Cuckoo Trail
The Cuckoo Trail is a purpose-built track which runs overall, for approx. 11 miles each way, over the disused "Cuckoo Line" railway in E. Sussex. It now also joins up with a couple of Sustrans routes at the South, making a full day out cycling an excellent proposition.
Nicknamed the Cuckoo Line because of the tradition of releasing the first cuckoo of spring at the nearby Heathfield fair, this single track railway carried passengers, milk, livestock and animal feedstuffs between Eastbourne and Eridge. It was first opened between Eastbourne and Hailsham in 1849 and the extension from Hailsham to Eridge was opened in 1880. At Polegate, one could change for Lewes and Hastings.
It saw ownership in 1923 by Southern Railways, before becoming part of British Railways in 1947. It's death sentence was passed in 1965 by Dr Beeching when the line North of Hailsham was closed. The section between Hailsham and Polegate was closed in 1968 and the last passenger train ran from Eastbourne to Hailsham on 9 September 1968.
The line laid dormant after being purchased by Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council in 1981. In July 1992, however, the first part of the Cuckoo Trail was opened at Heathfield followed quickly in September 1992 when Hailsham to Polegate was opened. The last part of the trail, between Horam and Hailsham was opened in the Summer of 1994.
The trail was built by the local Councils, in partnership with the charity, Sustrans (Sustainable Transport), a civil engineering charity which designs and builds routes for cyclists, walkers and people with disabilities. Sustrans is promoting the 6,500-mile National Cycle Network for the United Kingdom, to link schools, houses, shops and workplaces with each other and with the countryside. Impressive stuff, eh?
I've used references to Ordnance Survey Map No. 199 from their Landranger Series (1¼ inches to a mile) in describing the rides. The track joins Polegate, at map reference TQ 583051 with Heathfield at map reference TQ 583211. Heading Northwards it's predominantly a gentle incline, so it's probably best to aim North first. The countryside through which it runs is lovely, especially during spring/summer. Of the whole trail, I prefer the Hailsham to Horam section, which at some 6½ miles is the longest.
I've seen children on bikes with stabilisers managing parts of the Polegate to Hailsham section. My children aged 12 and 10 can easily cope with the whole trail.
There doesn't seem to be anywhere nearby to hire bikes these days. Unless you know different?
You can ride the entire trail or do any of the following 3 sections individually. I've documented the rides going South to North.
Click on this bike for the Polegate to Hailsham ride.................
.............or here for the Hailsham to Horam ride..................
............or here for the Horam to Heathfield ride.................
Animated cyclist image Copyright Microsoft Design Gallery
Page last updated 09/02/2003