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Bedelands and edge of Ditchling Common

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 3 hours

Length 10.2km / 6.3mi

Route developer: Erica Bentley

Route checker: chris smith

Start location Bedelands Car Park Burgess Hill
Route Summary Explore hidden places around the Burgess Hill area. There are some short inclines but on the whole it is flat, there are stiles, many of them dog friendly, and it is accessible by public transport.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

The walk begins at Bedelands Nature Reserve Car Park, which is also beside Hillians Football Club car park.  Access from Leylands Road (running between A273 and Wivelsfield Station), Leylands Park and left into Maple Drive.  The Nature Reserve is well sign posted from Leylands Road.

It is also possible to join the walk at Wivelsfield Station and Wivelsfield Green.  See red in the text.

The walk can also be reached by train or bus from Wivelsfield Station (www.traveline.info ) and you can join at Wivelsfield Green (www.thesussexbus.co.uk).  Joining the walk at those places is in the route guidance.

 

Description

[1]  From Bedelands Nature Reserve Car Park walk to the end of the car park furthest away from the Pavilion. Turn right keeping the hedge to the left.  At the corner of the field go through a kissing gate and right over a bridge.  turning right at a 2 way post.  At a Y fork keep left, then turn into the field, making for a gap in the trees diagonally across. Pass through the next field in the same direction.  Come to the corner of the field.  Just after this is a junction. Turn right here and come to a Bedelands Farm interpretive sign. Bear left here, aiming for a post in the middle of the field

[2] On reaching the post, turn slightly left, following the direction given on the post and walk downhill to the end of the field to reach a cross track.  Go over the stile here and head straight ahead across two bridges, with a lake on your right.  A path joins from the left.  Keep straight ahead.  The path turns into a track and goes under a power line.

On reaching a gate turn right and follow this track to the main road, ignore the left turn en route.  There is a very big tree trunk at the end of the track.  Turn right.  Be careful here as you are on a road without a pedestrian path.  Keep to the right hand side of the road until almost going under the bridge, carefully cross the road in order to avoid a blind bend and turn left up the road to Clearwater Farm.  Follow this road past houses and after Clearwater Cottage look out for a footpath sign on the right beside a barn.

[3] Turn right over a stile.  Go over two further stiles at the edge of a horse paddock (These were there when the walk was checked but may have been removed later) Come to a wooden bridge and a gate.  Go forward and left into next field and right over a stile.  Cross the bridleway, over another stile and left up the side of a field, keeping the hedge on your left.  Go through the gate at the top of the field, cross the drive and on to a path with a pond on the right. 

At a house boundary turn left and right past a shed and on to the drive.  At a T-junction go a few paces left and by a large tree go through the hedge on to a sheltered path way, into woodland and over a foot bridge, a stile and up hill to steps and a metal gate.  Walk ahead beside a private driveway.  Emerge on to the driveway through a kissing gate, turn left (east).  Go through the drive gates and into the village past the old school.  Immediately after the church of St. Peter and St John the Baptist turn right. 

[4] There is a small car park (TQ339207) just beyond the church and it is possible to join the walk here.  Follow the path round the side of the church yard, go over a dog friendly stile.  look for a gate in the hedge about half way down the side of the field.  Go through the gate and across the next field making for a further  gate.  Turn right along the footpath on this busy road.  

 

Stay on the same side of the road. Come to a junction.  Ote Hall Chapel is on the left..  Keep right and walk past the garage to the end of the houses.   You will see a gate on the left.  Cross the road carefully and go through this gate (There is no footpath sign although this is a right of way.).   Go through two further gates, which may be open, and then cross a stile.

Come to a metalled track.  Turn right along it.  The metalled track ends at a house, but your way continues straight ahead along an earth track. Come to a lane with some cottages.  Turn left and then immediately right at the end of the cottages, along a bridleway

At Woods Cottage go right, taking the stile into a field.  Keeping the field boundary to the right go through several field boundaries and dog friendly stiles. Ignore a path that goes off to the right into a wood.   Eventually you will notice buildings on your left.  This  was an Augustinian convent which has recently been redeveloped to become a community offering various levels of care for people needing support in their daily living.  Come out on to a busy road.  

[5] The actual path is opposite, and marked by a post  but it is suggested that you walk up the verge to where there is a refuge in the middle of the road and a sign warning motorists of elderly people crossing.  If you cross over to the path bear left with it and emerge on to a quieter side road and cross over into woodland. 

Otherwise cross at the refuge and go into the side road and look for a path to the left

Follow this path as it meanders through the wood.  Immediately  before the end of the wood turn right (no sign). If you reach the tarmac lane you have gone a metre too far.  This bridleway goes through the trees.  Ignore a path to the left and right  and continue until you come to a three way junction.  Turn right here.  Shortly you will see a big metal footpath sign.  Bear right across a field in the direction of the sign.  Walk along the  right hand side of two further fields. Come to a busy road.

Cross the road into the tarmac driveway to Ote Hall Farm.  Notice Ote Hall and Chimneys (1340) straight ahead.  At a 5 way sign turn left along the paved road, up a slight incline.  When the road bears left continue straight on through a squeeze stile. 

Cross two fields. At the beginning of the next field the footpath bears left diagonally across the field. (signed).  Follow the path between houses to the main road.  Cross carefully, finding a small track opposite and slightly to the left.  This takes you under the railway.  Take the next left fork bringing you out on to Maple Drive.  Turn right and at the next road left and follow the road back to the start which you will find on your right.

 If you are joining the walk from the area of Wivelsfield Station, by train or bus, walk up Valebridge Road away from the mini-roundabout and the pub and just past Grange Close is the track.

 

 

POI information

For information on church of  St Peter and St john the Baptist  It is Grade 2 listed (http://www.wivelsfieldchurch.org.uk)

Ote Hall Chapel another grade 2 listed building http://www.cofhconnexion.org.uk/history/ 

Notes

Grid Ref: TQ317202, Explorer 122 & 135

REFRESHMENTS: The Watermill in Leylands Road close to Wivelsfield Station.  There are also two parades of shops in the vicinity and The Windmill further along Leylands Road close to Leylands Park.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Footbridge close to start
    Footbridge close to start
    By - Erica Bentley
  • Wild Life Pond
    Wild Life Pond
    By - Erica Bentley
  • Great Ote Hall
    Great Ote Hall
    By - Erica Bentley
  • Car park
    Car park
    By - Erica Bentley
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