Routes

Statutory routes in the High Weald

The details of all Public Rights Of Way in the area are maintained by the appropriate County Councils in "Definitive Maps" (the fact that a Right of Way does not appear does not mean that it is not a Public Right of Way). Representation of a Right Of Way on an Ordnance Survey map is "not necessarily" evidence of a right of way, but is usually a pretty good indication!

Rights Of Way include:

• Footpaths - for use only on foot
• Bridleways - for use on foot, bicycle or horse
• Byways - (or Byway Open to All Traffic - BOAT) for use on foot, bicycle, horse and motor vehicles
• RUPPs (Roads Used as Public Paths) - for use on foot, possibly bicycle, possibly horse and possibly motor vehicles (RUPPs are gradually being re-classified to remove anomalies)

However not all routes are passable.

Permissive & Licensed Routes

Copied from http://www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk/env/cms/pages/leaflets/licensedpaths_page.htm:

"A permissive or licensed path is a route which the landowner allows the public to use, but with the intention that its use should not lead to it becoming a public right of way. It may be a footpath or bridleway, may or may not be subject to certain conditions of usage, and it may be open for a specified period or until the landowner decides that it is no longer convenient. These paths can supplement the existing rights of way network, enabling them to be extended into circular walks or rides. Countryside Management holds lists of permissive footpaths and bridleways in East Sussex. Contact the Service at Transport & Environment Department, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1UE. Tel: 01273 482670"

HWBG are currently researching into the possibility of producing a portfolio of rides in the area – watch this space!

We start with these and hope you will enjoy them.

A RIDE AROUND BRIGHTLING - recently ridden and written by one of our members

For this ride I have incorporated existing bridleways and a recently dedicated bridleway on forest enterprise land. There is also a small amount of roadwork through the village of Brightling. The ride is a distance of approx 6 miles.

There is a lay-by suitable for a car and trailer or small lorry to be found on the right hand side, a short way down the lane to Brightling off the B2096 at Darwell Hole. If you have a permit to ride on forestry enterprise land then you could park in the car park a little further on the right.

The ride begins directly opposite this car park at Darwell wood. You will find a wooden gate with a bridleway sign. The gate can be a little difficult to undo from this side although OK from the other way on your return.

Follow the track to another gate and go through. Once through, you follow the main track for some way, ignoring the bridleway signed to the left, until you come to what looks like a junction. Bear round to the right and pass a small cottage (Coblye Cottage). Follow the main track over a stream until you reach a bridleway sign on your left. Take this left hand turn and keep to this forest track ignoring side paths and following the bridleway signs. After some time you will come to a fork. Take the right fork. It is signed, and follow this track uphill to the road.

At the road turn right and keep right at the junction. At the next junction again turn right and follow the lane into Brightling and out the other side. Ignore the junction coming in from the left and follow the lane until you come to some buildings and large stone wall on your right. Go through the gateway (to the left you can see a workshop) and follow the track straight down the hill. You are now in Brightling Park and you will see to your left and right the fences used for the Brightling Horse Trials.

Keep to this main track and you will reach the cottage you passed earlier. Now retrace your steps back to your vehicle.

HERSTMONCEAUX CIRCULAR RIDE - another member’s ride

I completed this ride on 16 November. The day was mild and sunny. It is approximately 8 miles long and took 2 hours.

Park in the lay-by near the science centre on the Wartling Road. There is enough room for at least two horseboxes.

Follow the Wartling Road down towards Pevensey for a couple of miles taking the first tarmac track to the right towards Newhouse Farm. The track is almost opposite a large barn. (Wartling Road is fast but straight and visibility is good. My horse is wonderful, but I wouldn´t recommend this part of the ride for horses who are traffic shy)

Follow the track past a block of cottages. Just before the next house there is a greenway on the right. Take this, follow to the narrow lane at the end. Be careful, as some of this track can get quite overgrown with Hawthorn.

At the lane turn right and follow to Rickney. Just before the Rickney junction and farm you will find a bridleway on the right marked ‘1066 Walk´ Follow this bridleway alongside the dyke and through several bridlegates following round to the right in the final field. If you look ahead you will see a church as a landmark, which you will eventually be passing.

Go through a 5-bar metal gate on your left and follow the grassy track to another gate which you go through and follow the track up the hill. Pass through a gate into Church Farm yard and through another gate out of the farmyard. Follow the lane past the church.

In a few hundred yards you should see a bridleway sign and a woodland track on your right. Follow this through the wood to the end to an old metal bridlegate. Go through and downhill straight ahead. When you get to the bottom of the hill you turn right and follow the gully uphill towards a large tree. Just past the tree in a hedge is a metal gate into a wide woodland track. Follow this to the end and just as you reach the road you will find a finger post pointing you down a licensed bridleway to the right. Follow this to the end and you will be back in the lay-by where you parked.