Image shared for Cuckoo Trail: Heathfield to Polegate Station
Countryside Point to point

Cuckoo Trail: Heathfield to Polegate Station

Walk

East Sussex

Distance
10.9 mi
Est. time
5h 30m
Difficulty
Medium
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About this walk

Start at the public Newnham Way Cuckoo Trail car park in Heathfield, south of the closed Heathfield Tunnel. Join the surfaced former railway and follow the signed Cuckoo Trail through the woodland and fields towards Horam and Hellingly. Continue through Hailsham using the signed town links, which include short residential-road sections, then rejoin the railway path towards Polegate. Use the dedicated bridge over the A27 and follow the town path and pavement links via School Lane and Roy Martin Way to the public station car park off High Street, where this walk finishes.

Allow about five and a half hours with stops for this one-way walk. The trail is mostly surfaced and gently graded, descending overall from Heathfield, with short ramps, gates, road crossings and a few town streets. Watch for cyclists and horse riders, keep dogs under control and use the marked crossings. Take care around car park traffic at the finish. Benches and picnic places occur along the route, while shops, cafes and toilets in the towns depend on opening hours. Carry food and water for the longer rural stretches. The council lists Newnham Way as long-stay public parking with a 23-hour limit; check the current signs. Arrange collection or check the rail and bus connections before starting. The station entrance is a short walk from the mapped car park finish. Do not enter the closed Heathfield Tunnel, and follow any signed temporary tree-work diversions along the trail.

Walk details

County
East Sussex
Walk type
Point to point
Category
Countryside
Distance
10.9 mi (17.6 km)
Est. time
5h 30m
Explorer
Yes, off the beaten track

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Along the route

21 places
Millennium Milepost Heathfield
Guidepost · 0.0 mi along
Newnham Way
Parking · 0.0 mi along
Footpath
Guidepost · 0.1 mi along
Millennium Milepost Horam
Guidepost · 2.5 mi along
Drinking Water
Essentials · 2.5 mi along
Cadence Clubhouse
Cafe · 2.5 mi along
Millennium Milepost Horsebridge
Guidepost · 6.7 mi along
South Road
Parking · 7.8 mi along
The Railway Tavern
Pub · 7.9 mi along
Millennium Milepost Polegate
Guidepost · 10.4 mi along
Guidepost
Navigation · 10.7 mi along
Millfields Store
Shop · 10.7 mi along
You Raise Me Up
Cafe · 10.8 mi along
The Dinkum
Pub · 10.8 mi along
Polegate Community Express
Shop · 10.8 mi along
Cherry Tree Eatery
Cafe · 10.8 mi along
Costa
Cafe · 10.8 mi along
Beans & Things
Cafe · 10.8 mi along
The Mill
Restaurant · 10.9 mi along
Co-op Food
Shop · 10.9 mi along
Parking
Essentials · 10.9 mi along

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