West Hoathly - Gravetye - Weir Wood - West Hoathly

Ian Runcie

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West Hoathly - Gravetye - Stone Farm Rocks, Weir Wood - West Hoathly

Walk through woods and fields via the grounds of the Gravetye Manor Estate, an upmarket hotel and restaurant. Whilst walking through the estate you will hear the steam trains on the Bluebell Railway and later we will cross the line. We visit the Kingscote vineyard where tastings can be arranged. The walk passes a group of rocks, which are popular with learner climbers and have been designated a site of special scientific interest. From here there is an impressive view of Weirwood Reservoir, a very pretty lake. Carry on to the hide at the lakeside. This end of the lake is a nature reserve with restricted access and contains great crested grebes and ospreys in season. Remember to allow for time in the hide.

A visit to the hide involves ten minutes' road-walking and it could always be visited separately by car.

The walk can be shortened to about 3.5km by joining up Waymarks 7 and 17.

England - South England - West Sussex - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Wildlife, Woodland

5/2/2016 - Graeme Wiles

Been very careful crossing the road at the beginning of this walk as it's very difficult to see traffic approaching from the right. It's also extremely muddy especially after a wet winter. Walked in early April 2016.

7/28/2014 - Ian Runcie

The changes mentioned in the comments by Geraldine Keeping have now been incorporated.

6/13/2014 - Geraldine Keeping

This was a fabulous walk, did it last night after work, beautiful warm sunny June evening. The dog swam repeatedly in the lake, the little river, the pond and then the reservoir. But the directions need some correction: at the start of the walk it needs to say 'park in the old part of the village....then, facing the Cat pub, take the left hand fork with the pub on your right and follow the road, past the school on your right to the end. Cross over the busy road and walk down the lane with the West Hoathley garage on your right. 3. You can't walk across this field in Summer, there is no footpath across it and the field is planted with high crops. You have to hug the right hand edge of the field until you see a footpath sign in the corner, then enter the woodland. 18 This gate is now padlocked shut with barbed wire over the top, go 50m further up the lane and there is a stile. 19 Over the stile and into the wood for about 500m (it's really helpful if you provide distances) 20 Turn left on a lane and after about 50m turn off right again, back onto the footpath through the wood. 21 Walk about 500m through the wood back to waymark 3 near the pond.

8/1/2011 - Kay Birch

Many thanks to Ian Runcie for this lovely walk which we did on 31 July 2011 with 2 children (12 and 6). Very well signposted and easy to follow. The wooded sections were particularly lovely - saw deer three times.

3/31/2011 - Walkingworld Administrator

Many thanks to Ian Runcie for his updates for this walk. March 2011. Adrian (Admin)

1/3/2011 - John Dennison

We did the walk in early January 2011. We enjoyed it very much.

7/21/2009 - Walkingworld Administrator

This walk was updated July 2009.