Crowhurst and Catsfield Ride
Route Summary
This is a circular ride of approximately 12 miles and I would classify it as "Easy to Medium". It has a couple of steepish hills to climb (and, hurrah, to descend!). It's all on OS Landranger No. 199 and it starts in Sidley, which is on the Northern outskirts of Bexhill. The route is about 50/50 bridleway and country lane, with the bridleway surface variably grass, mud and compacted soil, with mud playing a bigger part after the rain!
A small deviation from the route in Crowhurst, at about one-third distance going counter-clockwise will bring you to a pub for refreshments. The countryside is green and pleasant and you probably won't meet too much traffic on the lanes, if you avoid going-to-work and coming-home-from-work times.
The route
Start from the Car Park in Sidley at approximately TQ 741091 and turn right in the direction of Bexhill. Take any of the roads on your left and look out for Buckholt Lane, which is a public bridleway and where the ride proper begins. Follow this lane, which is mostly level or downhill and then on the edge of Cole Wood, at TQ 744102, turn right towards Acton's Farm, on a gentle climb.
On arrival at Acton's Farm (TQ 751103) you'll need to go through two gates which intersect the bridleway and you're then into a more open area (mind that electric fence on your left), crossing a couple of fields. A short climb later and you pass Byne's Farm, before you turn right onto the first bit of country lane at TQ 756118. A steepish descent for 20 yards or so brings you to a T junction. Here, you turn left or can deviate from the route to visit the Plough Inn and other bits of the village, by turning right and cycling for about ½ mile. Assuming you turned left, descend to the bottom of the valley, passing Station Approach (oddly enough this leadsto the railway station) on your right. On your left here can be found the ruins of the old Manor House at TQ 757123.
Stay on this lane and climb past the school on your right, the church on your left and up through the village. If you have time, Fore Wood on your left can be accessed on foot only via a track at TQ 756128. It's a beautiful place, with it's own stream and waterfall and of course, a carpet of bluebells in the spring.
Keep climbing and cross the railway; keep on climbing and at TQ 762139, turn left into a smaller lane. This is flat initially and then, after crossing the railway again, it descends steeply, with a couple of blind corners. Just before this lane joins the B2095, at TQ 744143, turn sharply left, almost back on yourself, towards Peppering Eye Farm and don't worry that it says Private Road, 'cos it's also a public bridleway.
What goes down must come up, so you have some climbing now to do. Bear right (bridleway signposted quite well) at TQ 744135, just after passing beneath power lines, still climbing gently. A descent down a wooded track alongside a field and a right-hander at the bottom brings you to pass Catsfield Place. This is the nearest you get to Catsfield on this ride! The bridleway ends when you reach the country lane again a few yards after Catsfield Place. Turn right here and then, in ¼ mile or so, bear left, then turn left towards Sidley and Bexhill.
Stay on this lane, through enjoyable countryside, uphills and downhills and in a few miles it brings you into the top of Sidley where you turn left to enter Sidley high street and end from where you started.
Page last updated 08/02/2003