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 200 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 left along it for nearly half a mile. 

This leads to the drive and entrance on your right to a house called “Doves Nest”. Opposite you see the high wire fence surrounding the site of the old radio station. 

This radio station was constructed on the orders of Winston Churchill in 1940 to counteract enemy propaganda. Most of the rooms are 50 feet underground and after the war it was converted into a Regional HQ for local government in the event of a nuclear attack. At the present time it is used by the police for training. 

Cross the drive and follow the narrow path to the right of the wire fence. The path joins a wide track near the Crows Nest Clump. Continue to follow the wire fence path as it curves left to reach the main road and cross straight over. Here a small stretch of the Roman Road is visible from the car park approximately 100 yards to the left. 

Pass through wooden gate opposite and go forward to meet a wide track, If you look left you will see it climbs up to Camp Hill Clump, site of an ancient British camp. This is a convinient place for a rest. 

As you pass by to the left of the clump you will see a concrete triangulation marker and two tracks ahead. A short length of concrete is visible on the left track but your way is down the right track which runs fairly close and parallel to the main road on your left. Follow this downhill. 

Take the second track off to the left to cross the road. Almost opposite is a small bridge with handrails leading to another broad track going uphill, with private property on your left. 
At the junction of paths at the top look to your left and take the narrow path between bushes which skirts round the outside of the private property all the way to the road. 

As you get near the road you sometimes meet a boggy area which is crossed by a narrow plank bridge. Pass through a metal “pinch stile” onto the road. 

Your way ahead is to cross over and enter the track opposite but at this point you may wish to visit the Duddleswell tea rooms, if so, they are to your right about 150 yards down the road on the left. 

Having crossed the road and entered the track you meet a tarmac drive. Turn left down tarmac drive towards house and at house turn left again into an enclosed path. 

Follow the path ignoring tracks off until it peters out, then go right a short way downhill to join a wider path and go right again for a few paces to turn left along another path. 

This narrow path with a double entrance goes downhill fairly steeply and then widens. It is a bit rocky as it nears a footbridge with handrail over a stream at the bottom. Then the path climbs up between young trees and becomes less well defined. Now look for yellow bands on some trees which mark the route, forward and left. Soon you come to a gate leading into a field. 

Look ahead slightly to the right to notice a stile with yellow way-mark half way up the field on the right hand boundary. Cross the lane and enter woodland path opposite. There is a house down on the right. The woodland path crosses a small ditch, curves to the left and eventually emerges on a bend to a gravel vehicular track. 

Go left and follow this track which crosses the Weald Way path. You will see Barnsgate Manor and vineyard to your right. The track bends slightly to the left and continues as a bridleway and onto a fingerpost on the right. 

This bridleway will take you back to Barnsgate passing the track on your left that you used to reach Poundgate car park. 
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Walk route: "Printable map"