Distance: 2¼ miles
Time: 1 hour
Description: An easy ramble using footpaths and stiles. Not suitable for pushchairs. The ground can be muddy and difficult with one stile requiring a substantial effort.
The start of the walk is in the centre of Herstmonceux where there is a car park and on street parking. Proceed from the car park, cross the main road and follow the sign to the recreational ground. Continue along the left hand side of the rec. and exit via the metal kissing gate to an open field
Take the diagonal path to the far left corner of the field. Go through the kissing gate and follow the narrow twitten between two fenced properties to Chapel Row and turn left into the road.
Follow the road for about fifty metres and cross over by the “Welcome Stranger” pub sign(A). This is now a private house. Skirt the left side of the building and go through the footpath gate onto farmland. Ahead and slightly to the left the path crosses a series of animal paddocks using metal gates. You are heading for the brow of the hill in line with the windmill on the horizon. After going through the last gate and before the land starts to fall away ahead, turn left along the farm track to the road. Cross over the stile to the right of the farm gate. The road is busy but there is a tarmac footpath. Turn right and continue for about a hundred metres.
Take the footpath between Millers House and the bus stop, diagonally opposite the junction with Victoria Rd. Follow the footpath between the trees, taking a left hand and right hand turn, before continuing between an open field on the left and a wood on the right.
Cross over the stile at the end of the wood and the bridge over the ditch a little further on. Ignore the right hand footpath that runs along the bottom of the field and leads to Flowers Green. Instead, go through a small metal gate and climb diagonally up to the top of the field. Here there are splendid views to Flowers Green. The stile in the hedge at the top of the field is hard to get over.
Once over the stile walk between two horse paddocks. You will see Comphurst Farm in front of you. Cross over the stile to the right of the field gate into Comphurst Lane(C). Turn right in the lane and pass Comphurst Farm House. Ignore the bridle path on the left and carry on past Little Comphurst. Follow the track straight ahead. It can be mudd
Walk along the steep sided path, passing the badgers’ den on the left. The path opens to an oak wood on your left and views of Herstmonceux Place on your right. Leaving the oak wood the path approaches a metal gate, which you go through. Here there is a crossroads of footpaths. Go straight on down the hill. At this point you can see right across Pevensey Levels to the South Downs.
At the foot of the hill ignore the path on the left and the track up the hill. Shortly after the track there is a footpath(D). Take this up the hill to the wood at the top. Follow the path straight ahead through the wood. You will eventually come out onto Church Road.
Turn left and it is a short walk to All Saints Church.
Walking Around Herstmonceux 