Walk The Corridor
Walk 100 miles through stunning Sussex scenery tracing the route of the Weald to Waves wildlife corridor.
Welcome to the Weald to Waves Walk, a 162 km (100 mile) route through Sussex, following the Weald to Waves Wildlife corridor. The route sees you walking along rivers, across lowland heath, farmland dotted with woods and ghylls, and along the South Downs chalk ridge.
It takes in some of the most biodiverse parts of the Southeast, three plant-hunters’ gardens, twelve Saxon or Norman churches, numerous nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) and of course the Knepp Rewilding Project.
Many of the sections are readily accessible by train, a little more than an hour from London, and there is a wide range of places to stay, including some historic pubs. The route is straightforward for walkers of all ages and abilities.
Starting from Bishopstone Station, you explore the historic Tide Mills site then cross the Ouse Valley Nature Reserve to Newhaven. You pick up the River Ouse and follow it to Piddinghoe. The route leaves the river briefly to explore the historic villages of Southease and Rodmell before you again rejoin the river and after walking through the Railway Lands Nature Reserve, arrive in the bustling town of Lewes with its non-conformist, hippy vibe.
Beautiful walk following the signed Sussex Ouse Valley Way, with some historical interest. Starting from the historic town of Lewes, you visit bucolic Barcombe Mills and the Anchor pub. The section north of Isfield is interesting for its weirs and is important for wildlife. Leaving the river just past Isfield Place, you head NW and climb gently through farmland towards the large village of Newick, passing its historic church as you enter the village.
A short but varied walk which starts with a saunter across fields to the historic village of Fletching. Cutting across to Mill Pond you reach Sheffield Forest. After climbing up to the ridge, you finish your walk at the picturesque village of Nutley. The route takes you through a number of holloways, ancient tracks worn deep by centuries of use, and shaws, linear strips of woodland too wide to be a hedge, between small, irregular shaped fields. Both are characteristic of the Weald.
Skirting around the back of Nutley, your walk takes you up onto Ashdown Forest proper, mostly sandy underfoot and with fantastic views to north and south. You head past Kings Standing to your right and Old Lodge to your left and then strike northwest to Gills Lap, the heart of Winnie the Pooh country. From there you descend to Newbridge before heading across the Royal Ashdown Golf Course to the thriving village of Forest Row.
This route is full of interest, taking you past Weir Wood reservoir, Stone Farm rocks, the Bluebell Railway, and Gravetye Manor to the historic village of West Hoathly. After walking through ancient Chiddinglye Woods you reach Wakehurst Place, from where Balcombe is just a few kilometres. It’s a gentle trip, without too much climbing, and with the opportunity to take a break in the lovely Cat Inn at West Hoathly.
You will see the countryside opening up as you make your way in and out of woodland on this walk through West Sussex. Nymans is another of the Sussex gardens that is worth a visit, and the attractive village of Slaugham is also a good detour. The landscape changes again as you reach St Leonards Forest, with its sandy, open rides before you arrive at the bandstand in the busy town of Horsham.
From the bandstand in Horsham this route takes you down historic Causeway to 12th century St Mary’s church. You walk through Chesworth Farm alongside the flood meadows of the River Arun, before heading across the Sedgwick Estate to pick up the Downs Link, itself a natural wildlife corridor. You leave the Downs Link to track across fields to the beautiful West Grinstead Church before crossing the A24 to enter the Knepp Estate, heading past the old Knepp Castle to the Knepp Wilding Kitchen
The Adur is a quiet, unassuming river, rather unlike its sisters the Ouse and Arun which seem to attract more attention. To get to the river you head across farmland which is dotted with woods and farms to 12th century St James’ church and the village of Ashurst with its 16th century pub. You meet the river at Eatons bridge and walk along it for 6km. You then walk through a nature reserve to the historic village of Bramber before climbing the hill into the well preserved small town of Steyning.
Today you will get to stride along the ridge of the glorious South Downs. Starting from the historic town of Steyning you will pass through the Rifle Range nature reserve and climb to the South Downs Way. Chanctonbury Ring is this morning’s treat before you drop down to the Wiston Estate for coffee or lunch. The views return during the second part of the walk, back on the South Downs Way. You finish in the chocolate-box village of Amberley with its cosy pub, the Black Horse.
The River Arun is your companion all day for this long walk to the beach at Climping. The first half of the route can be very wet after heavy rain or at spring tides. Once you reach the river you follow it south via the beautiful hamlet of South Stoke to the Black Rabbit pub. From there you make your way into Arundel, with its striking hilltop castle and lively high street. There follows a long haul south to Littlehampton and the final narrow path adjacent the golf course to reach Climping beach, a fine, remote spot, full of wildlife, and an appropriate place to finish your walk.
Have you walked, run or cycled the corridor? Get in touch!
About The Route
Ian Rogers lives in Tunbridge Wells and is a regular visitor to Ashdown Forest and the South Downs. He is a keen walker. A lawyer with a longstanding interest in environmental matters, he was his company’s UK Sustainability Director for six years.
Inspired by the Knepp Rewilding project, in 2023 he became pro bono legal adviser to the Executive Director of the Knepp Wildland Foundation, which created the Weald to Waves wildlife corridor project.
Ian created this route during the summer of 2023, the aim being to follow the Weald to Waves corridor as closely as possible using public rights of way.
