Sue had an appointment at the Horder centre (a private hospital) on the edge of Crowborough - she was finally getting some progress on her knee problems. I was the designated driver, and used the opportunity to go for a walk while she was being examined. I planned a route that left the car park and skirted the edge of Crowborough, then down the bridle path passing Gillridge farm, through to the Sussex Border Path. On the SBP along the Motts Mill stream up tot eh edge of the railway track. Turning around and back over the fields to Motts Mill then down the High Weald Landscape trail back towards Crowborough. Leaving the HWLT down a back road past Summersales farm and down to the outwards track back to the car park.
Leaving the car in the hospital car park I took a gap in the boundary scrub into the open access woods of St John's. Through the woods to the back road we had arrived down.
Over the road and down beside the school, around a bend and onto a path still dropping to a stream.
Over the stream and up the other side between hoses. Up to the back road to Groombridge. and down Gillridge lane. The first of several Oast houses was here.
A short cut through the trees and across a grass field, cut the corner off the lane arriving at Gillridge farm.
Past the farm the lane continued as a gravel track with several twists around field edges.
The lane continued to Orznash farm (and more Oast houses)
Just past the farm I turned into the woods and followed a wide track down (sometimes steeply) down to a stream. Here there was a choice between stepping stones and a footbridge.
Leaving the stream the path climbed through a recently harvested field. Close to the far edge the path turned above a second steam.
At the edge of the field I joined the SBP through a grass field and alongside a wood.
Next into pasture fields leading past Bullfinches houses (and more Oast houses)
At Rocks farm the path went through a field with long grass and young sweetcorn. Through a scrubby field leading to a footbridge over Mottsmill stream. Up the other side to a back road via a stile that led directly onto the road through a hole in the hedge.
Down the lane through Motts Mill which had a collection of scarecrows protesting against the potholes in the lane. A great deal of effort had gone into them.
At a bend in the lane I left, still on the SBP as it followed the stream first in the woods then a narrow field.
The field ended into a green lane that curved into a harvested field. Here it climbed over a shoulder up to a ploughed section.
At the ploughed section I turned along it heading to Sherlock's wood.
Beyond Sherlock's farm the path continued on the farm track leading along the top of the slope above the stream. At the next house I took a path down to the back lane opposite where I had joined it earlier.
Back down to the footbridge over Mottsmill stream and into the scrubby field beyond. This time I followed the stream and into Jockey's wood. This was the HWLT
Through the woods and up to a field with many signs pointing the way
One of the houses around here had a folly next to the lake (Penns in the rocks I surmised) and past some large boulders.
The path followed the edge of fields (there was high deer fencing here) with the path squeezed between the fence and scrub.
I left the HWLT when it turned away towards buildings. this new path wound around houses to come out on the back road to Groombridge.
Down the surprisingly busty road passing Summersales farm and to the outskirts of Crowborough. Straight on when the road turned and down twittens that led back to the stream and our outward trace.
Climbing up the residential estates of St. John's and back into the woods opposite to pick up the gap in the hedge to the hospital car park.
