Robertsbridge - Junction Road - Salehurst - Udiam - Bodiam

3 Nov - Meeting with Matthew Harper from ESCC.  Walked the way and the few remaining issues to getting this in place should be resolved in time to allow for official instatement by April 2005.  Footbridge being costed - £2000 is the estimate.  Unfortunately, this cannot be justified by ESCC in the short term.

Provisional Waymarker design:

The track perspective narrowing will be rotated to point in the path direction.

Wed Nov 3 - Will have a meeting with Matthew Harper ESCC rights of way officer and David Allan, Robertsbridge parish council chairman to discuss bridge construction and a few public right of way issues to be resolved - primarily between Robertsbridge Abbey and Junction Road.

Completed survey for waymarking and posts on Saturday 12th Jun.  Parish council are fully behind the shortcut path to be established between the first two bridges and will fund the footbridge that needs to be constructed.  

March 16th: East Sussex County Council support this proposal.  They will supply the posts and are happy that I will act as Ranger and will choose where the posts should go.  I just need to get the waymarkers produced.

As a keen rambler and obvious enthusiast for the rail reinstatement project, I would very much like to encourage people to walk the paths between Robertsbridge and Bodiam.  I will be looking into the prospect of the local and county councils endorsing a properly waymarked and mapped path system along the route of the railway, which in the early stages helps with raising the profile of the project and helps counteract the problem of a lot of people's sedentary life styles and the resulting health implications (obesity, diabetes etc).

At present, there are several permutations of walking route, and quite a few official footpaths that cross and shadow the trackbed.  The plan is to integrate all these together into an easily followed path system, with a main route, and alternative possibilities marked as well, for instance people can walk alongside the bridges at present (criss crossing at 1st and 2nd) and then down to North Bridge St, starting from RVR Robertsbridge or divert through the village, or do a loop.  At present the route will just help give guidance on the alignment of the RVR trackbed, but as the reinstatement progresses, then the rail and walk integration can begin.

Example, catch train from Robertsbridge to Salehurst.  Walk to pub, get happy then walk on RVW to Junction Road and get back on another train.  It really did impress upon all involved in the trackbed walk, and the sponsored walk held each September, that the Rail/Walk possibilites are exciting and will suit all ages and abilities.  Local businesses will benefit from the walk by trade, and there are several pubs along the route.  The RVW can integrate into long distance paths, as it links with the Sussex Border Path at Bodiam and the High Weald Landscape Trail at Tenterden, with many other non-waymarked local paths.  When the Railway is fully restored, the KESR/RVR will be capable of transporting people to and from the places they wish to walk.  Cycling in the Rother Valley is also pleasurable, with many quiet lanes and tracks, and cyclists can be accomodated on the train.

Here is one of the routes available to shadow the trackbed from Robertsbridge To Bodiam (4.2 Miles/6.75Km)

1) Leave Robertsbridge RVR/Mainline Station, turn left opposite The Ostrich Hotel, walk down Station Road to Gray Nicolls (Cricket Bat Manufacturers).  Turn left just past their building, and through heavy metal flood gates.  Keep walking straight on, you should shortly see the 1st bridge.  Walk under this and follow the footpath for a short distance till another path intersects on the right, leading to a small bridge.  Take this path and follow, you will come to the second bridge through a kissing gate, go under second bridge and turn left, and follow the railway by the embankment down to North Bridge St. (Total section distance: 0.8 mile/1.29Km)

2) Turn left at Northbridge St and follow the road round to its intersection at a roundabout with the A21.  Cross to the opposite side, follow a minor road (Church Road) leading towards Salehurst.  Walk along this road as it rises towards the village.  Pass the Salehurst Halt pub (on the right) and before passing the church, follow a track seen between the pub and a bench round a tree in front of the church, on the right.  Follow this track round to the left, then downhill on a bend.  At the bottom, you will cross the trackbed of the railway.   Looking left here you will notice a pill box, and immediately opposite this, the bank with trees used to be where the platform was located.  (Total section distance: 0.9 mile/1.49Km) 

3) Carry on down the path in the same direction, crossing a stream (over Church bridge), continue to the end of this path, where you will then turn left, onto Fair Lane.  Keep straight, passing the remains of Robertsbridge Abbey  (Cistercian).  After passing the Abbey, the path bends to the right then straigthens again.  Take the path leading straight on from here, by the river Rother, following till you reach Junction Road.  (Total section distance:  1.5 miles/2.41Km) 

4) Turn left at Junction Road and cross to the opposite side of the road.  TAKE GREAT CARE CROSSING - TRAFFIC MAY APPROACH VERY FAST FROM EITHER DIRECTION AND THERE IS NO FOOTPATH!  You will quickly pass by Udiam Farm, where the railway trackbed is crossed once again.  Continue along this road, passing over the river bridge, then immediately turn right, to follow the river bank.  You will see a Southern Water building ahead, with a weir. (Total section distance: 158ft/49m)

5) follow the riverbank which bends a couple of times.  Upon reaching a road bridge over the river at Bodiam rise up to the road by a stile.  This is the end of the walk.  You can return by the same route if desired. (Total section distance: 1 Mile/1.61Km)

In Bodiam you can visit the Castle, with Tea Rooms, enjoy a drink or food at The Castle Inn, or  take a train ride on towards Tenterden (The High Weald Landscape Trail crosses there) from Bodiam Station (KESR).  The Sussex Border path  crosses at Bodiam.   To go North - go to the castle, and follow round to the back, you will join the path, going steeply uphill.  Follow Waymarkers.  This will take you near to Hawkhurst past Bewl Water and by Wadhurst Station.  This East Sussex section eventually finishes in East Grinstead.

To Go South/East - Follow a path by the river embankment, on the other side of the road, and bank of the river Rother.  This will swing to the right and cross the KESR railway track.  Follow waymarkers.  This section goes nearby Northiam and Beckley, finishing at Rye, walking alongside the Royal Military Canal for the last few miles.  Train services by South Central

From personal experience, the Sussex Border path, or at least, the East Sussex section, is difficult to follow in places, and I would highly recommend using OS Explorer or Landranger Maps, in conjunction with the Guide Book.

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