There is something inviting about a walking leaflet that promises an outing of “about an hour”. No elaborate preparations, no distant destination: simply leave the village streets behind and discover the fields, hedges and wooded hollows close to home.

These two walks from an old Walks Around Cuckfield leaflet capture that pleasure beautifully. They also preserve a glimpse of the village at the time the directions were written, when a butcher’s shop, a garage, iron gates and a timber “staircase” were useful landmarks along the way.

Walk No. 7 begins at the churchyard’s east gate, passing allotments before following Courtmead Road towards the A272. Beyond the main road, the directions lead down a rough lane and up towards Horsgate Farm. Here the walk takes on its countryside character: a stile, a diagonal crossing of a field, a hedge to follow and a small iron gate.

Much of the enjoyment lies in these modest transitions. A road gives way to a lane; a lane opens into fields; a belt of trees changes the outlook. Walking allows time to notice such details, and to appreciate how closely Cuckfield’s built surroundings are woven into the countryside.

The route continues towards the landmark described as Cuckfield Hospital, returning by paths, allotments, Glebe Road and London Lane to the High Street opposite Queen’s Hall. There is even a suggested shortcut, a thoughtful provision for anyone wanting a gentler outing.

Walk No. 8 offers a different rhythm. Starting at the bottom of the High Street, it follows Ockenden Lane before turning towards grassland and a bridge over a stream. The instructions then describe an uphill stretch, a timber “staircase” and a descent into a hollow with trees and another stream crossing.

That sequence suggests the particular charm of walking through folds in the landscape: the changing perspective as a path climbs, the shelter of a wooded hollow and the small satisfaction of crossing water before ascending again. A grassy lane eventually brings the walker back to the top of the High Street, opposite Ledgers Meadow.

Together, these walks remind us that a rewarding outing need not be long. Their appeal lies in the variety gathered into a small area, and in the chance to see familiar surroundings from an unfamiliar angle.

The leaflet is also a piece of local history. Its reference to a “new housing development” records a moment of change, while its everyday landmarks preserve details easily lost from memory.

These are historical directions. Anyone wishing to retrace the walks should check a current rights-of-way map, as landmarks, crossings and path arrangements may have changed.