Kingscote North

Kingscote North - 5 miles

Lakes, farms and mansions. Take a train to Kingscote and return on foot to East Grinstead through a perfectly formed English landscape. This walk could also be combined with a day out under steam as the final leg of your journey back home.

Start Location
OS Grid RefTQ 388 382
GPS Latitude51.126499
GPS Longitude-0.017505
Post CodeRH19 1EB
Kingscote North route map

Phone box outside Kingscote StationThis is a one way walk involving travel on the Bluebell Railway to the start point. The View Start Location button shows the Southern Rail car park at East Grinstead station (unfortunately this is not free). You could park here, catch a train to Kingscote and return on foot.

There are many other ways of doing this walk though. For example you could park at Sheffield Park, catch a train to Kingscote and return by train from East Grinstead after your walk. If you do it this way (or any other way that involves returning by train) make sure you know the time of the last train and give yourself plenty of time. Please note that there is no public parking at Kingscote station.

1 Leaving the Bluebell Railway by the ticket office at Kingscote you will see a road that approaches the station and turns to your right. Go straight on along the road in front of you and in a few yards Tickeridge Farm will appear on the right. Turning right at a footpath sign, follow the path into the farm yard. 2

Fenn Place Mill PondThe path is clearly signed and takes you through several gates until you find yourself in a field. The footpath now takes you down across the field, ending up at a small stream at the bottom, hidden by a hedgerow. 3 Cross the wooden bridge here.

As you go forward from the bridge continue along the side of the next field until you reach a kissing gate. You should see some ponds through the trees on your right. Don’t be too disappointed; there is more water to come. Follow the path until you come to a road. 4

At the road, turn left and then immediately right towards Fenn Place Mill. Just a few yards down this road there will be a footpath sign on the right. 5 Follow the footpath, looking out for a small lake (and bluebells when in season) nestled amongst the trees to your left. At the next footpath sign turn left towards a large metal gate protecting the entrance to Fenn Place Mill. 6 Cross in front of the gate and continue along the footpath.

Follow the well signposted path that circles the lakes and fields surrounding Fenn Place Mill. As you cross the bank separating the upper lake you will see rooftops of the grade II listed building across the water. Southern Railway "U" class 2-6-0 1638 steaming north through the newly-opened Imberhorne CuttingGoing forward over a brick built bridge the path takes you away from the lakes. 7 Now you will proceed along a wide grassy path between field and hedgerow. Make sure you turn right at the footpath sign in the corner of the field.

8 As the path snakes around it is possible that you may hear the whistle of a steam train in the distance or the distinctive sound of the cuckoo in late April or May. After passing a pond on the left continue for a while until the path dips down and takes a sharp right at the bottom of the hill. Now follow the path alongside a meandering stream until you reach a wooden footbridge on your left.

9 Cross the footbridge. In a few yards turn left at the next footpath sign and head upwards and away from the stream. When the path encounters a fence it turns right and then takes you over a style. There is a substantial bramble thicket here. There could be blackberries in late summer.Barredale Court

10 Head downhill to the bottom of the valley where bullrushes stand in a small stream. Turn right and head uphill along the left side of the field. Half way up the hill you will find a double planked bridge over the stream on the left. 11 The rooftops of barns at Tilkhurst Farm will be visible.

Cross the stream and head steeply uphill. As the path levels out it takes you in to a second field. Continue forwards along the edge of the field keeping a hedgerow on your right. Eventually you will reach a footpath sign under an oak tree. Follow the footpath to the right passing through the hedgerow. 12 Cross the corner of the field and continue to the next style.

Go straight on uphill at the next footpath sign and in a short while pass a line of large oak trees marking an old field boundary. Crossing a track you will see a water tower uncomfortably sharing the landscape with a country house. 13

Imberhorne ViaductEventually the path levels and, after another style, it takes you to a road. Here you will be able to see East Grinstead nestled among the trees and the tower of St. Swithuns church. 14 Cross the road and continue along this path, over a style and onwards to Hill Place Bridge. 15

The virgin nature of the railway banks seen from the bridge make it look like a giant sized model train set. Looking eastwards from the bridge the line curves round to the right behind trees towards East Grinstead.

When you are finished here continue to the road. 16 Turn left and head down hill. Cross the road just before the roundabout and turn left again. 17 Immediately turn left once more and in to Garden Wood Road. 18

Passing under the massive Imberhorne Viaduct the road winds uphill. Eventually you will come to a blue sign pointing right to the Worth Way. 19 Follow the sign and turn left at the end of Dickens Close. Soon you will find an opening to a disused railway track bed, now the Worth Way.

20 Turn right on to the Worth Way and go right Bluebells near Fenn Place Millfollowing the tree lined path towards East Grinstead town centre. After about 1/3 mile you will return to the car park on the North side of East Grinstead station as shown in View Start Location. 21

If you need to return to the Bluebell Railway station at East Grinstead, walk across the car park entrance and cross the bridge in front of you. Turn right and walk past the main line station entrance, continuing towards the Bluebell Railway platform which lies about one hundred yards away.

Waypoint Arrival Times

(1) Go to the Bluebell Railway Timetable and look up the nearest departure times from Sheffield Park 

(2) Add the extra time for the trains to arrive at your waypoint from the table below

(3) Repeat for the trains from East Grinstead

WaypointWaypoint DescriptionTime taken for trains to arrive from Sheffield ParkTime taken for trains to arrive from East Grinstead
21East Grinstead Station370
18Imberhorne Viaduct361
15Hill Place Bridge352
1Kingscote Station298