For her birthday last autumn I bought a friend a voucher for a pairing tour and tasting at Bolney Wine Estate. We got it booked in for a summer Friday and hoped the weather would be kind. It’s fair to say it was perhaps a little too kind - it was a warm and sunny day.

We both enjoy a walk, so I was tasked with planning a route using public transport to get us somewhere close. With a lot of help from OS Maps I planned a walk from Haywards Heath to Bolney Wine Estate - about 7 miles, taking around 2.5 hours. The first part skirted around Haywards Heath, avoiding most of the built-up area before taking us through woodland.

A shaded woodland path in dappled summer light near Haywards Heath

About a third of the way in we reached Cuckfield, the only real refreshment stop, so we took a break and had lunch there. The walk followed the Sussex Diamond Way and High Weald Landscape Path in places, and the vistas opened out nicely.

A grass path between a tall hedge and a wooden fence, with fields and trees beyond under a blue sky

A wide view over a golden summer meadow with the South Downs visible on the horizon

We were both a bit hot and sticky by the time we reached the estate, but soon cooled down in the air-conditioned cafe and shop.

The tour and tasting was a good experience. The tastings were generous, and we both left with bottles - and some Cocoa Loco chocolate. To round off the day we sat on the balcony of the restaurant with a glass of Classic Cuvée.

Rows of vines at Bolney Wine Estate under a blue summer sky, with tall grass between the rows