High Weald AONB

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Walking and cycling

The High Weald is a fantastic place to walk. There is an amazing network of paths (2395km) as well as lots of countryside sites (61) owned by organisations such as the National Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust and Foresty Commission. There are also 3 cycle routes along disused railway lines, 2 National Cycle Network (NCN) routes and 2 large countryside sites which have been developed for cyclists.

Together they provide lots of opportunities to explore the area's rolling hills; small irregular-shaped fields, open heaths; abundant woodlands; scattered farmsteads and sunken routeways.

Step along a sunken lane

and follow the route of our Saxon ancestors as they drove pigs from the Downs to the High Weald

Find a disused railway line

for safe off-road cycling

Winnie the Pooh Walk

is a popular family walk on Ashdown Forest

Countryside sites

are great for family walks as children are welcome to stroll off the paths and explore

Beads of Blue

dot maps of the area - hundreds of wildlife-rich ponds created by small-scale industrial activity

Maps The Ordnance Survey Explorer Series is the most useful if you would like to visit countryside sites and use local paths. As the High Weald is a large area it is covered by several maps. Read more	Self-guided walks Routes of varying lengths that have been developed by local authorities. Steps and stiles, waymarking and route guides should be of a high standard. Read more
Waymarking Where rights of way leave the road, metal or wooden finger posts, or a stone plinth indicate the way. At other points, such as field boundaries or path junctions, footpaths are marked with short posts... Read more