Villages of the Rother Valley
From the car park bear left along the lane, cross the A272 and follow the lane downhill into Iping. Cross the River Rother for the first time over the partly 17th-century bridge and go left into the churchyard via a gate.
Leave the churchyard at its far corner and follow an enclosed path to a stile. Continue half left across pasture towards a stile by a field gate. Continue along the field-edge until a marker post indicates a turn to the left, then through a tree belt with a stream via an elegant metal footbridge, a chain at each end, to continue ahead to a stile to the left of a stone field barn. Over this continue into the far corner of a tapering field. Carry on over a stile by a gate, through another gate, past farm buildings, then bear left onto a track and reach a lane.
Bear right to visit the unspoiled and simple 11th-century Chithurst church on its mound overlooking the Rother. Then cross the Rother on a mossy stone bridge to follow the lane to turn right at a footpath post just past White’s Farm. Follow a path between hedges and cross a stile and continue ahead to another stile, a view of Trotton Place beyond the river. Over it bear left alongside the fence, descending to a stile to the left of a rectangular pond. Through a copse and out over a stile cross to another and out onto the A272.
Turn right along the main road and cross the Rother over the mainly 15th-century five-arched bridge. Bear right to visit St George’s Church with its fine wall paintings and brass memorials. Back to the main road, cross to the telephone kiosk and walk along a gravelled lane. Through a metal kissing gate the lane bears right, by outbuildings, then ahead alongside a post and wire fence. Turn left along an unmade lane, past Terwick Mill Cottages, then through a field gate bear half right across two fields to a footbridge, bearing left to a bridle gate near Terwick Mill.
Cross the Rother weir on a footbridge and, past the mill buildings, bear left along a lane, passing cottages, to a T-junction. Here bear left and follow the lane and just before the 'give way' sign before the main road (where the Keepers Arms is a few paces on), turn sharp right on a track, onto the Serpent Trail.
Almost immediately, bear left at a track fork and ascend a sunken lane, then continue onto Trotton Common, ignoring the first left turn at a signpost where the view opens out. At the crest by the next signpost and a group of pine trees bear left at a footpath post, still on the Serpent Trail. At a path junction 100yds (91m) later bear right and descend along the track, now on Iping Common. Converging with a track from the right continue ahead, then converge with another track to follow the Serpent Trail back to the car park.
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Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
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Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
- Rooms 6
- Free TV
- Wifi
- Open parking
- Total units: 1
- Washing machine
- Sky or freeview
- En suite
- Washing machine
- Sky or freeview
- En suite
- Linens provided




