The detailed route follows this descriptive narrative.

27/02/00

The sky was a leaden grey with a stiff breeze and no enticement whatsoever to get out of bed. Fortunately, I remembered the Greyhound Inn at Hever. In no time we were in the pub and sampling the draught Belgian Hoegaarden beer. It looks a bit like home made ginger beer, but is even more refreshing.

The Greyhound, Hever

After a beautiful Aberdeen Angus steak sandwich on my part and a tuna sandwich, sans mayonnaise, for Louise, we headed off for whatever the afternoon brought.

Update 23 October 2001 - The Greyhound has changed hands. The Belgian food and beer have gone and so has the Sunday afternoon pianist and teh saucy seaside postcards from the Gents. The food and beers are a poor substitute for the previous fare.

The first part of the walk was along the lanes by the pub. Quiet and pretty enough, it was still nice to leave them and enter the woods. Actually, I can't think why, because the track was surfaced in deep mud and everything else was a dull green, but this was February.

So why go walking in mud and surroundings the unremitting colour of a soldier's underpants? I can sort of explain it thus. It's a bit like salt, which is composed of two poisons which neutralise each other. We leave the insanity of urban life to indulge in the insanity of walking in a circle, or nowhere. Somehow, the two cancel each other out and we feel sane and rejuvenated. That theory may be complete cobblers, but it works all the same.

The mud was not sticky here, but it was quite slippery. Still, we made it to Hill Hoath without falling into it. On the way, we spotted our first primrose of the year, a small virginal lemon-coloured moon in a universe of drab. A couple of Redstarts flew past too. So much colour all of a sudden.

The track over Moor wood.

The next stage was through a different type of mud. This was tenacious, hospitable stuff, the kind that doesn't want you to leave. Louise had her boot sucked off her foot and we had a hard time getting it back.

We made it out of there and continued along the Eden Valley Walk for a short stretch. There were some clumps of snowdrops near the estate houses opposite Park Wood and a new hen run with Light Sussex hens. The owner was just feeding them and we chatted for a while about foxes, fencing material and the eating quality of the Light Sussex. I kept poultry for over 10 years, so had a mutual interest.

  Snowdrops, Eden Valley.    Scots pines, Eden Valley Walk.  Rectory Lane junction.

Further on, we wandered along Pigdown Lane, passing the farm and a pair of hissing geese, guarding the front gate. They made sure we didn't linger and came out to see us on our way.

Sentry Geese in Pigdown Farm

The next stretch was on a waterlogged pasture, which was fine because it cleaned our boots of the mud.

After that, it was a short distance to the Greyhound across a drier pasture and enclosed path.

The theory worked, you'll be pleased to know. We are both sane again, at least until tomorrow.

The Route:

Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 147.

Distance: 6.44 km (4 miles).

Start: Greyhound pub, Uckfield Road, Hever

Grid reference: TQ442471

From the Greyhound pub, face the road and turn left along it, going slightly uphill.

Disregard Pear Tree Farm and Pigdown Lane on your left and keep ahead on the road.

About 70 metres further on, take the road to the left, signposted to Chiddingstone and Wilderness Farm. At the end of the lane, you come to a junction opposite a newly thatched black wooden barn at Wilderness Farm, where you turn right.

At the next road junction, turn left into a footpath which leads to a forestry track. Continue along this broad track, soon passing a pond on the right and a crossing track.

When a path joins from the right, you should see a metal gate ahead. Cross the stile and continue ahead into a field. The path ahead is quite distinct.

The path becomes enclosed between a barbed wire fence and a wood with rhododendron and laurel bushes along it's edge.

Next, the path goes through a field; keep within the enclosed barbed wire fence. About 80 metres before reaching the next gate, look half left to where it is possible to see Bough Beech reservoir, some 4km (2.5 miles) distant.

Cross the stile by the metal gate and proceed ahead on the track. This will take you along the right edge of this wood with a line of dying Scots pines on the left. Some are riddled with woodpecker holes.

After a while you will see a short stave with two finger post signs, one pointing back to Hoath Corner and the other to Hill Hoath ahead. Stay on the path and continue ahead to Hill Hoath.

After you have been on the track for two kilometres (1.1/4 miles), you should reach the outskirts of Hill Hoath Farm. Here you will pick up the Eden Valley Walk. Turn left and follow the Walk.

After about 400 metres, there is a junction of paths. At this point, there is deer fencing to your left and a double metal gate to your right. Turn right to cross over the stile in the middle of the metal gates and then turn left, still on the Eden Valley Walk.

The path goes downhill and crosses a footbridge to an enclosed path. Cross a stile and follow the enclosed path left as it rises up to a lane.

Cross the lane to a path into a wood. There are a few houses to your right and after 20 metres you cross over their drive to continue ahead.

After a path lined with a few Scots pines, you pass Bothy House on the left with the hen run on your right. Just past The Gardens House and before a gate with "Private Road" on it, turn left into an enclosed path.

Over the next stile, enter a field and go ahead, keeping to the right hand hedge. In the far right hand corner, pass through a short enclosed section to the next field.

Again, proceed ahead, keeping to the right hand hedge. Cross the next stile and head for a metal fence across the field, directly ahead, in a south-westerly bearing.

Go across the stile and about 20 paces ahead, you come to a lane. Keep to the same direction and follow the lane uphill, passing Rectory Lane on your right and following the sign for Mark Beech and Cowden.

Pass Pigdown Farm and just after the last garden boundary, turn right into a public footpath. This takes you over a stile into a field.

Once over the stile, go half right across the field, aiming for a stile in the right hand hedge, 20 metres from the far right hand corner.

Cross this stile which is by a stream, then cross another stile a few paces on and turn right in the next field.

Keep the hedge and ditch to your right, and at the end of the field you come to a stile, with a pond to your right.

Cross the stile, and ignoring another stile immediately in front of you, turn left along this enclosed path with sheep fencing to the left and a hawthorn hedge to the right.

At the end of this enclosed section, climb over the stile and proceed ahead, following the right hedge around to another hidden stile by a pond.

Cross the stile into another enclosed pathway. This soon takes you back to the Greyhound.