6 Of The Best Woodland Walks In East Sussex
The county’s coastline may draw a lot of attention, but don’t forget about its inland attractions as well – the forest and woodland walks in East Sussex are fabulous at any time of year. Whether you’re planning a spring stroll among the bluebells, looking for somewhere scenic for a dog walk or aiming to fill some of the summer holidays with an easygoing family-friendly nature trail, there are plenty of wonderful options around.
To help you get started, Pitchup’s team of keen walkers have come up with this list of the best places for a walk in the beautiful woodlands of East Sussex. Read on to find out about everything from our favourite places for an easy circular walk to a longer hike that takes you all the way down to the coast.
If you’re a visitor to the area, how about extending your time in this glorious scenery by booking an outdoor stay? Camping and glamping are great-value options for a UK break and even a single overnight can make you feel like you’ve had a proper getaway, or an adventure with the kids. Pitchup’s list of local campsites and glampsites has plenty of variety, so take a look and see what’s on offer.
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Ashdown Forest
Between East Grinstead and Crowborough, Ashdown Forest is spread across around 6,500 acres of spectacular ancient woodland. It’s the largest free public access space in the South East and is home to badgers, weasels, stoats and rabbits… and a very famous bear.
The bear in question is of course Winnie The Pooh, the beloved character from A.A. Milne’s books – with the forest being the inspiration for Pooh’s 100 Aker Wood home. With landmarks like Pooh Sticks Bridge, Roo’s Sandy Pit and Piglet’s House to look out for, Ashdown Forest is surely one of the best places for a family walk in East Sussex.
There are several walking trails to choose from in Ashdown Forest, with route maps available to download from the forest’s online shop and some available to follow on the Sussex Walks app. Most of the walks here are loops of 1 to 3 miles, but there’s also a longer 14-mile trail for the more intrepid visitor.
Abbot’s Wood
If you’re after a short stroll or somewhere to walk the dog, Abbot’s Wood, near Polegate, is just the ticket. There are two easy circular trails to choose from in this historic woodland – the mile-long Oak Walk and two-mile Abbots Trail. The former takes you on a tour of the mighty oak trees that fill the forest, while the latter will lead you to the lake, built in medieval times.
This fabulous forest area is bursting with wildlife, including nearly 30 species of butterfly. Lots of other insects, birds, dragonflies and bats can be seen too, so keep your eyes peeled and remember to take your camera if you’re keen on photography.
Abbot’s Wood is a great place for a walk at any time of year, but it’s at its very best in springtime when a carpet of bluebells starts to appear across the forest floor – in fact many people say this is one of the best bluebell walks in East Sussex.
Rye Harbour to Camber Sands
The popular six-mile walk from Rye to Camber Sands takes you from one of South East England’s most important medieval ports to the much-loved dunes of Camber Sands.
Early on in the walk you’ll get the chance to explore Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, one of Britain’s most significant conservation sites with coastal habitats including saltmarsh, shingle, reedbeds and saline lagoons. It’s easy to follow the footpath all the way to Camber Sands, where you can finish your walk with a dip in the sea or a drink in one of the pubs.
This is a point-to-point walk, so you can either turn it into a 12-mile round trip or hop on the 100 bus for the return journey.
Hastings Country Park
Hastings Country Park is one of the most important nature reserves in England. It’s renowned as an area of archaeological importance and has some incredible mossy rainforest-like woodland areas in some of its ravines.
You can choose from several different walks at Hastings Country Park, ranging from an easy-access half-mile jaunt to a four-mile trail that delves deeper into the ancient woodland. The route includes a few steep climbs as you make your way up to the top of the cliffs, but it’s worth the effort as the views across the surrounding area are sublime.
Visit on a clear day and you can see as far as Folkestone – or even over to France. Keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins or harbour porpoise swimming about too.
The walking trails at Hastings Country Park mostly start from the Bale House Visitor Centre, which has a café and toilets as well as handy maps.
Brede High Woods
Owned and managed by The Woodland Trust, Brede High Woods is a lovely place for a stroll at any time of year, but it really comes into its own in spring, when it becomes one of the best bluebell woods in Sussex. Each year, visitors marvel at the lush carpet of delicate flowers that spreads across this ancient landscape. The spectacle only lasts for a couple of weeks, usually around late April and early May, but it’s certainly worth making the trip for.
A variety of rare wildlife also thrives in this largely untouched expanse. From fallow deer to glowworms and from great crested newts to dormice, this woodland is so undisturbed that a beetle thought to be extinct elsewhere in the UK still lives here.
The fragile ecosystems here mean that visitors are requested to stick to pathways through the woods to avoid disturbing wildlife. The East Sussex Local Walks app has details of three routes, from a mile-long family walk to a longer five-mile loop.
There are two free car parks in Brede Woods, but be warned that these can fill up quickly at peak times (especially during bluebell season) so it’s a good idea to get in early to find a space.
Petworth House
For the last on our list of favourite woodland walks, you’ll need to expand your boundaries a little and cross over into West Sussex for a day at Petworth House and Gardens. Owned by the National Trust, this estate is home to some of the oldest and largest trees in the UK. Petworth’s four-mile Ancient Trees Walk is a circular route lined with veteran trees, including an ancient oak that is an impressive 940 years old and guards the approach to the Lower Pond.
It’s easy to spend a whole day exploring Petworth – there are 700 acres of parkland to explore here, including gardens designed by Capability Brown, and you may spot a herd of fallow deer that have lived on the grounds for over 500 years. The house itself is well worth a visit too, with stunning 18th-century interiors and a fabulous art collection.
Can’t get enough of this gorgeous scenery? Extend your time in the open air by booking an outdoor stay – when you’re camping you don’t have to travel far or stay long to feel like you’ve had a refreshing break. With so many lovely landscapes and a fairly favourable climate, East Sussex is a great place to go camping or glamping, whether that’s a quick overnight or a longer break. Click the link below to see what Pitchup has to offer in this area.
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