Sedlescombe sits on a gentle, south-facing slope overlooking the river Brede valley and its tributary, the River Line. Over the centuries the village name has been spelled many ways, including Seddlescombe, Setlycombe and Selscomb.

Starting Location: Sedlescombe Church

Grid Reference: TQ777188 (OS Map)
OS Map: Explorer 124 Hastings & Bexhill

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 2 1/4 hours
Terrain: Some hills and stiles. Hazards: One road crossing.
Directions/Transport: 1. From the parish church walk up the road and round a sharp right- handed bend. Immediately cross the busy road and go through the field gate. Walk down the track to cross a stile into the field and continue straight on to the end of the wood to your right. Bear very slightly right across the field to the right-hand corner of the small wood opposite.

2. Keeping the wood to the left, continue down the field to cross two stiles and a bridge. From here, bear very slightly left across the field to cross a stile into Beech Wood. Walk along the path through the wood and cross a stream before reaching a field.

3. Walk diagonally across this field aiming towards a point around 50 metres in from the right-hand end of a conifer wood ahead. Go through one gateway and very shortly a second, on to a track. Walk ahead along the track to reach a busy road at Swailes Green. Turn right. Perhaps visit the workshop and showroom of Country Ways Oak.

4. Walk down Compass Lane and take the footpath on the right. Cross the field diagonally to the left and on through the wood. At the end, turn left through a garden to reach Sedlescombe Vineyard.

5. Leaving the vineyard, cross the road into the field opposite, keeping to the track until it turns sharply left. Here bear right to reach a narrow strip of trees.

6. Keeping to the left of these trees, walk towards a solitary Oak tree in the middle of a field ahead. Bear slightly right and uphill towards the footpath marker near trees and a pond.

7. Turn left at the pond and through the hedge opposite across the field, keeping the woodland to your left. Walk until a track on the left, leading into the wood. Turn right and walk up the hill to reach a stile and Hurst Lane.

8. Take the footpath opposite between fences, to reach a stile. After crossing the stile, turn right on to an unmade road with bungalows on the left. After a short while the lane later turns sharply left. Find and pass through a gateway in the field corner. Keeping the hedge on the left, walk through the first field and, on the far side of a second field, turn right down to a stile and bridge. Then carry on up the track to reach the church and return to the starting point.

Bus Information: 349 limited service Monday to Sunday between Hastings and Hawkhurst. Check timetable  for further details.
Train Information: Battle station (4 miles) on the Hastings-London line. Regular trains - 2 per hour. For further information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk 
Car Park Information: There is limited parking opposite the church.
Waymarking: Standard
Services: The Brickwall Hotel, and The Queen's Head pub.
Download guide: Bluebell Walk (45.5 kB)