Call of the cuckoo
Cuckoo Trail, Sussex
Had you attended the Heathfield Fair in days of yore, you’d have witnessed the old Sussex tradition of releasing a single cuckoo. Today, that custom is recalled in the name of a fetching cycle path, 11 miles of which lie along the former ‘Cuckoo Line’ railway between Heathfield and Polegate.
The railway line opened in 1880 only to close in 1968, a victim of Dr Beeching’s axe. However, since the route passed through such appealing countryside – open grassland, broadleaf woods and arable fields – the trail has been popular with visitors since it was converted in the 1990s.
ARTISTRY AND PRIORY
The tarmac pathway is flat and almost completely traffic-free, making it perfect for families with novice cyclists. Children can have fun spotting the metal sculptures created for the path by local artist Hamish Black and the wooden artworks carved by Steve Geliot from oak trees tumbled by the famous storm of 1987. Steve has also produced some wooden seats, which are dotted along the way for picnickers.
Close by is the familyfriendly Michelham Priory.
Set in seven acres of attractive gardens, the priory is guarded by England’s longest waterfilled medieval moat and sports interactive displays, a playground, café and loos.
SINGING SPRING
If 11 miles is likely to prove too arduous, the trail can be shortened by joining at one of the picturesque villages along the way. However, for those up for a longer trip, the path heads off the former railway for a further three miles to Hampden Park, famous for its bluebells, daffodils and crocuses and aromatic herb garden.
The entire path is also accessible to walkers and wheelchair users, with some stretches suitable for horseriders, too. And if you don’t have your own bike, you can hire one on the trail at Horam (countrybike.co.uk).
Cycle the route in spring and you’ll find the ground thick with wildflowers and the air heavy with the evocative scent of wild garlic as you glide through woods ringing with the sound of green woodpeckers. And true to its name, the trail offers visitors the chance to take part in that time-honoured spring ritual: listening for the first cuckoo.