[1] From the Church walk towards the farm yard. Cross the stile just past the church yard wall. Walk diagonally right towards a stile in the fence opposite. Do NOT go through any of the gates. Follow the path down hill in the field towards a gate by an oak tree and cross the stile. Turn left and follow the path through field boundaries until you see a metal gate above the level you have been walking and to the right. Pass over the stile and turn right along the “river bank”. All the waterways here are called ditches or sewers. Follow the path and notice a way mark which turns right. After a few yards the path bears left and reaches a gate and stile. Go over the stile and bear left across the bridge. Pass by the New Bridge Environment Agency pumping station. Follow the road round until you pass the entrance to a cottage and some gates. Pass through two bridle gates and into a field. The track eventually becomes a narrow path with vegetation both sides. Continue until reaching a wide right hand bend with a foot bridge to the left. Cross the foot bridge.
[2] The land is quite open here and there is a drain on the right. Cross when you come to a foot bridge with a squeeze stile. For the next part, when the meadow grasses are tall you will probably only be able to see the next foot bridge, and they can be difficult to see until accustomed to what you are looking for. Go over several drains by this means until coming to a field where there is a gate exit. Turn sharp right here, through another gate and follow a wide track until it opens out into a wider space. The track continues and there are two gates. Go through the second gate and almost immediately through a gate to the left. Make for the foot bridge, again going through a series of fields and bridges until coming to an overgrown path which leads on to a main track. Turn right her and almost immediately left through a gate. The land looks much more open and ahead is a narrow drain with poles to the left of it. Keep to the left of the drain. Keeping in the same direction (you are at the top end of Down Level now), slightly east of South if you have a compass. You pass ponds on your right. There are no way marks here. After you have passed 3 ponds take a right which will lead to an embankment. Look for a foot bridge in the direction you have been traveling. Cross this and shortly afterwards cross another which has brambles on it.
[3] Take a 45 degree angle across the field, in time you will see a footbridge. Cross it and notice some buildings over to the right. Make for them and go through a metal gate. After this is a smaller gate, on the right. Very rusty and tied with rope. Go through and on to the road. Turn left and follow the road, ignore the first left turn and continue to reach Rickney Farm. We saw free range turkeys on the road complete with chicks! The road bears left at the next junction, past the Environment Agency pumping station. Go through the gate on the left into the field beside the pumping station.
You can make a short detour to Chilley Farm here for refreshments. Carry straight on on the road. The road bends to the left. At the second bend take a footpath to the right, which rejoins the road later. When you come to the road again turn right. You quickly come to Chilley Farm. There is a farm shop selling a variety of produce and refreshments and also a covered outdoor area where you can consume them. Opening Times: Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 4pm Sunday: 10am - 1pm Return the same way
[4]he route now follows the ditch/sewer through a number of fields. Continue until you see a way mark on the bank side, at the 9th field, and another way mark ahead and to the right. Follow the hedge boundary to arrive at a gate.
[5] Follow the hedged path which bends to the right and opens out on to a boundary between fields. To the left notice the land rising towards to church. At a T-junction turn left and start to climb up the only real incline there is on this walk. The road eventually arrives at a farm yard. Cross the this, out the opposite side and turn left. You are back at Herstmonceux Church.