DURING October the town of Battle is busy with its annual festival and the 1066 battle re-enactment. John Harmer seeks peace and quiet in the High Weald countryside towards the hamlet of Telham, to the south-east of the town, and finds a very unusual stile along the way.

DIRECTIONS

[1] From the rail station, go up Station Approach to the main road (A2100) and turn left up Battle Hill. At St Mary’s Terrace on the left, cross the road with great care to go along a track by a fingerpost opposite.

Veer to the right of a field-gate along a twitten. In 150 yards there is what appears to be a wooden barrier across the path. This is a rather unusual type of stile known as a Tumbledown Stile because, by pushing down the top bar on the left, the bars go down, making it easy to step over. On release, the counter balances cause the bars to return to their normal position.

Just beyond, veer right to follow the footpath alongside a fence on the right. At the bottom, go over or around a partially broken stile. Continue uphill through woodland past an old stone wall.

On coming out of the wood, veer left to go across an open field where the footpath line is just visible to the right of telegraph poles. At the bottom of the field, enter woodland and follow the path downhill.

Go over a stile to leave the wood and up a steep bank, and then veer left up across the field just to the right of a bramble clump towards a metal gate at the top corner. Turn to rest and see the white cap of the old windmill on the horizon at Caldbec Hill; then cross two stiles in successions to a lane.

[2] Directly opposite, go up earth steps, through a wooden barrier and along the footpath towards a pylon. At the farther end, bear left to cross a stile on the left of white gates and turn left to a lane.

Turn right and, in about 350 yards, just past Old Forewood Lane on the right at a sharp left-hand bend, turn left to go through a hand-gate set back from the road. See alongside a waymark, the National Trust emblem.

Follow the footpath along the right-hand field edge, going under power lines. There is another opportunity to see the white cap of the old windmill at Caldbec Hill to the left. Just beyond is a wooden seat, if a rest is desired.

Go through a kissing-gate to follow the woodland stretch of this path; and then through a wooden barrier to a lane. Turn right for about 600 yards, taking care as there is no footway.

[3] At the main road (A2100), if visiting The Black Horse pub, turn right along the footway for about a quarter of a mile. Otherwise, cross with great care and turn left along the footway.

In just over half a mile, immediately past a delightful thatched cottage (95 Hastings Road), turn right by a footpath plinth to go through a wooden barrier. Follow the slightly overgrown footpath downhill.

At a three-way fingerpost turn left along the footpath between back gardens and woodland. Ignore any paths leading into the woodland and, just past a Kilnwood Corner sign; bear right down a rough track (Starr’s Green Lane).

[4] In about 130 yards, at a fingerpost, turn right down a twitten and cross an estate road. Continue on the footpath opposite on the left of houses; go through a hand-gate, over a footbridge and then to another estate road. Turn right along the footway and, at the T-junction, turn left then cross Marley Lane to follow the footway uphill. Go over the railway crossing and immediately turn left along the tarmac path to the rail station or continue up Station Approach for the bus stops.

THE ESSENTIALS

Distance/time: Four miles/two hours.

Public transport: Trains to Battle Station. Buses (304/305) from Hastings and Hawkhurst or (95) from Bexhill; alight at top of Station Approach. Timetable information from Traveline: 0871 200 2233 or www.traveline.info

Car: Battle Rail Station car park (pay and display) or limited roadside parking where no yellow lines.

Underfoot: Field and woodland paths.

However beware because at this time of year they may be muddy and slippery after rain; one steep climb.

Also, main road with footway and minor roads.

It can be thirsty work: The Senlac Inn, top of Station Approach (near start/finish); The Black horse pub, Telham (near point 3) are both worth popping into for refreshments.

Maps: OS Explorer 124; also Landranger 199.

A compass would be useful for general direction so it is worth taking one with you to make sure you stay on track.