Ashdown Forest is an area of open heathland and woodland on the highest sandy ridge-top of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Over 10 square miles of the area has open access - allowing everyone to appreciate its beauty.
Grid Reference: TQ431323(OS Map)
Terrain: can be muddy in wet weather
What can I do?
* You can walk freely on much of the Forest.
* The easiest way to explore is to follow the wide tracks (called rides) which criss-cross the Forest.
* You can picnic freely on the Forest; just remember to take your rubbish home with you.
* You can horse ride with a permit, available from the Forest Centre, but cycling on the Forest itself is not permitted.
Where can I park?
You can use any of the 50 free car parks, spread across the Forest. These can get very busy during the summer, but please don't be tempted to park on the Forest itself.
What will I see?
* A patchwork of heather, gorse, bracken, trees and open ground - which changes colour with the seasons.
* Spectacular views to the North and South Downs and the small fields and rolling hills of the High Weald.
* Sheep and cattle grazing: they play a vital role in maintaining the precious heathand landscape.
* Evidence of how people used the Forest in the past, such as medieval rabbit warrens and abandoned sandstone quarries.
* Distinctive clumps of pine trees, planted by 19th century landscapers.
* Red iron stained streams, show where iron is buried; this made the Forest a centre of the iron production in both Roman and Tudor England.
* Places made familiar by A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books.
 Walk 9 The Hindleap Walk | 05, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.27 MB | 10 | |
| Walk 8 A Walk Amongst Friends | 06, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.16 MB | 9 | |
| Walk 7 The Eastern Clumps Walk | 09, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.98 MB | 1013 | |
| Walk 6 Broadstone Amble | 10, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 4.47 MB | 923 | |
| Walk 5 Old Airstrip walk | 11, April 2012 | 08, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 2.57 MB | 996 | |
| Walk 4 Tabell Ghyll walk | 11, April 2012 | 08, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 3.03 MB | 835 | |
| Walk 3 Chelwood Vachery Walk | 12, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 3.54 MB | 1504 | |
| Walk 2 Southern Slopes & Airmans Grave | 13, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 4.09 MB | 1074 | |
| Walk 13 The Military History On The Forest | 04, May 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.12 MB | 7 | |
| Walk 12 Tabell Ghyll History | 06, May 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.36 MB | 8 | |
| Walk 11 Chelwood Gate History | 03, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.13 MB | 10 | |
| Walk 10 A Walk Beyond The Pale | 04, April 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.32 MB | 10 | |
| Walk 1 Pooh Walks From Gills Lap | 03, May 2012 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 3.97 MB | 1000 | |
| The Archaeology of Ashdown Forest | 03, May 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 995.3 kB | 10 | |
| Old Lodge Trail | 28, April 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 2.37 MB | 508 | |
| Church Hill Walk | 02, May 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 1.01 MB | 1443 | |
| Broadstone Amble Circular | 02, May 2011 | 03, May 2012 | Walks on Ashdown Forest | 978.1 kB | 1112 |
What will I hear?
* Skylarks singing in the sky, high above you.
* Stonechats, recognised by their distinctive call which sounds like two pebbles being knocked together.
* Chainsaws clearing trees in winter and tractors mowing bracken in summer: this stops them shading rare plants and keeps the heathand healthy.
Where can I get more information?
* You can buy a copy of the Map and Guide to Ashdown Forest in the Forest Centre.
* You can pick up guides to short circular walks from the Forest Centre or the Ashdown Forest Llama Park.
* You can find more information by visiting www.ashdownforest.org
