You will need OS 1:25,000 sheet 135 - Ashdown Forest (preferred) or 1:50,000 sheet 188 Maidstone and Royal Tunbridge Wells. The majority of the walk is on well-marked and well-trodden paths but beware - there are some tricky bits where the path is not obvious. The route may, of course, be done in any direction and small or large loop first - so many options! I will describe it, small loop first, starting from the High Rocks Car park at 5588 3825.
High Rocks to High Rocks Annexe.
Leave the car park and turn east along High Rocks Lane. Pass the entrance to
High Rocks on your right and continue over the railway bridge. Pass the junction
with Tea Garden Lane (on your left) and continue over the river Grom. After
another 100m, the road kinks right and the High Rocks Annexe will be found in
the wooded area on the north side of the road.
High Rocks Annexe to Happy Valley.
Continue east along High Rocks Lane for 0.5km. A path heading north takes you
into Nevill Court - a private road. Continue along this road passing a T-junction
on your right until the road ends and a path can be followed for 100m to a junction.
Turn left here and follow for 50m to the pinnacle - Happy Valley. The outcrop
is intermittent but on the north side of the path.
Happy Valley to Bulls Hollow.
Retrace your steps to the path heading north. Turn left here and follow the
path up the rise bearing right to St. Paul's Church, Rusthall. Outside the gates,
turn left and follow the path for 50m to cross the A264 Langton Road. Continue
in the same direction for another 50m to Rusthall Road. Turn right here and
follow the road ESE for 80m. Turn left into Harmony Street. Ahead of you are
Denny Bottom Rocks and the famous 'Toad Rock'. The road bends right and then
left. At the left bend, a road (Rusthall Park) continues ahead and a tarmac
path joins from the right. Follow a track south east between Rusthall Park and
the tarmac path for 80m. This brings you out under Gangway Wall at Bulls Hollow.
Bulls Hollow to High Rocks Continuation.
Follow the 'L' shape of Bulls Hollow to the opposite end of the outcrop. As
the ground rises, follow an old pack-horse track south west, rising to join
Rusthall Road. Turn left and follow to a junction with the A264 Langton Road.
Turn left and follow to the Spa Hotel. Cross the road and follow a path south
to the left of the' Major Yorke'. Continue along this path crossing two roads
(Nevill Park then Hungershall Park) south to emerge at the A26. Turn right and
go under the railway bridge. The other side of the bridge is a footpath heading
WSW through a housing estate. Continue, through the shop arch and turn right
into Summervale Road. After a few metres, a gap between the houses on the right
allows access to the footpath heading west into Friezland wood. Follow the path
for 1km to the High Rocks Continuation on your left.
High Rocks Continuation to High
Rocks.
Continue along the path for a further 250m (passing High Rocks on your left)
to join High Rocks lane. Turn left and after 100m, turn left into High Rocks.
High Rocks to Harrisons Rocks.
Turn left as you leave High Rocks and continue to just past the car park entrance
where a path on the right is followed under the railway and through a damp wooded
section to emerge into an open area. After a while, the path crosses a stile
on the right and continues for just over 1km crossing Broom Lane. Cross over
and continue past the sewerage works along the High Weald Walk for 2km to Groombridge
Place. As you reach the buildings turn south, cross the river Grom and follow
the path heading south west. After 150m, the path narrows and passes through
a metal gate. Turn right here and follow the path to the north of the cricket
ground to emerge on the road. Cross over and follow Corsley Road (to the north
west end of the shops) south. Where the road bends right, follow the path on
the left over the railway footbridge for 0.4km to emerge on the road to Harrisons
Rocks. Follow the road to the toilet block and then follow the lower track to
the outcrop.
Harrisons Rocks to Bowles Rocks.
Follow the path below Set Square Arête (just west of the Isolated Buttress)
west to rejoin the High Weald Walk next to the railway. Turn left and follow
the path south east to Forge Farm. Turn right and follow the track across the
level crossing. Turn left along Forge Road and follow south east for 1km. Here,
the road bears left and then left again. At the second turn, there is a track/road
heading SSW. Follow this rising path past some houses and then through a wooded
section. Crossing a stile, you emerge into a field. Follow the path past a track
to Renby Farm on your left then another track on your right (where the Sussex
Border Path joins) through Crooked Wood. The path follows a cutting, rising
to a stile and Renby Grange. The path runs close to the buildings and eventually
turns south east, rising to meet the A26. Cross the road here (a ramp heads
right to the crossing point - take care - the vehicles move fast on this stretch
of road). On the other side, follow the ramp up from the road and as you reach
the start of the road, turn left, following a path south east alongside some
houses. After 200m, an avenue of trees on the left is followed, heading north
east. This brings you into the back of Bowles Outdoor Pursuits Centre, below
the upper ski slope. Follow the path into the centre and then the road down
to the main outcrop.
Bowles Rocks to Eridge Green Rocks.
Just to the left of the new toilet building near the swimming pool, is possible
to cross the stream and follow the edge of a field south to rejoin the Sussex
Border Path. Follow this across Sandhill Lane, over the stile and downhill under
the railway bridge by the stream. Follow the path uphill and left along the
top of the field then ENE to Stitches Farm. Turn north along the track, through
the wooded section and down the dip then up to Hamsell Manor. Follow the path
left, then right past the tennis courts. After 300m, the drive bears left. At
this point follow the path (not obvious) over the 'footbridge', through a gate
and up onto a field. Cross the field (the path goes diagonally across it although
it may be ploughed up) in a north easterly direction to a stile. Continue through
a narrower wooded area and on to join the road. Follow the road north to meet
the A26. Cross the road and follow the track north east to emerge in the car
park at Eridge Green Rocks.
Eridge Green Rocks to High Rocks.
Follow the track keeping close to the rocks. The rocks peter out after you pass
Eridge Tower. Follow the track until a definite T-junction. Turn left and follow
this track west for 200m or so until you meet a track on your right. Pass this
track and continue for a further 100m or so to a second track on your right.
Follow this track north dropping down to the stream then up to emerge at the
road. Cross the road and follow the track, ignoring the first track on your
right. About 100m further on, a track heads off right - follow this to the road.
Cross the road and follow the track to Fairview Road. Turn left and follow the
road to a junction. Turn right and follow the road to the High Rocks Hotel -
Award yourself a well-earned drink!
Notes.
· If climbing, the sandstone code should be followed. Unless you plan
to solo all routes, you will need about 80 feet of climbing rope, a couple of
karabiners and a 5 - 10m length of static rope to act as a sling as a minimum.
Climbing shoes or 'plimsolls' should be worn - please do not climb in walking
boots. You may require a harness and belay device and a second rope if considering
climbing on the Isolated Boulders at High Rocks. Only Bowles, Harrisons and
Bulls hollow have fixed bolts - at other outcrops, you will need to use trees
etc. to make belays. Take care when approaching the crag edge.
· The Climbers' Club guide to Southern Sandstone by Mike Vetterlein and
Robin Mazinke was published in 2008 and is available from climbing shops and
www.cordee.co.uk
· At High Rocks, the entrance fee is currently £5 for climbers
(£35 for an annual season ticket). Please pay at the lower bar.
· At High Rocks Annexe, climbing permission should be sought at the Bungalow
on the right hand side of the sharp bend 300m up Tea Garden Lane.
· Access for climbing at High Rocks Continuation is unclear - discretion
is advised.
· Climbing at Bowles Rocks is currently £2.00 per day and at weekends
is collected by a Bowles employee walking round.
| High Rocks 5589 3831 entrance | High Rocks Annexe 5623 3849 outcrop centre |
| High Rocks Continuation 5615 3840 east end | Happy Valley 5650 3912 Cheesewring Pinnacle |
| Bulls Hollow 5689 3940 outcrop centre | Eridge Green Rocks 5550 3554 car park |
| Harrisons Rocks 5315 3594 North Boulder | Bowles Rocks 5442 3313 entrance |