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Brightling's folly trail

Recommended by

Our view

"Step into the colourful world of 'Mad Jack' Fuller on this wonderfully varied exploration of the High Weald."

Walk directions

Enter the churchyard opposite Wealden House and walk through it, down to the road. Turn right to reach Brightling Park and make for a turning on the left, signposted ‘Robertsbridge’. Go through a galvanised kissing gate by the junction and follow the path along the fence, through a kissing gate and across a small field. Go forward between a hedge and a fence to a footpath junction and sign.

Turn right here over a stile and follow the field-edge towards the tower. Cross a stile on the right, cut through the trees past the tower and descend the field slope to the stile and road. Bear right for a few paces, turning left by the barns and outbuildings of Ox Lodge. Cut between ponds and lakes and look for a cricket ground by the track. The temple can be glimpsed on the hill behind the pavilion. Pass a turning to some farm outbuildings and continue on the main bridleway, signed ‘Coblye’, keeping straight ahead when it forks. Cut through an area of pheasant-rearing woodland and descend.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Parkland paths, woodland bridleways and lanes, 3 stiles

Landscape - Parkland and dense woodland

Dog friendliness - Off lead in woodland, but heed signs

Parking - Limited spaces by phone box near church – avoid times of church services

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in East Sussex Dog-friendly walks in East Sussex

About the walk

Scattered around the peaceful village of Brightling are the monuments and follies created by former resident John ‘Mad Jack’ Fuller – a man for whom the description ‘eccentric’ is something of an understatement. Long after Fuller’s death in 1834, his name lives on, as does his reputation as a... wilful, autocratic and larger-than-life character who embraced a wide range of interests and became a renowned patron of the arts. John Fuller was born in 1757, the son of a Hampshire rector. The family made its money from the Sussex iron industry, allowing the young John a privileged upbringing. He attended Eton and on his 20th birthday inherited the family fortune and its estates. His future was secure. He came close to marriage in his 30s, but his proposal was declined. Fuller remained a bachelor for the rest of his life, at first throwing himself headlong into politics. He stood for Parliament on several occasions and eventually became the Honourable Member for East Sussex. But Fuller was no ordinary MP. He was the stuff of which legends are made, swearing at the Speaker of the House of Commons, thundering down from London in a carriage with footmen armed to the teeth with pistols and drawn swords, refusing a peerage, consuming three bottles of port a day and engaging in reckless, impossible wagers. It was hardly surprising that he became known as ‘Mad Jack’. With his 22-stone (140kg) frame and loud, bellowing voice, Fuller often induced fear in the strongest of souls. In fact, his quick temper and unpredictable nature eventually ruined his prospects of climbing the political ladder. After insulting the Speaker he was forcibly removed from the chamber, and ordered to apologise. He did not stand again for Parliament and became disillusioned with politics, instead focusing his attention on folly-building. Explore Brightling and the surrounding countryside and you will see Fuller’s follies everywhere, reflecting his taste for the absurd. Even his final resting place seems wildly over the top. This, his final folly, is a sandstone pyramid mausoleum erected in Brightling churchyard, where the walk begins. For many years people genuinely believed that Fuller had been interred in an upright position, dressed for dinner, holding a bottle of claret and wearing a top hat. When the tomb was eventually opened for restoration work, the rumours proved to be unfounded – though, given his exuberant personality, it would not have been surprising if the gossip had proved true.

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About the area

East Sussex is a land of stately homes, castles and the South Downs, with miles of chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel. For history buffs, there are a great many historic landmarks within Sussex, such as the battlefield where the Battle of Hastings took place, or visitors can enjoy pretty towns such as Lewes, Rye and Uckfield and the city of Brighton.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:

197ft (60m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Brightling's folly trail

Recommended by

Our view

"Step into the colourful world of 'Mad Jack' Fuller on this wonderfully varied exploration of the High Weald."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:

197ft (60m)

Walk directions

1 of 6

2 of 6

Cross a footbridge, climb past Coblye Cottage on the left, then fork left and keep to the main track through Prinkle Wood, ignoring paths left and right. Eventually reach a waymarker post and gate, exit the wood and follow the track downhill to a gate and road. Cross over.

3 of 6

From the car park, with the road behind you, take the left-hand bridle track and, when it eventually forks, keep to the right. When the track rises and then swings to the right at a long hairpin bend, turn left and follow the unwaymarked path downhill through the wood, keeping right when it levels out and is joined by a path from the left. Do the same thing a little further on, now walking parallel to a signed bridleway with which the path merges.

4 of 6

On emerging from the trees, cross over a pipe enclosing a conveyor belt linking Mountfield and Brightling gypsum mines. Follow the track to the left and then veer right after a few steps at the fork. Cross over the Darwell Stream and bear right, following the woodland path up through the trees to the road. Turn right to glimpse Darwell Reservoir and turn left to continue the walk. Follow Kent Lane, recross the conveyor belt and make for the hamlet of Hollingrove. On the right here is an old chapel, which is now a house.

5 of 6

Keep left at the junction and walk along the lane for a short distance, passing Whitehouse. Take the stony track on the right and veer left after a few paces in front of a part tile-hung house (AEF 1840 on the front). Walk along to the turning for the tower, visited near the start of the walk, then retrace your steps across the fields and follow the road back to Brightling church.

6 of 6

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Parkland paths, woodland bridleways and lanes, 3 stiles

Landscape - Parkland and dense woodland

Dog friendliness - Off lead in woodland, but heed signs

Parking - Limited spaces by phone box near church – avoid times of church services

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in East Sussex Dog-friendly walks in East Sussex

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

East Sussex

Brightling's folly trail

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Brightling's folly trail

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