Location: Beckley village
Grid Reference: TQ857240(OS Map)
OS Map: Explorer 124
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 1 hours
Information Available: East Sussex Countryside Management Service - Rye Bay Office (01797 226488)
Directions/Transport: 1. Start at Beckley village and look for footpath sign between the Old Surgery and Braeside House. Take the footpath to where it meets the A268 which is a very busy road, keep to verge.
2. Walk along the A268 until on the right hand side there is a stile, cross the stile and walk through Flatropers Wood.
Flatropers Wood is a nature reserve owned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and is home to a diverse range of plants and animals. The ereser is semi-natural woodland, some areas are coppiced on rotation to open up the glades. You may see signs of Wild Board - keep a look out for their hoof prints in the mud. Huge piles of pine needles can be seen from the pathway. These are the nexts of Wood Ants and are often teaming with activity. In autumn the wood boats an amazing array of large fungi, including the Fly Agaric. You are welcome to explore the reserve using the network of paths, but please allow more time for this.
3. Keep to the path until are some time you come to a gate. Turn right through the gate and cross over a stream on a bridge. Follow this path until you meet Bixley Lane. Turn left along the lane until you come to a stile from the road on the right hand side.
4. This path takes you up through Bixley Wood. Bixley Wood is a commercial wood managed by Forest Enterprise. Here you will walk through a plantation of mature Oak trees before passing through clearings and a coniferous wood. The rides and glades are full of heathland plants including heathers, Tormentil and Broom.
5. Follow the path through the woods ignoring sides until you come to a junction where you take the right hand path back to meet the A268. Here you turn left and follow the footpath back to Beckley village.
Bus Information: 300, hourly service between Hastings & Northiam via Beckley. Mon - Sat. No Sunday Service. Phone for further information on 0870 6082 608
Guide: Short Walks in the Rye Countryside, leaflet with six walks in the Rye area, partnership between East Sussex County Council, Rye Bay Countryside Office and the Two Bays, One Environment Project
Services: Rose & Crown public house and shops in Beckley, two public houses in Peasmarsh and a Spar shop
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Bixley & Flatropers Wood Walk (54.58 kB)