Sussex Walks: Wolstonbury Hill
As I sat there staring at an empty page and tapping my leg I knew it wasn’t working. Forcing myself to come up with ideas while feeling stagnant in the house wasn't conducive to anything. I should do a quick HIIT class I thought. Ugh I thought. Such is January 2021 and all the feels of ‘I cannot be arsed with any of it’.
What would remedy my mood? A walk up a bloody big hill and some lungfuls of air at the top, that’s what. So, Monty’s collar got clipped on, my walking boots got grabbed and on my way out the door I whisked my notebook into my bag, just incase.
I’ve done this walk once before, a few years ago, and I remember feeling unsure that whole walk - about where my life was at, who I was spending it with and what I wanted from it. How different this walk was - the skills and clarity 2020 gave me have been gratefully received and what a delight when I got to the top to realise what a different space I was in.
As I started ascending up this whopper of a hill, I cursed the grey, miserable, nothingness day for photos sake and had the thought perhaps I should come back another day and do the photos but then, in the essence of wabi sabi, why? This is what it was like and it was an enjoyable and breathtaking (I’m speaking literally here) walk, it doesn't all have to be sunshine and smiles, right?!
Wolstonbury History and Info
Wolstonbury is an important Sussex landmark, farmers in the Iron Ages grazed animals here and Roman pottery was left here. At the base of the hill is Beech woodland and the reward for your hill climbing efforts is fittingly generous with panoramic views across the South Downs.
It is home to much flora this is of special scientific interest - not least being the only place in Sussex you’ll find the man orchid. In spring, as you pass through the Beech, your senses will be filled with the pungent and delightful aroma of Wild Garlic.
Getting there
Public transport:
Metrobus services 270, 271, 272 and 273 run from Brighton to East Grinstead or Crawley and stop in Pyecombe and Clayton on the way. Please refer to the bus company’s website for timetables. Get off the bus outside the Jack & Jill Inn in Clayton for the start of our walk.
Car:
There is a small amount of parking at the start of walk on New Way Lane but the best place to park is at Clayton Green Recreation Ground in Underhill Lane, Clayton (postcode BN6 9PJ).
Starting Point.
We’re starting at a bend in New Way Lane at the entrance to Wolstonbury Farm so if you’ve parked at Clayton Rec or come by bus make your way along New Way Lane or you can pick up a path that takes you into the woods. There are numerous ways to get up to the top of the hill and all routes are pretty self explanatory as you can see where you are as you climb but this is just where I started.
The walk
I’ve kept these instructions loose as as long as you’re ascending the hill you’ll get to top and as long as you’re descending towards where you start you’ll find your way.
As you stand on the corner of your starting point you’ll see a footpath sign leading down a drive to the right - it leads to Wolstonbury Farm. Take the track and then at the end turn left into the woodland. As you get to the woodland take a veer to the left and then after a deep bend at the track though the woods after a slight ascent you can find a path off the track to the right with a gate leading you up the steep hill.
Take some breaths and get ready for your ascent as soon as you come over the stile. There is an aptly placed bench about 3/4 way up, don’t forget to tun back every 50 yards or so to check out the expanding view and get a gulp of air!
When you get to the top, have a moment of congratulations and rest before heading to the way marker. Here you’ll be rewarded with 360° panoramic views so here is a good place for a cuppa and pastry!
My suggestion is to descend to the left of the peak of the hill as you faced it coming up. You’ll see which way as the path to the Jack’n’Jill windmills will be straight ahead of you and then you head left from there down the slowly ascending slope but my recommendation is to scale the peak around the way marker first and check out the views all the way round. It is easy to find your way back as you can see Wolstonbury Farm from the correct side of the peak.
Once you’ve made the descend through the first field and crossed through the gate you can take either fork. I took the left fork and left again though the gate on the eft hand bottom corner of the field (pictured) and then zigzagged through the woods back - I came out at a path coming straight out onto the road to the right of the driveway I started on. As long as you’re heading towards Wolstonbury Farm you’ll come out on either path. Make sure you take some time to play win the woods - there are rope swings!
