Riverside Walks

"When walking by a river or stream you are invited to follow"

Our Walks

Select a walk

Walk 1 - Isfield Old Carriage Road

Walk 2 - Lewes Pells to Hamsey Island

Walk 3 - Isfield, Vuggles Farm & River Uck

Walk 4 - Upper River Uck, High Hurstwood

Walk 5 - Slaugham Furnace & Mill ponds

Walk 6 - Lewes Brooks circular walk

Our advice is to wear some suitable walking boots or shoes as the ground can be very uneven and muddy especially during the winter months. Take the appropriate OS map for the walk and a printed copy of the directions.

This walk is just over 5miles in length, and takes in the River Uck (one of the main tributaries of the River Ouse), and the High Hurstwood Stream. The streams on this walk are wonderfully natural, and so are ideal habitat for fish and other wildlife. Views across the Uck valley are also a feature as are Marsh Marigolds (or Kingcups as they are also affectionately known) in the springtime.

OS Map	Explorer 135
Distance	5 miles

Please note that the Waypoints given in the directions refer to the numbered dots on the map to the right. The grid references indicated by the blue text were recorded using a GPS, it may prove useful to plot these on your map prior to commencing the walk. Download a printer friendly version of this walk...

Directions

Start - TQ49452581, From High Hurstwood village hall turn left onto the road, and walk a short distance to the lane by the side of the Maypole pub. Turn left onto this lane and continue for about ½ mile until you get to Royal Oak Farm, and Mount Pleasant Farm.

Waypoint 1 - TQ4995260, Turn right on to the Vanguard Way , and continue to junction of paths. At the right hand bend on the Vanguard Way there is a footpath to the left.

Waypoint 2 - TQ50292590, Take the footpath to the left, and continue to junction of paths. Cross the stile on the right, a short distance down the track before you approach the house at the bottom. Enter High Hurstwood Nature Reserve. Do not cross over the stream.

Sleeches

Waypoint 3 - TQ50702594, At the junction take the left path through the gate on your left. Keeping close to the wooded area to your right proceed to the next footpath junction in the woods. Turn right into the field close to its north boundary, and head East South East across the field to Sleeches.

Sleeches Viaduct

Waypoint 4 - TQ43101962, At Sleeches turn right onto the track and then immediately left onto the road. Continue to Lower Sleeches Farmhouse. Pass the stables and cattery on your left. Take the footpath on your right to pass under the railway, and cross the stream twice by means of footbridges. This railway is the Uckfield to Oxted line. The stream now on your left is a tributary of the River Uck. The heron prints in the mud are a sure indication that this stream supports a number of fish.

Footbridge crossing the stream at Sleeches.

Cross the second footbridge over the stream near Sleeches

Waypoint 5 - TQ51332601, After crossing the 2 nd footbridge turn right heading approximately South to a T-junction of paths. This path passes close to a very natural looking stream. If you look to your right at the metal cattle feeder that is just before the footbridge you will see a well trodden deer path on both banks. The deer are more than able to jump over the fence even without a run up! Cross the stile immediately after the bridge and then head diagonally across the field. Keep well to the left of the pill box, and head to the small clump of trees in the middle of the field. The post marks the junction of the footpaths.

Waypoint 6 - TQ51472520, Take the left hand path – head for the footbridge by Howbourne Farm, and then to the junction of paths a short distance ahead. The footbridge takes you over the River Uck, and then between the tennis courts and the Oast House.

Waypoint 7 - TQ51592512, Turn right onto the path, and continue to the junction of paths by the far boundary of the garden of Howbourne Cottage.

River Uck at Howbourne Farm

Waypoint 8 - TQ51522466, Turn right through the gate into the garden then over a style into the field, crossover the track that leads to Foxhole Farm heading for the woodland at the far side of the field. At this point you have views across the Uck valley towards Crowborough. Pass through the woodland and continue across the next field following the path signs into the next wooded area. Pass through the trees to a T-junction of paths.

Waypoint 9 - TQ50852432, Turn right onto the path passing through the woodland to the point where the footpath crosses the Vanguard way. Through the wooded area you pass over a stream. The red ochre colouring does not mean the stream is unhealthy but is simply an indication that the underlying geology contains a lot of iron. During the first two centuries of the Roman occupation, and then again in Tudor and early Stuart times, the Weald was the main iron-producing area in Britain . Continue straight over the Vanguard Way , uphill to the top of the field where you will find an area of concrete at the end of a track.

Waypoint 10 - TQ 50512430, From the end of the track fork right diagonally across the field to style in hedgerow, turn right and pass over the railway line. Continue over the footbridge over the River Uck, and on to Fowley Lane , crossing the stream twice on your route. After crossing the River Uck, the stream on your right is the High Hurstwood Stream. With its gravel base, and the riffle and pool nature of its course this is classic brown trout habitat. Riffles are areas of the stream where the sediment is generally coarser, the water shallow, and the flow fairly fast. The pools on the other hand have finer sediment, the water is deep, and the flow much slower. It is the combination of both situations that the trout favour.

Sandstone rocks at the Hermitage, High Hurstwood.

Sandstone rocks at High Hurstwood.

Waypoint 11 - TQ49832499, At Fowley Lane turn left, and then almost immediately right onto the footpath. As you enter the open field from the wooded area note the grey rocks over to the left, these have an interesting history and have a cave once inhabited by a hermit. A sandstone seam (Lower Tunbridge Well sands) runs through the area as in other parts of the Weald. Continue to the crossing of paths, crossing over the High Hurstwood Stream as you do so. In springtime the boggy area on the right bank of the stream is coloured yellow with Marsh Marigolds, which make a stark contrast to the red ochre staining the mud.

Waypoint 12 – TQ49442546, Continue straight ahead to the road by White Coppice Farm. Turn right along the road and return to the starting point.