Lingfield to Haxted Mill

Recommended by

Walk directions

From the car park, cross East Grinstead Road and continue down the High Street. Turn left into Old School Place, and take the footpath between houses through the churchyard. Turn right into Vicarage Road, cross into Bakers Lane, and continue beyond Station Road, jink left and then right onto the footpath across the railway. Swing left as you approach Park Farm, then fork left onto a gravelled farm track, following the public footpath signs, in front of a row of houses and then ahead on a grassy track.

Continue over the stile into a field. After a few paces, cross a concrete bridge and then the stile on your left, and continue with the hedge on your right. At the field top corner, turn right through the kissing gate, heading diagonally across the field, past the prominent oak tree, towards the gate and adjoining stile on the far side of the field.

Cross the lane, climb over the stile opposite, and follow the footpath beside Eden Brook. Cross the brook on a new black metal bridge, then head across the field to a stile by the metal gates. Turn right along the road to Haxted Mill.

Cross the stile and turn right onto the Vanguard Way, re-cross the river, and bear left towards the stile on the far side of the next field. Turn left onto the road, then fork left just beyond the bridge.

Turn right along the drive towards Starborough Farm. At the farm, take the stile on the left, just before the wooden gates leading to the house. Walk along the field edge and then between farm buildings to reach a stile in the tree hedge. Cross the drive to Badger House, bear right leaving the house on your right, and follow the path across the field to the corner of a wood. Cross the footbridge and pass through a gate into a field and follow its left-hand edge ahead, then continue following the left-hand field edge to cross the next three fields, with either a stile or gate between each field.

Turn right in the corner of the fourth field, keeping the hedge on your left, and continue over a bridge and stile and follow the field edge on your left, over another bridge and stile into St Piers School sports ground. Keeping the hedge on your right, continue to a gap just before the corner of the hedge ahead, then cross the lane, where the footpath continues at a stile.

Cross a small field, a footbridge and then a second field, exiting via a stile. A few paces on, enter the woods by a gate, and pass the school’s adventure playground. Beyond the woods, bear right through the gates near the school buildings, and follow the left-hand edge of the field. In a second field, jink left onto a path to pass close to sports pitches. Pass through a kissing gate, and over two footbridges separated by a meadow to reach the railway line. Turn right and cross the line over the footbridge in the station. Walk down the approach road to cross over Station Road and up the path opposite The Star Inn. Cross over Church Road, and turn right through the charming Old Town into the churchyard. Finally, retrace your steps to the car park.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field-edge paths can be overgrown or muddy, farm tracks and country lanes, 15 stiles

Landscape - Flattish farmland in headwaters of the River Eden

Dog friendliness - Lead needed around farmyards, livestock and traffic, and numerous stiles may prove troublesome

Parking - Council car park in Gun Pit Road, Lingfield

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Surrey

About the walk

Out on the Surrey border, the charming little Starborough Castle was home to one of the grandest families in the land. The Cobham family had lived at Starborough since at least the 14th century, and Reginald, the first Lord Cobham, also owned nearby Hever Castle. Lord Cobham held office as Admiral...

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Surrey is one of England’s most wooded counties, with over a quarter of the landscape designated as an official AONB and plenty of history evident in the countryside. You’ll find sandy tracks, cottage gardens and welcoming village inns, and on the fringe of Greater London you can picnic in Chaldon’s hay meadows, explore the downs at Epsom, or drift idly beside the River Thames.