Hurbur one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

This is a nice and easy to follow route from Burgess Hill to Hurstpierpoint, it is almost as direct as you can walk it but includes a nice finish that is slightly longer than the most obvious path to the centre of Hurstpierpoint.

It is a lovely walk that takes you directly out of Burgess Hill via a pathway that runs adjacent to the railway station, before opening out onto Batchelors Farm. It then follows the Burgess Hill Green Circle for a short period before heading south relatively directly. This part of the walk is muddy, even in April following a few days of nice weather. It would be very muddy in late Autumn / Winter / early Spring. Having headed directly south, the path meets some converted farm buildings where it then tends Westerly on the outskirts of Hurstpierpoint (you do have to head north along a road at one stage for a short period). Just before you arrive in Hurst you are treated to a lovely stroll through Hurst meadows.

We walked this as a family, and so at a family pace, and it took exactly 1hr and 30 mins. There are great views (of the Downs, Hurst College etc.) and lovely woodland all along the way. It is safe though there are a couple of roads to cross and one small on road (but very quiet) part at the end. I think due to the mud, those with wheelchairs/mobility issues would struggle.

As previous reviewers have noted, the GPX does not exactly match the pathways which is no problem for route finding but has promoted someone to create Hurbur two which is simply this route but with the GPX more closely aligned with paths. It seems a bit of shame that it wasn't possible simply to realign this route instead as they are essentially the same.

An improved route Hurbur two has been created to correct some points with this route.

Burgess Hill to Brighton on 15th October 2021 - Leg One.

From Burgess Hill station this route follows a wide, newly resurfaced path alongside the railway. Oddly, although the council is spending cash to lay a surface to improve accessibility, there is a bizarre stile (pictured #2) half way along which seems to defeat the object.

Carrying on and heading South around Hammond's Farm, the path regains its rural character. The traffic noise from the western ring road starts to fade and one is treated to splendid views of Wolstonbury Hill. The highlight of the walk is Hogs Pudding Lane, a surviving green lane and one of the old droving routes from the Downs to the ancient forest of the Weald. The lane is about 10m wide and lined with mature hedges and trees. A glimpse of old Sussex and long may it remain so.

Once on the outskirts of Hurstpierpoint, the route makes good use of the many footpaths which encircle the village to arrive at the busy central crossroad with its stunning tree (quercus ilex?) by the war memorial. 'Hurst' is a bustling place with plenty of shops, cafes, pubs and public loos. Overall this is an enjoyable Slow Way, easy to follow on the ground. The tracing of the route on the map however is not very good.

Whilst in Hurst, visit Holy Trinity church to see the battered effigy of Simon de Pierpoint, a C13 knight from the Norman family who gave the village its name.

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