Burwash, Bateman's, Oxley's Green and Old Brick Farm

On leaving the car park at the start of the route, you are immediately in some delightful countryside. A shady path through a grove of tall beech trees descends gently sloping fields, which give a beautiful view over the valley of the River Dudwell. Field paths lead to a little road described by Kipling as "an enlarged rabbit hole of a lane". At the end of this lane lies Batemans.

Built of mellow local sandstone blocks the mansion has prominent and attractive chimneys, centrally grouped. Surrounding the house are lovely gardens, largely designed by Kipling himself. The date 1634 is carved above the front porch.

A lane to the south-east leads across the River Dudwell, fed by Puck's stream. It passes the mill where Kipling harnessed the mill-race in order to generate his own electricity, and where many of Puck's adventures are set.

Park Farm slopes upwards towards an extensive wood. This is the Pooks Hill of Kipling's fable. The route follows a bridle path through the wood, then heads out onto open high ground with wide views.

After Perryman's Farm, a lovely track, almost arrow straight, follows a stream that has cut a deep cleft in the sandy soil. The stream feeds a reed filled lake that is a naturalist delight. Bullrushes and flag irises thrive in a slow moving waters, while dragonflies and warblers dart over the surface. You leave the track at a point where trees converge above you to create an arched canopy. An easy uphill walk takes you to Oxley's Green.

To the north of the village, you pass a placid tree fringed lake. There was a furnace nearby at Socknersh, and these waters may well have been a hammer pond from the days when water was dammed up to work trip hammers. These hammers were essential to the iron industry that flourished in the Kent and Sussex Weald from Roman times up until the 18th century.

The route continues through the lovely Mill Wood to arrive at Socknersh Manor with its Tudor geometric brickwork. The manor gained some notoriety in the 1970's when it was owned jointly by Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck, who used it as a base for their boisterous partying. Adjacent to the manor is its farm, which has a massive stone built barn. Beyond Socknersh Manor, hidden by a copse of trees, is Glydwish Hall. While you will not see it, you will know it is there, as a small rounded white columned folly stands nearby.

A bridle path and a little road lead to Old Brick Farm. From the well populated duck pond, field paths recross the River Dudwell and ascend a slope towards the spire of Burwash Church. A flight of steps from the field leads to a path through the churchyard.

Beside the church is a tall war memorial. On one of its faces is inscribed the name of Lieutenant John Kipling. He was posted missing, presumed killed, in France in 1915, at the age of 18. 'Puck of Pook's Hill' was written for him, Rudyard Kipling's only son, and for his sister, as an introduction to English history in this lovely part of Sussex.