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Bluebells in Rockinghill Wood at Standen, Sussex
Bluebells in Rockinghill Wood at Standen, Sussex | © National Trust/Trudie Jacobs
Sussex

Bluebell walk at Standen

This moderate 3-mile walk takes in the whole Standen Estate and wider countryside. You can take the walk at any time of year but if you visit in May and early June, you'll see the carpet of bluebells and spring flowers in Rockinghill Wood.

Some sections currently closed

Some sections of this trail are on land not managed by the National Trust which are currently closed. Ask staff at Standen for further details.

Total steps: 7

Total steps: 7

Start point

Standen car park, grid ref: TQ391356

Step 1

Walk out of Standen through the entrance gate and turn right. At the Rockinghill Wood sign, approximately 15 yards from the entrance gate, go through the gate leading into the field. Continue straight ahead down the hill, then turn left on a well-trodden path.

Step 2

Leave the field via a wooden kissing gate and go straight ahead into Rockinghill Wood.

Step 3

Go straight ahead to the boardwalk and walk along it. There is an old storage pond to your right.

Step 4

At the end of the boardwalk, at a memorial seat, you can either turn downhill to the right, to a junction of paths after about 125 yards, or venture further straight ahead (adding just less than a ¼ mile to the total length of the walk). For a detour, go straight ahead and enter a wilder, more remote area, but with path a clear ahead. It turns right at another memorial seat and then right again at the corner of a large pond. Follow the winding path through the wood to join the short route mentioned above.

Step 5

At the three-way fingerpost near marker (H) turn left by the fingerpost (go straight ahead if you have come down the shorter route).

Step 6

The path winds by a boardwalk into a gully. After a short while take the path to the right, down steep steps and over two bridges. You will catch sight of Standen Farm across the field. Cross a plank bridge and bear right to continue to follow the clear path. You will see a vineyard in a field to your right, before you cross one more bridge and come to a T-junction of paths by a pond.

Step 7

Turn right and after 20 yards go through a metal kissing gate into the field.

End point

Standen car park, grid ref: TQ391356

Trail map

Trail map for the Bluebell walk at Standen
Bluebell walk at Standen trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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The Courtyard at Standen West Sussex decorated for Christmas
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Standen House and Garden 

Arts and Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, set in a beautiful hillside garden

East Grinstead, West Sussex

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West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE

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