through gap and on in same direction across next
field.
Join and follow ditch on left, ignoring plank bridge over this ditch.
After less than 100 yards, fork left across culvert within belt of trees and follow
cross-field path, diverging at about 20 degrees from power lines on right.
From other side of field go ahead along narrow path which winds through
woodland.
Cross plank bridge and climb bank to leave wood, then head slightly left
across corner of field beyond.
Cross plank bridge and go ahead with fence and bank on right.
After 80 yards, go ahead over stile and keep to right of hedge of mixed holly
and mature trees.
Join road at TQ843242.
Turn left and, at road junction, fork right along Rectory Lane.
In 160 yards, immediately beyond garden of large white house, where road
bends right, turn left through gate, forward along drive for a few yards, then
right through second gate.
Cross corner of paddock to stile, a few yards to right of gate and continue in
same direction across coarse pasture field.
Cross ditch and remains of stile a few yards to right of far left corner.
Follow left field edge, passing small pond on left and curving left.
After 60 yards, go through wide gateway and head half right across field (no
defined path through crop at time of writing).
Go over stile where two sets of power lines meet and follow wide grass strip
out to join road at Beckley through gate (TQ853420).
Turn left along road and, in 170 yards, just past Beckley village hall, turn left
over stile and follow trodden and partially waymarked path through old
orchard, now reverting to picturesque neglect.
Enclosed path then squeezes to left of sewage works.
At upper corner of works area, bear half right across yard, over two stiles and
forward across grass, parallel to sewage works road on right, to reach A268
road at TQ855247.
Turn right and, shortly, go left through gap and follow right field edge gently
uphill.
Near top corner, go over stile on right, cross field corner to second stile and
head across next field using solitary tree as marker.
Go through narrow belt of trees; continue across field and over stile by corner
of woodland.
Follow enclosed path with wood on right and row of planted trees on left.
Follow this wide path out to lane and turn right.
After about 200 yards, just beyond cottage on left, turn left through metal
field gate and follow left edge of field. In field corner, go through gate,
forward to second gate, then right to follow right field edge,
From field corner go ahead along fenced woodland path.
Leave wood over stile and head slightly right across next field to second stile.
Go forward through scattered trees, veering very slightly left across pasture to
cross third stile.
Go forward along left field edge to stile in corner then head half right across
next field.
On other side of field, cross stile and footbridge, then go right over humped
brick bridge, along right field edge for 50 yards and through gate.
Turn left with fence on left.
Where fence turns away left, go ahead across field, over stile and across
rough pasture to another stile.
Now veer slightly left and follow path which takes straight line course across
large field where right of way is marked by occasional wayposts.
Go over stile and through copse to join road and turn left.
Follow road across River Rother and immediately turn right along signed
bridleway along river bank with river on right.
Follow river for six miles to Rye.
At TQ915254, cross B2082 and at TQ936244, divert briefly away from river to
join road and turn right.
Just short of road bridge over Rother, go left across junction of Royal Military
Canal and River Rother with Iden Lock on your left, then turn right to resume
progress along Rother river bank with river on right.
At TQ926206, turn right along A259, across river and into Rye.