This walk takes you through the nature reserve where you may wander at will along its many paths. The route given here is part of a three mile walk which also includes the reservoir path and the Ash Grounds for splendid views.
 
This car park is off the main drive to Standen from the West Hoathly Road. It is on the right hand side and plainly marked, St Anthony’s Car Park.

To commence the walk leave the car park by a narrow path between the trees which goes towards the house. As you reach the end, cross over the drive to a small gate marked “Nature Reserve”. The path leads down into the wood. Here in spring time it is a sea of bluebells. A scene like this is often a clue to its being an ancient wood, one that has been undisturbed by the plough for hundreds of years.

This whole area was part of a great tract of forest that covered most of Kent and Sussex when the Romans arrived. The Roman name for it was Anderida while the Anglo Saxons called it Andreasweald and to both it was an impenetrable obstacle to travellers.

At the information board and finger post at the bottom of the slope take stock of your position. To follow this walk take the unmarked path which is not indicated by a finger post and is the one on the left. This leads to Jenkins Wood. At first this runs parallel with the boundary of the wood high on your left, keep to the main path and within the wood. The ground rises and falls until you pass Spring Pond on the right.

Keep straight on watching for a flight of six steps leading down on the right. Follow this path now and another flight of steps leading to a high footbridge with handrails passing over Barrow Pond. Time to pause awhile to spot any wild life to be seen.

At the junction at the end of the bridge turn right. Go on to a finger post where you turn left and at the next finger post turn right over a small bridge. By crossing another small bridge you will soon reach the “T” junction in Jenkins Wood. Turn right and over the stile.

Look up straight ahead to identify two stiles up on the skyline and against the woodland. Make for the right hand stile at the right hand end of the wood, cross over into another field and go ahead to a stile in the far left hand corner and so into a pleasant lane with the buildings of Standen and its car park over to the right. You will need a membership card or entrance ticket to enter here.

Turn left along the lane into woodland. Keep to this main path which winds slightly at first, then turns a positive corner to the right. From there it is a straightforward enclosed lane down towards the reservoir. At the end is a stile into a field and ahead the wire fence and footpath which follow the border of the reservoir. Walk towards the stile and finger post to get onto the border path.
Turn right and follow the path until at the far side of a small copse there is an information board on the left hand side just before a stile into more open country. The border path continues on along the edge of the water, but the views, are better higher up. As you are now in an area of open access you do not have to follow the right of way, but here turn right and go up the slope keeping to the trees and bushes on the right, passing a stone water trough until you are level with the cow sheds.

On a post here is the sign indicating the end of the open access, so turn left along a cart track to a gate. This is often locked. Look left down hill to see a stile in the fence. Cross over and then regain the track. By the gate post look for a narrow path climbing up the hill to reach a finger post and a wider track.

Before turning right to continue uphill, stop to have a look not only at the view but the rocks and trees around you. The information board a little further up the path will tell you about the history of the Ash Grounds and that there is evidence that Stone Age man once found shelter among these rocks.

Above the board is a stile for you to cross and follow the enclosed lane up into the open. There is a good view of Standen over to the right. The path now runs straight ahead alongside the fences on the right up to an old kissing gate at the top right hand corner of the field. The headland path now becomes enclosed and leads you back to the drive to the main gate to Standen. Just before stepping onto the drive, look left for the narrow path between trees which you followed from St Anthony’s car park.

As you came along the last enclosed path you will have spotted the imposing sandstone buildings of Saint Hill Manor, now the head quarters of the Church of Scientology. It was built in 1792 by Gibbs Crawfurd and has had a succession of notable owners since then. During the 1939-45 war it became a convalescent home for the burned airmen who were patients of Sir Archibald McIndoe the famed plastic surgeon from the Queen Victoria Hospital.