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This short walk includes a preserved section of the London (Peckam) to Lewes Roman Road at Holtye. This was built in the 2nd century AD. It was in use until the early 5th century. From near Bassetts Farm there are fine views of East Grinstead Church round towards Hartfield. Refreshments available at the White Horse. About 150 yards to the east of the White Horse Inn at Holtye on the A264 is a rough lay-by for parking. Another 50 yards east is a gate and stile leading to the site of the Roman Road. Go over the stile and straight on downhill, past the fenced-in section of the Roman Road and then cross the bridge. Go ahead uphill with a hedge on your left. At the top turn half left for three or four yards then right along narrow path through copse to exit at fingerpost. Follow the finger which points straight ahead across a large field and then follow the woodland on left to the far corner by a pylon. Turn left through a copse then one or two yards right into an old orchard. Turn left to a hunt gate. Go through the gate and follow the line of a fence on right as far as the farmyard at Bassetts Manor. Do not enter the farmyard, but go left uphill. Keep straight on, following the hedge on right, passing two iron field gates until you reach a barrier and stile, cross over into woodland to another stile. You will soon reach Chantlers Farm and the track becomes a well-surfaced lane. Just beyond the drive to Scraggs Farm on the left, look down the bank to a stile leading into a field with two man-made ponds. Pass by these, well to the left as far as a telegraph pole. Go up the bank on the left to a stile and gate leading into a field. Look half right, you will see a house and garden partly enclosed with a wire fence. Walk towards the wire fence on the right-hand side where there is a stile half way along. Turn right along the fence then left round the corner to an opening onto the A264. Cross carefully and walk a few yards left to find a concrete way-mark through the hedge and bushes onto Sweetwoods Golf Course. Walk the length of this course keeping to the trees and bushes on your right. Where there are no bushes keep straight on. As you begin to drop down, go through a gap and down to the club house. Follow the stony road keeping the main buildings on your left. At the top of rising ground another track branches off to the left. Ignore this and carry on along the way ahead until you come to the road which to the left leads back to the White Horse and to the right, into Cowden. However, a pleasant way back to the car is to turn right and walk downhill to the first turning on the left. A little way along this minor road is a bridleway on the left hand side. There are two or three steps to start with, the way then climbs up between the trees and eventually comes out on the level on Holtye Golf Course. The path is well marked. Continue along it passing on open area at a fairway on the left. Cross straight over along the path to the trees on the other side, then look for a low post with a blue cap and arrow pointing to a narrow path going up to the left.At the top you come out into the open and keep straight on to a short sunken path to cross the road here and onto the other side. By looking right you will be able to see the White Horse pub on the A264. To reach it, cross over the
fairway here along a slightly sunken path to the trees ahead, then turn
right to follow along the edge of the golf course until you come to
the road junction opposite the pub.The cars will be to the left. |
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