April bluebells east sussex

Johns Cross East Sussex

Driving along the A21 to and from Hastings I could not help noticing the views and landscape around a small place called Johns Cross.  So it was towards the end of April on a beautiful sunny weekend I decided to take a walk around the countryside of Johns Cross in East Sussex.

Using ordnance survey online maps I could see there was plenty of public footpaths to follow all around the Johns Cross area.

Johns cross online map
Johns Cross map

There is an old building once a pub just off the A21 where you can park your car.  Then you can either head across the road to Mountfield and Darwell reservoir or the other way towards Salehurst and lordship wood.  Both routes taking you deep into the east Sussex countryside.  Another option nearby is the historic town of Robertsbridge.

Camera Crisis

I was having a camera crisis though, I had lost my trusty compact camera on holiday.  Back at home I had liquid ingress on the sensor of my DLSR and so had sent it off to be repaired to the canon service center.
So I had invested in a new Canon compact the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera.  So this was all I was taking with me on my countryside walk around Johns Cross while I waited for my DLSR to be repaired or replaced.

Johns Cross towards Salehurst

My first hike around Johns Cross and I took the route towards Salehurst with the intention of visiting Robertsbridge and maybe stopping for a pint there before heading back.

johns cross salehurst
Towards Salehurst 1/250 sec, F/11, ISO 125, 26mm
oast houses east sussex
Oast houses 1/160 sec, F/6.3, ISO 125, 20mm

With it being so bright, fast shutter speeds while hand holding the camera I had switched image stabilisation off, hoping for sharper images, but dont think this was the case.  Its hard to tell in field with just a tiny screen, bright sunlight and failing eyesight.

salehurst park east sussex
Salehurst park 1/80 sec, F/11, ISO 125 8.8mm

Its so quiet once you have headed off the A21 deep into the east Sussex countryside, its pretty around Salehurst park.  It was warming up and after the tranquillity I not fancy heading into Robertsbridge.

Johns Cross towards Mountfield and Darwell Reservoir

I return the next day to Johns Cross but heading in the opposite direction towards Mountfield and Darwell Cross.  Being late April and there lots of forest I was hoping to get my bluebell fix before it was too late.

bluebells east sussex
bluebells mountfield 1/160 sec, F/8, ISO 125, 8.8mm
forest bluebells
forest bluebells 1/100 sec, F/8, ISO 125, 8.8mm

I was not going to be disappointed getting my bluebell fix.  There is some beautiful un-spoilt forest land around Johns Cross.  Not many people come walking around this area, that is what is so good about studying OS maps online.

oast house mountfield
Oast house

Beautiful walk all around Johns Cross where you feel like your miles away from anyone.  On the second day with my new compact camera I was getting used to it and my landscape photography with it was improving, but I really wanted my DLSR for such breathtaking views.


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