The Cuckoo Trail is within a short walk of Vines Cross. There is also a named circular walk through Nettlesworth Wood, views of the distant South Downs, and local history reflected in former buildings and a historic blast furnace. Those looking to combine walking routes with local history will find several specific points of interest here.
Walking routes and countryside around Vines Cross
Around Vines Cross Farm, the Cuckoo Trail can be used for walking or cycling. Footpaths for guests of the farm pass directly by the accommodation. Another circular route is named “Maynard’s Green, Sicklehatch, Vines Cross” and leads into Nettlesworth Wood. A public path near Vines Cross reaches about 97 metres above sea level. From higher ground near the village, the view extends south to the distant South Downs. Vines Cross Farm lies on the edge of Vines Cross in the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Walking routes and landscape views are among the different aspects you can take into account when planning your stay.
Village centre and local traces
The Brewers Arms, Vines Cross’s pub, stands in the centre at the crossroads. The library is housed in a renovated telephone box and follows the “Take a book, bring a book” principle. A former trade is also linked to a specific location: the garage in the centre at the crossroads was once a blacksmith’s forge and is next to Forge Cottage. The garage was the forge; Forge Cottage is the neighbouring building.
The name Vines Cross is said to have been named in 1595 after John Vyne, a “vintner” from Hellingly. St James in Vines Cross is also part of the area’s past: the unaltered iron chapel dated from the late 19th or early 20th century. It closed in 2003 and was later removed. Its architectural features included painted corrugated iron walls, domestic-style windows, and a detached, open timber bellcote.
Heathfield Furnace and wine tasting
North of Vines Cross, in the High Weald, the Heathfield Furnace monument lies in the wider area around the village. The Fuller family built the blast furnace around 1693; it was used to manufacture cannons until 1793. The monument includes a 17th- to 18th-century blast furnace, slag heaps, a dam, dry ponds, and a water system. It also includes the probable site of a boring mill. Earthworks and underground archaeological remains survive. The site therefore offers a glimpse into the area’s former use, while the garage and Forge Cottage mark a separate history of blacksmithing rooted in the village centre.
At Hidden Spring Vineyard on Vines Cross Road in Horam, you can take a tour with wine tasting. As availability may change, check before your trip whether it is offered on your travel dates.
Find a holiday rental to suit your plans
When looking for a holiday rental in Vines Cross, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you mainly like to use the Cuckoo Trail for walking or cycling, are you interested in the village’s history, or would you like to include a wine tasting in Horam? Then compare the location of the specific accommodation with your plans for each day. Details about the short walk from the village to the trail, the village centre at the crossroads, and the higher ground offer different reference points for planning.
Discover more destinations: Framfield, Beckley, Earnley, Ringmer, Polegate, Northiam, Halland, Bodiam
For the broader travel overview: East Sussex.
