Starting at Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway station, this short walk gives frequent views of the popular steam railway.
Distance: | 2.0 Miles | |
Est. Time: | 0 hrs 50 mins | |
Difficulty: | Very easy | |
OS map: | Explorer sheet 135 | |
Total Ascent: | 7 ft | |
Total Descent: | 39 ft |
Register to create & share your own walks
Highlights
- Field and farm
- The Bluebell Railway
- Horsted Keynes village
Starting at the Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway station, this section of The Railway Children walk includes many sightings of the railway, plus a pleasant walk through Sussex countryside.
The Route 
From Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway station, pass in front of the station and continue on Station Approach until reaching the T-junction (OS ref: 372291). Turn right at the T-junction. Immediately before the arched railway bridge over the road, turn left over the stile into the field. Bear left on the ascending cross-field path, aiming at farm buildings seen on the ridge. Look for a public footpath finger post at the far side of the field and join a track curving behind the hedge. Go through the farm gate into the field and turn right, to the small gate at the right of the farm buildings at Oddynes Farm. Go through the gate, turn right and follow the left side of the field.*
* Note: the farmyard can be exceptionally muddy in wet conditions, and has to be negotiated with care (and boots!).
Cross the stile at the side of the gate facing you, and continue on the same line on the right side of the next field. Go forward to the bridge over the Bluebell Railway (OS ref 370285). The railway line to your right goes to Horsted Keynes station, Sharpthorne tunnel, West Hoathly and Kingscote (and eventually East Grinstead); and to the left to Sheffield Park.
Having crossed the bridge, continue along the right side of the field. At the far right corner, do not cross the stile but stay in the field and turn to your left, following the field edge, with the hedge on your right. Just past the farmhouse and farm buildings, cross the stile in the hedge on the right and go forward to the track. Turn left on the track and (ignoring tracks to left and right) continue along it until it reaches the road (OS ref: 371277).
At the road, turn left, and go under the railway bridge. (TAKE CARE! There is limited visibility at this narrow bridge over a twisting road.) In about sixty metres, turn right (opposite a double bend road sign) through a gateway onto a track curving through trees. Where the track reaches the field, cross the stile and continue ahead on a straight line on a cross-field path. At the far side of the field, join a track at the corner of the copse, and continue forward on the track, keeping the copse on your left. At the far left corner, turn left and go through the gap (or over the stile in the corner), and turn right.
Follow the right side of the field, and at the corner, turn left, keeping the fence on your right. Shortly before the bungalow, turn right to the road. (OS ref: 381275). This is Treemans Road, Horsted Keynes (the village is along this road to the left).