By John Twisleton
Over twenty years Lindfield has been dear to me, so it is a privilege to be invited to supply a walk guide. Our family moved to Gatesmead in 2001, Horsted Keynes in 2009 and most recently to Bentswood in 2017. I’m a regular visitor to All Saints Church and the Red Lion and my son and namesake John works at the Bent Arms. The lime trees on the High Street always impress me, true to the name ‘Lindfield’ meaning ‘open land with lime trees’. So do our timber-framed houses, many of medieval origin, leading from the scenic pond up to All Saints Church of literally crowning beauty at the top of the street.
On this circular walk to Walstead (around 8 miles, or 9.3 km), start by heading for the tennis courts in Lindfield Common recreation ground and then left into the access footpath at the field corner. Cross Meadow Drive into the next stretch of footpath passing over Scrase stream into William Allen Lane.
Enter Scrase Valley Local Nature Reserve continuing with the stream to your right. Turn left at the junction walking up and across to Barn Cottage Lane. After the recreation ground, turn right up New England Road to Hazelgrove Road. Cross right then left into Church Road and turn left along St Joseph’s Way.
From The Orchards car park in Haywards Heath descend through the precinct and turn left along South Road. Continue to the roundabout and turn left down Caxton Way continuing straight ahead down the Syresham Gardens footpath beside the stream to St Augustine’s Way. Turn right then left along Priory Way to Western Road. Turn left and cross the road into the footpath down to the left of Haywards Heath Cemetery gates.
Continue left on the path at the bottom of the graveyard then right into Silver Birches, left into The Hollow and walk on to No. 2, ascend the track to Gravelye Lane. Turn right along Gravelye Lane and cross the road into Lyoth Lane. Continue up the steep narrow road to Snowdrop Lane and turn left walking past Snowdrop Inn on a beautiful country lane to its junction with the B2111 Lewes Road. Cross diagonally following the footpath sign through into a narrow path along a field.
At the end enter a farm track continuing to a stile. After the stile enter a large field. Walk sharp left heading for another stile accessing the footpath through Walstead Place Farm. Continue past cottages on your right following the path across an access road into another field and then across East Mascalls Lane into Snowflake Lane.
Divert to the left to visit Walstead cemetery – where you can still see both chapel buildings as mentioned above. On your return head down Snowflake Lane, the road to Walstead Forge, which narrows into a footpath afterwards. This section can be muddy after rain. Continue in the same direction to the footpath junction taking the left turn towards Lindfield.
Continue straight ignoring the right turn for Lindfield village following the path between fields which enters Bancroft Drive. Head right down the Drive, cross Newton Road and proceed down Luxford Road and Eastern Road to Lewes Road.
This walk is reconstructed from ‘Fifty Walks from Haywards Heath’ £9.99 available by emailing john@twisleton.co.uk.