This walk takes you around pleasant hilly countryside to the south of East Grinstead, with fine views and relatively gentle gradients, and the familiar Wealden mix of pasture, woods and ancient houses. East Grinstead itself, though now surrounded by modern suburbia, still has a quaint old town, perched on a hilltop.
Early in the walk you pass Standen, a National Trust-owned house and garden exemplifying the 19th century Arts and Crafts style popularised by William Morris and others. If you want to make a visit to the house, three short walks to Standen are possible - see the walk text. Later the walk takes you pass the remains of Brambletye House, a romantic ruin almost since it was built in the 17th century.
Trains: Get the 0950 East Grinstead train from Victoria, arriving 1050 (Clapham 0956, East Croydon 1009. Return trains are xx06 xx36.
Lunch: It is 8.7km (5.4 miles) from East Grinstead to Forest Row. Obvious lunch choices are the Chequers Inn Hotel (01342 823333) which serves meals, pizzas and ciabattas 12pm-5pm. Next door to it on the left is the Java and Jazz Cafe and Pizzeria (01342 862699) which is open until 10.30pm Monday to Saturday, or 6pm on Sundays. Across the road is the Brambletye Hotel (a pub, essentially). Plus various other options, particularly the Hop Yard Brewery for it's beer, which has separate Thai and pizza concessions.
Closer to the station is Bluebells (01342 458 491) on the corner of Railway Approach, which has a pleasant ambience and good selection of cakes and is open till 5pm.