The Wealdway, Kent and East Sussex, is a public footpath that runs from Gravesend, Kent on the Thames estuary, to the A259 at Eastbourne, 3 km north of Beachy Head.[1]
The Wealdway was conceived in 1970 by members of the Ramblers' Association as route through the Kentish and Sussex Weald, providing a link between the routes north of the Thames and the start of the South Downs Way. It would also provide a return circuit for users of the Saxon Shore Way. The first route descriptions were published in the mid seventies, but the poor state of the rights of way between Uckfield and Eastbourne delayed publication until 1981. Motorway Construction work and the building of the Tonbridge Flood Relief Barrier forced many changes to the original route.
Leave Gravesend and cross the A2 at Tollgate, on through Sole Street and Luddesdown climbing to the North Downs Way at Trottiscliffe. Descend the scarp slope of the North Downs, cross the M20 and A20, go through Platt, and Mereworth Woods to Gover Hill, where the Medway valley comes into view. Down to West Peckham, Barnes Street and thus to the Medway. The way now takes the riverside path upstream for a full 6 miles (9.7 km), through Tonbridge to Hayesden, where it heads due south, under the railway and under the Tonbridge bypass climbing to the ridge at Bidborough and through to Modest Corner, Southborough. From here to the A264, at Stone Cross, the route follows a mixture of paths and roads. You now leave Kent, and follow the contour before dropping down into the upper Medway valley and on to Withyham. The path follows a metalled drive, with good views to the north and south, leading to Five Hundred Acre Wood, the setting of A. A. Milne's, Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh books. The wood was first enclosed in 1693, and the path dedicated as a right of way, by the owner in 1970. The path still rises to Greenwood Gate Clump, at the top of the Ashdown Forest 720 ft (220 m) above mean sea level, then on high ground to Camp Hill and on to Browns Brook Cottage. Now on to Buxted Park, Uckfield, round Blackboys, with its Youth Hostel, East Hoathly through Chiddingly to Gun Hill walking through arable and pasture interspersed with coppices. The path descends into the Cuckmere valley at Hellingly through to the A22 south of Horsebridge. Now Upper Dicker and the River Cuckmere to Arlington and to Wilmington, East Sussex and the 226 ft (69 m) high chalk figure, the Long Man. The path climbs then falls towards Jevington, and climbs to Willingdon Hill, 659 ft (201 m) Here, it is 2 miles (3.2 km) downhill to the Eastbourne Youth Hostel on the A259.