Category: Sussex Walks

Pevensey, derived from the anglo-saxon pefen’s river, is a village of around 3000 people. The original hamlet dates from Roman times when a 10 metre high peninsular of sand and clay jutted out into the marshlands and tidal lagoons that extended as far north as Hailsham.   

A fortification was constructed in Roman times, approximately 300 AD, but this was over-run by Saxons a couple of hundred years later. For several centuries the fort was largely neglected, but Harold the Second improved its defences prior to the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. William actually landed at Pevensey, but at that time the fort was unoccupied. William’s brother, Robert of Mortain,  was given the castle after  the conquest, and although it was besieged several times until the 13th Century, and threatened with destruction, it remained largely intact until the present day.

Loxwood is a small  village  and civil parish with several outlying settlements, including those at Alfold Bars, Gunshot Common, Flitchfold, Roundstreet Common, Drungewick Lane and Manor, and Wephurst Park, in the Chichester district of West Sussex,  England, within the Low Weald. The Wey and Arun Canal passes to the East and South of the village. This Civil Parish is at the centre of an excellent network of bridleways and footpaths crossing the Low Weald and joining with those in adjacent Counties

Jevington lies on a minor road between Polegate and Friston. The Jevington parish church is dedicated to St Andrew  and contains  Saxon elements (including a tower) as well as many other medieval architectural features, including a 14th-century font. A rare elm cultivar ”Serpentina’ grows in the grounds. The parish takes in the hamlet of Filching and also Wannock.

After a meal at The Eight Bells in Bolney, a village in West Sussex dating from Saxon times,  the intention was to take a 3 mile (5 km) walk and then visit the Bookers vineyard.  Unfortunately it was a Saturday when the vineyard was closed. Nevertheless, there was an interesting church dating from the 12th century, and some ancient leafy lanes to explore.

West Itchenor lies on the edge of Chichester harbour, around 7 km southwest of the city. The population is less than 400 persons, and it’s thought that around 40% of the properties are second homes.  Originally there was an East Itchenor, but this hamlet ceased to exist after the Black Death, and since then West Itchenor has been known as Itchenor. Over the centuries, ship-building has provided employment for the villagers, and during the Napoleonic Wars several battleships were constructed for use by the British Navy.

Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Hastings and 13 miles (21 km) south-east of Tunbridge Wells. The River Rother passes through the village.

source: Wikipedia

Duncton is a village of less than 400 people situated at the foot of the South Downs around 5 km south of Petworth.  Spring water of constant temperature flows from the Downs close to Duncton and there is evidence of  a settlement in the area going back to the Roman era. More recently, in medieval times, cloth was manufactured,  otherwise, the surrounding countryside  has a clong history of mixed farming.  The local pub, The Cricketers, was once owned by John Wisden, renowned for his creation; Wisden Cricketer’s Almanac.   

Bodiam (East Sussex) is a small village of less than 400 persons, situated by the River Rother.  A railway was built to allow the transport of hops for beer making. Guinness, the brewers,  owned some of the land in the area.  Bodiam is probably most well-known for it’s picturesque quadrangular castle built towards the end of the 14th Century. Although  the castle fits every tourists’ idea of a British  fortification, there were many weaknesses in the structure, and it’s ability to withstand an attack were thought to be limited.

Ansty (and Staplefield),  lying to the northwest of Burgess Hill , is the largest civil parish in West Sussex. As well as Staplefield, the parish includes Brook Street, but the area is sparsely populated, with less than 2,000 persons recorded at the 2011 Census. Although the village sits in the heart of farming country, many of the properties are owned by ‘outsiders’ employed in the larger towns and cities of Southeast England .

High Hurstwood is a small village in East Sussex (population around 200 persons). It lies 5 miles (8km) north of Uckfield on the southeastern edge of Ashdown Forest.  There is one pub/restaurant, the Maypole (now the Hurstwood) catering for day trippers and locals alike. Many of the locals are engaged in farming the rolling countryside, the soil of which consists of a mix of clay and sandstone.  Several small streams run south from the higher elevations, around 600 feet (180 metres) and join the River Uck.  This sleepy village boasts an annual scarecrow competition, where scarecrows are dressed to a pre-determined theme.