Bodiam's perfect castle
Leave the car park and turn right, then left by the Castle Inn to walk left of the small village green along a lane marked ‘Private Road’ with views south across sports pitches towards Bodiam station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, if lucky with a steam-hauled train simmering gently. Continue past The Old Cricket Pavilion, now a cottage, and ignore a right turn immediately after. At the next track T-junction you turn right uphill, the lane climbing to pass well to the right of some converted oasthouses.
At the crest and opposite a large modern farm building go right, then to a hand gate between two pairs of five-barred field gates. Descend between houses, through a gate by a power post, then turn right alongside a hedge, down and up to a stile towards the steeple of the Old School House. Over the stile go right alongside a hedge.
Emerge onto a road, turn right along it, then immediately left (signposted 'Sandhurst'), past the Old School House, formerly a Victorian schoolmaster’s house with the modern school behind it. Walk along the pavement and at the sign for St Giles' Church follow the path and go through the lychgate into the churchyard.
Retrace your steps to the road. Cross over to take Levetts Lane, then very soon go right on a path through the woods, emerging just left of the right-hand house. Cross to the footpath between Nos 35 and 34. Over a stile descend into the valley through pasture. Through a field gate, cross to another to the right of a signpost. Go through this one and head right to another field gate onto a lane, continue ahead.
At the road junction, turn right and immediately half left into a field to climb to a gate and stile by an oak tree in line with a distant oast house. After the stile, go left and over another one, shortly bearing right to climb another stile. Cross a track to the left of the converted oast house and topiary and follow the hedge on the right, with the battlements of Bodiam Castle appearing ahead in its valley. The path descends beside a vineyard to a stile.
Across the stile you are in the grounds of Bodiam Castle. Follow the path to visit the castle, afterwards skirt it to the right to return to the car park.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
- Total units: 4
- Rooms 12
- Free TV
- Direct Dial
- Wifi




