A selection of walks crossing the line

Starting from the historic village of Horsted Keynes this walk winds towards a bridge over the Bluebell Railway. Becoming increasingly rural as it goes, the walk eventually turns back along the West Sussex Border Path and delivers you back to Horsted Keynes Village (and a choice of pubs).

Horsted Keynes Village

Horsted Keynes Village lies about 3/4 of a mile south east of the Bluebell Railway station. Park in the recreation ground car park (or nearby if it is full) and make your way to the white direction sign shown in the photo. Cross the road here and head downhill in the direction of the church spire.

Along the way you will pass the gates to the old rectory and a number of cottages before you reach St Giles Church. Some parts of the church predate the 12th century and former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan is buried here. Follow the road to the left of the church and after about 150 yards take the footpath on the left just opposite some school buildings. Proceed downhill through Mill Wood and at the bottom of the hill you will come across a beautiful 17th century timber framed house.

Snaking past the house and its timbered barn you will now be on a track heading away from the buildings. As a lake appears on the right there will be a footpath sign pointing in four directions. Keep straight on, proceeding along the track until you come to a black corrugated barn on stilts.

Turn right on to the road then immediately left, crossing a stile at the edge of a concrete farm track. Follow the direction pointed by the footpath sign, diagonally upwards across the field. As you climb, a view gradually reveals on your left until you get a glimpse of the distant South Downs. Carry on to a style in the corner of the field.

Turning right on a track takes you to the yard at Little Oddynes Farm. Turn left here, past the farm house and continue along the footpath until you reach a bridge over the Bluebell Railway. To the south is a straight stretch of line and to the North the line curves round to the right. Horsted Keynes station is just out of sight around the bend so if you have a Bluebell Railway timetable, the arrival and departure times from Horsted Keynes station will tell you roughly when a train will reach the bridge.

Continue over the bridge, walking along the side of a field, to a gate and style. Do not cross the style but instead, turn left. You will pass a house and begin to head down hill when a style appears within the hedge on your right. Cross the style and continue downhill heading away from the house, now on a track.

As the path winds up and and around the bend you will see another bridge over the railway. Sadly this bridge is not accessible but a little further along the track there is a point where you are only a few feet from the track. Here, looking back along the track, you will see the bridge you just passed (as shown in the photo). Please make sure you stay behind the fence.

Now make your way down to the road and turn left. After about 100 yards, under a large oak tree, you will see a footpath sign pointing to the right across the road. Follow this path and after a short, sometimes muddy stretch you will find yourself at the next field.

Cross the field. As you meet a farm track, pass through the gate in front of you and then continue (still in the field) parallel the track. Shortly you will see a coiled electric fence across your path. Using the orange grip on the left, unhook the coil and pass through. Take care as the coil is like a spring and pulls quite strongly. Please remember to re-hook it after you.

Now heading uphill again the path becomes very wide before you encounter some buildings at Keysford. Here, follow the line of the fence in front of you and walk to the left. You will find a hidden gate under a tree. Pass through the gate and then walk anticlockwise around the edge of the field until you find another gate and a path that takes you out on to the road. Turn left onto the road.

Passing a few houses along the way, after about 100 yards of walking along the road you will see a footpath on the right, next to a house called Tedders. Follow the footpath into a field and continue downhill until you are plunged in to Sandpits Wood.

Cross a style and some planks over a stream and head uphill on a sunken path. Further on, a double-planked causway lifts you over a muddy stretch. Keep going until you reach a bridle path.

If the bluebells are in season it is worth taking a small detour along the path to your right. This takes you through some beech woodlands where the ground will be carpeted.

Return to way point 18 or just turn left if you did not take the detour. You are now walking back to Horsted Keynes along the West Sussex Border Path. Half way along this section there is the option of taking a footpath on the right. This path meets up with the Border Path again later on. Both paths are about the same length. Continue along the (now tarmac) road until you reach a crossroad.

At this point you will see the Wyatts Lane sign on the left (this is the lane you were just walking along). Take the pot-holy road in front of you (Chapel Lane) and continue between the houses until you reach the white direction sign where you began your journey.

If you need refreshments now, there are two pubs in Horsted Keynes: The Crown Inn and almost opposite, the Green Man.

Way Point Arrival Times - 2017 Timetable

Please check the Bluebell Railway timetable to find whether service 1 or service 2 is running on the day of your walk.

© 2017 Bluebell Railway Walks