Bewl West Route
Route Summary
This route (like the East Route) starts at the Visitor's Centre. It takes you 7¼ miles to Grebe Corner, G on the map. It's fairly easy going (mud permitting!) at first, and the surface is mostly soil or grass. However, from Point I to Grebe Corner, you meet some pretty steep hills and join some, albeit very quiet, country lanes. This may be a little too strenuous for smaller children. If you just want a short, leisurely ride, however, I'd recommend doing the first couple of miles of this route, turning round when you've had half of enough.......
The Route
If you're already up in the car park, you don't need to go down to the Visitors Centre to start, as it will signpost you back up! You should be able to find the route OK - there are signposts dotted around. Assuming you had started from the Visitor's Centre, it's 3/4 mile through woodland (mostly downhill) to:
Point N. Here, at Bramble Bay, you can see a floating fish farm which rears some 50,000 rainbow and brown trout per year to stock the lake. It's another 3/4 mile to:
Point M. This mixed wood plantation dates to 1976 and was part of the landscaping effort after the reservoir was built. In ½ mile you'll be at:
Point L. The trees here number more than 50 in species and were planted more recently to replace those lost during the October 1987 storm devastation. It's 1/3 mile to:
Point K. Wild flowers and butterflies are seen here, weather and season permitting. ½ mile will see you at:
Point J. Apparently you can smell wild garlic near this small bridge in the summer. In 2/3 mile at:
Point I, you leave the water behind and begin a climb to join the lanes. The church spire you can see from here to the West belongs to Wadhurst Church. Assuming you make it the 3 miles to:
Point H, you'll be back at the water's edge, at the end of Burnt Lodge Lane. There's a 127 acre Nature Reserve here, managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and Southern Water. It's now only 3/4 mile to:
Grebe Corner, Point G. If you decide to continue from here to do the full round water ride (which is also the East route in reverse, of course), it's 5¼ miles of not too strenuous riding.
Click on the bike for the East Route ride.................
Click the Map Page if you want it again.
Animated cyclist image Copyright Microsoft Design Gallery
Page last updated 26/04/2002