Opened in 1880, the Cuckoo Line was the Polegate to Eridge railway built by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. It was said that the first Cuckoo in spring was heard at the Heathfield Fair and that’s how the line got its name. It carried milk, livestock, Coal, Timber and passengers. The line was closed in 1965 with the ‘Beeching cuts’. It is 11 miles long linking Heathfield, Hailsham and Polegate, passing through Horam and Hellingly. It forms part of National Cycle Network 21. Horse riders can ride between Hellingly and south of Heathfield and between Summerhill Lane south of Hailsham and Polegate. The grid references below denote the whole of the Cuckoo Railway.
The Cuckoo Trail
East Sussex
Cuckoo Trail1 C Copyright PAUL FARMER and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. .jpg
Cuckoo Trail3 C Copyright Paul Gillett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence..jpg
Cuckoo Trail4 C Copyright PAUL FARMER and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence..jpg
Cucloo Trail2 C Copyright Paul Gillett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence..jpg
Opened in 1880, the Cuckoo Line was the Polegate to Eridge railway built by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. It was said that the first Cuckoo in spring was heard at the Heathfield Fair and that’s how the line got its name. It carried milk, livestock, Coal, Timber and passengers. The line was closed in 1965 with the ‘Beeching cuts’. It is 11 miles long linking Heathfield, Hailsham and Polegate, passing through Horam and Hellingly. It forms part of National Cycle Network 21. Horse riders can ride between Hellingly and south of Heathfield and between Summerhill Lane south of Hailsham and Polegate. The grid references below denote the whole of the Cuckoo Railway.
