National park · United Kingdom
Ashdown Forest
Entry is free: park at a forest car park and walk the heath for 2–4 hours; go on a dry weekday morning in May–June or September, and avoid the Pooh car park at midday on summer weekends.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
26 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (26 km²)
approximate
Established
1988
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 26 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (26 km²)
- Roughly 26 km² (about 6,500 acres) of open heath and woodland within a wider 57 km² area; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1988
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Ashdown Forest is not a gated park: it is 26 km² of open lowland heath and woodland in the High Weald, with free access, no ticket and no visitor gate. You drive to one of the forest car parks, walk for two to four hours, and drive out again. The Winnie the Pooh places — Poohsticks Bridge, Gills Lap, the Five Hundred Acre Wood — are real, walkable and the reason most people come. Trails are barely signposted, so an Ordnance Survey Explorer map at 1:25,000 does more for your day than any app. Go on a dry weekday in May, June or September; the main car parks fill by mid-morning on summer weekends.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national sitePart of the High Weald National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
- Ramsar wetlandParts of the forest are designated for their lowland heath habitat (check).
Size and age
26 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (26 km²) · national park since 1988
Roughly 26 km² (about 6,500 acres) of open heath and woodland within a wider 57 km² area; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- Free access to one of the largest surviving areas of lowland heath in southern England, with no gate and no ticket.
- Easy walking from a dozen car parks, from a 40-minute loop to a half-day route across the heath.
- The Winnie the Pooh sites — Poohsticks Bridge, Gills Lap and the Five Hundred Acre Wood — are real places you can walk to.
- Deer, nightjars, Dartford warblers and adders live here; spring and early summer are the best chance of seeing them.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanWet, muddy paths; short daylight
- FebCold and damp; quiet
- MarMuddy but improving; early birdsong
- AprDry paths, bluebells in the woods
- MayHeather and gorse; long days
- JunWarm; nightjar evenings from late May
- JulHot and busy at weekends; bracken high
- AugHeather in flower; car parks fill early
- SepDry, quiet, good light
- OctAutumn colour; shorter days
- NovWet and grey; paths churned
- DecMuddy; limited daylight
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer (roe, fallow, some muntjac and sika)All year · Most often seen at dawn and dusk in the woodland edges. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| NightjarMay–Jul · Heathland evenings; listen for the churring call. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Dartford warbler, stonechat, skylark, meadow pipitMar–Sep | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Adders and grass snakesApr–Sep · Adders bask on warm paths; give them space and keep dogs back. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Butterflies, moths and dragonfliesMay–Aug | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From London
Train from London Victoria or London Bridge to East Grinstead or Uckfield, then a taxi or bus to the forest edge; the A22 runs through the forest by car.
1 h 20 min–1 h 50 min by train, plus 15–25 min by road
Open the page →
From East Grinstead
Taxi or bus towards Nutley and Forest Row; the A22 crosses the forest.
15–25 min
From Gatwick Airport
Car or taxi via the A22; the nearest airport.
25–35 min
From Uckfield
Car or taxi north on the A22 to the forest car parks.
15–20 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northern heath (near Forest Row and Hartfield) | Open heath, gorse and the Pooh sites around Gills Lap and Wrens Warren. | Open access on foot; park at a forest car park. |
| Central forest and Ashdown Forest Centre | Visitor centre, information, toilets and the main car parks. | Open; centre opening hours vary by season. |
| Southern woods (near Nutley and Duddleswell) | Woodland, the Airman's Grave and Nutley Windmill. | Open on foot; the windmill opens on the last Sunday of each month plus bank holiday Sundays and Mondays, April–October. |
| Villages around the edge | Hartfield, Forest Row, Nutley, Danehill and Coleman's Hatch with pubs and shops. | Open; pubs and village stores. |
Sketch map
- 1Ashdown Forest Centre · Headquarters≈51.062, 0.023Visitor centre and information; approximate.Map ↗
- 2Pooh car park · Gate≈51.066, 0.093Start for the Poohsticks Bridge walk; approximate.Map ↗
- 3Poohsticks Bridge · Trail≈51.070, 0.100Approximate.Map ↗
- 4Gills Lap · Viewpoint≈51.063, 0.087Memorial and heath views; approximate.Map ↗
- 5Airman's Grave · Viewpoint≈51.029, 0.079West of Duddleswell; approximate.Map ↗
- 6Nutley Windmill · Village≈51.043, 0.068Approximate.Map ↗
- 7Hartfield · Village≈51.102, 0.110Pooh-related shops and pubs; approximate.Map ↗
- 8Forest Row · Town≈51.099, 0.034Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the forest for orientation only; use an OS map for walking.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to the forest | Free | person | No entrance fee and no gate; the forest is open access land. |
| Car parking (forest car parks) | GBP 0–3 (≈ US$0–4) | car | Some car parks are free, others charge by the hour or day; read the machine or signs on arrival. |
| Forest Map and Guide | GBP 2–4 (≈ US$3–6) | item | Sold at the Ashdown Forest Centre; 2026 estimate. |
| Ordnance Survey Explorer map (1:25,000) | GBP 9–13 (≈ US$12–18) | item | Buy before you go; trails are not signposted across the heath. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
General access no permit
Group or commercial activity permit or guide
Horse riding and cycling no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £2–4≈ US$3–6
- £9–13≈ US$12–18
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Ashdown Forest — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on paths on the heath
- Ground-nesting birds and rare heath plants are easily damaged; keep to tracks and keep dogs from running through heather in spring and summer.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under control and on a lead around livestock and between March and July when birds nest.
- No camping or fires
- Camping and fires are not allowed on forest land; the nearest campsite is outside the boundary.
- Cycling and horse riding
- Only on public bridleways and byways, not across open heath; check the map before setting off.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the forest conservators.
- Litter and gates
- Take all rubbish home and close gates behind you; livestock graze parts of the forest.
Where to stay
Near the park
Forest Row, Hartfield and Nutley
Village inns and B&Bs within a few minutes of the car parks.
Near the park
East Grinstead and Uckfield
Larger towns with more hotels, supermarkets and rail links to London.
Near the park
Campsites outside the boundary
Camping is not allowed inside the forest; the nearest sites are around Sheffield Park and the villages.
Safety
Mud and uneven ground medium
Getting lost on unsigned paths medium
Adders low
Traffic on the A22 and A275 medium
Ticks low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Ashdown Forest Centre and several main car parks have level ground and short, firm paths suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
- The heath paths are sandy, uneven and often muddy; many are not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies after rain.
- Accessible toilets are available at some car parks and at the visitor centre.
Visiting lightly
- Park only in marked car parks; verge parking damages the heath and blocks emergency access.
- Keep to paths in spring and summer to protect ground-nesting birds and rare heath plants.
- Take litter home, including dog waste, and do not feed or approach the deer.
- Use the villages for food and fuel so the local economy benefits from visitors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ashdown Forest?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate; the forest is open access land. Some car parks charge a small amount by the hour or day, and a map or guide costs a few pounds.
What are the best hikes in Ashdown Forest?
The Poohsticks Bridge walk from the Pooh car park (1.5–2 hours) and the short Gills Lap circuit are the easiest. For a longer day, link Gills Lap, Wrens Warren and the Airman's Grave on forest tracks with an OS map.
When is the best time to visit Ashdown Forest?
May, June and September: dry paths, long days and quiet weekdays. April brings bluebells and August the heather, but summer weekends fill the main car parks by mid-morning.
Do I need a map to walk in Ashdown Forest?
Yes, for anything beyond the shortest signed walks. Trails are rarely signposted on the heath; an Ordnance Survey Explorer map at 1:25,000 covers the whole area.
Can I camp or light a fire in Ashdown Forest?
No. Camping and fires are not allowed on forest land. The nearest campsites are outside the boundary, around Sheffield Park and the surrounding villages.
Is Ashdown Forest the same as the Hundred Acre Wood?
The Winnie the Pooh stories were set here, and the Five Hundred Acre Wood became the Hundred Acre Wood. Poohsticks Bridge, Gills Lap and other places in the books can be visited on foot.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go