Forest Way a 16 mile round trip along an old railway (Part of NCN Route 21)
Parking
- In East Grinstead behind St Swithun’s Church
- Forest Row near the amenity tip
- Hartfield on the road by the old station
- Ham Bridge near Groombridge in a lay-by near the old bridge
This follows the track bed of a disused railway, from East Grinstead towards Tunbridge Wells skirting the Ashdown Forest for some 8 miles.
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The start can be found at the southern end of the High Street by the roundabout, where the main road goes into the old railway cutting, Beeching Way, now used as an inner bypass. Sustrans have developed this route as part of their Millennium project. Parking is easy in one of two large car parks behind the church.
The first few hundred yards are downhill along a path within a housing estate.
Once Herontye road is crossed, you are into open country with glimpses of the old Herontye house to your right. The track is surfaced and suitable for most bikes. At the Start is an NCN milepost
Shortly after going under a brick bridge, Weir Wood reservoir can be seen on the right. The next landmark is the ruins of Brambletye house, which can be seen by climbing the banks to some picnic benches about 1/2 mile further on.
You have to cross over a farm road at the old Brambletye Crossing. The track then runs behind some houses to the main road. Cross over at the crossing and go straight over into a farm lane, sign posted Tablehurst farm, just past the water works go through a gap in the fence/hedge into a car park area and follow this round to the left past the fire station and scout hall to rejoin the trackbed, this avoids a very narrow section behind the buildings! some of which were part of the Forest Row station. Cross the river Medway past some allotments and gardens on the right and the River Medway on the left.
Along the forest way there are a number of Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) signs.
then out into open country. The route now runs parallel to the River Medway on the left and there are glimpses of Ashdown Forest on your right.
About 3 miles after Forest Row, the railway goes under the B2026 at Hartfield and past a station which has been converted into a private house necessitating a short diversion off the track bed or to see it how it was with the track look here.
A mile later there is another old crossing and and the old Withyham station. Beware of crossing the road!
Picture when the line was in use
In a mile, after going under another bridge the B2110 has to be crossed close to where Ham bridge has been dismantled, there is a limited amount of parking in a lay-by here. The track continues along the old trackbed but after a few hundred yards bears away when the old track joins the existing Oxted to Uckfield line. The track bears down to cross the B2188 and then continues parallel to the railway for a while before going under a small tunnel and finishing at the Groombridge – Eridge road by the waterworks Sign at Groombridge.