East Meets West (Sussex)

East Grinstead is nestled in West Sussex at what is now the end of the mainline railway, and is one of the few Southern Railway routes not affected by engineering work this weekend. 

After leaving the town centre we’ll join the High Weald Landscape trail around the town’s perimeter, southwards towards Standen House, an Arts and Crafts house now owned by the National Trust. Soon afterwards we’ll catch our first glimpses of the reservoir as we head downhill into the valley. Weir Wood Reservoir was created in the 1950s by damming the river Medway to provide a water supply for nearby towns. The reservoir straddles the prime meridian, 0° longitude, and its northern shore delineates East and West Sussex.

Following this we will take a small detour to admire Stone Farm Rocks, a series of sandstone crags that are perched high above, and provide a fine view of, the reservoir. Soon after crossing the county border into East Sussex we will stop for lunch at Weir Wood Nature Reserve with a fine view across the water. This is the closest we will get to the shore as there is limited public access to the reservoir.  

Making our way along lanes and then across farmland, with glimpses of the reservoir, and farm tracks towards the cupola topped towers that are the ruins of Jacobean Brambletye House. 

Shortly after this we will join the former railway line at Brambletye Crossing to take us back to East Grinstead; this route would once have extended the line to Tunbridge Wells. This well-maintained path has some elevated sections that provide some fine views over the surrounding countryside – it’s also mud free!

There are some handsome buildings on the route back into the town centre, and several pub options leading up to the railway station and our starting, and finishing, point.

If you're interested in this event but there are no free places or there appears to be a waiting list, please sign up anyway. The attendee list often changes between the event being published and the day of the event. Occasionally places become available at short notice, and these will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.