Parking is allowed in Barnsgate car park provided you patronise the shop or restaurant. There is alternative parking on the main road at Poundgate car park just above Barnsgate Manor, see sketch map below. 

From Barnsgate upper car park go down onto the main bridleway and turn right opposite the shop. 

†Pass through large wooden gate and continue along for about 250 yards. Where the path meets a wider track only a few yards off the road to the right, there is a right of way from this junction going half right across the heath to Poundgate car park which is off this road. Alternatively if the bracken is high, it may be easier to walk to the right along the road. 

Take the small track opposite the Poundgate car park for a short distance to reach a wide forest "fire ride". Turn right along it. This ride curves left, then right to reach a junction with another ride where you again go right. 
At this point you have joined the Vanguard Way. Follow it out to the A26. The Crow and Gate Pub is to the left. 

Opposite the pub is a bus stop and telephone box and behind this a small hunt gate into a field. Keep forward alongside hedge on left towards a stile in wire fence and the buildings of Newnham Park Farm. 
Continue to go forward towards a splendid panorama southwards to the South Downs. Go through a gate and turn right and make for a stile in the right hand corner. 

You now follow the headland path close to a hedge on your right, watching for a wooden fingerpost pointing left towards woodland. Cross the stile into the wood and follow the winding path to a stile. 

Cross this and go left alongside a hedge on your left. At the next stile follow a wide track forward through woodland until you reach a field and cottage on the right. Not far beyond the cottage turn off right at a fingerpost. At this point you leave the Vanguard Way. Go down the bank and a short flight of steps into the drive leading to Stroods House Farm to the left. Opposite is a beautiful lake. 

Here you may choose to return to your starting point or to include the extra 2½ miles, making a 5 mile walk. 

Details of the extended walk are in the paragraph marked *. 

The short way back is to turn right and then continue up the drive to pass the Lodge and out to the A26. Cross the road into the Barnsgate entrance opposite. This narrow road divides. Take the right-hand fork and pass by the Llama's stable on your way to the Barnsgate car park. If you wish to return to Poundgate car park, the directions are in the second paragraph at the start of this walk. 

*With the lake on your right, turn left for a short distance along the drive. At the fingerpost on the corner of the fence leave tarmac drive and go straight ahead. You are now continuing on the Vanguard Way which is well marked. Cross the field following way-marks to another fingerpost. Here turn left to go up steps into a field. Go forward and then curve away to the right to another fingerpost and downhill to a stile on the right in the hedge. 

From this good vantage point go downhill towards a fence ahead and continue to follow the fence all the way downhill crossing stiles and entering an enclosed section of the path until you reach a footbridge and walkway up the other side. This path becomes a track and brings you out to Chillies Lane in High Hurstwood. 

Turn right and walk downhill until opposite the lane on the left leading to the church. Now turn right and cross a stile into a copse. Follow the path over a footbridge and into a field. Go straight ahead up the field making your way gradually over towards the wood away on your right to find the stile which takes you into the next field. 
Again keep straight ahead still up to a stile which brings you into a lane on a corner. Go to the right and straight ahead to seek a stone footpath marker on the right by the entrance to a house. Take the path leading through Quarry Wood. This passes by Heron’s Ghyll and Temple Grove School over to the left. As the path enters a field keep straight on alongside the hedgerow eventually to meet the fingerpost and steps you used at the beginning of this extension. 

Follow the way-marks back to the lake and then continue up the drive to pass the Lodge and out to the A26. Cross the road into the Barnsgate entrance opposite. This narrow road divides. Take the right-hand fork and pass by the Llamas’ stable on your way to the Barnsgate car park. If you wish to return to Poundgate car park, the directions are as above† at the start of this walk. 
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Walk route: "Printable map"