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Things to Do in the High Weald: A Local’s Guide to East Sussex and Beyond

TL;DR: The High Weald is one of the most beautiful and under-explored corners of South East England. Covering 1,461 sq km across Kent, Sussex and Surrey, it’s packed with things to do: medieval castles, ancient woodland walks, brilliant independent cafes, farm shops, watersports, and even Winnie-the-Pooh’s real Hundred Acre Wood. Whether you’re after a quiet afternoon or a full day out, this local guide has you covered.

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I’ve lived on the edge of the High Weald for over five years now. And I’m still discovering new things to do here every month. People drive through on the way to the coast without stopping. That’s genuinely their loss.

Things to do in the High Weald don’t fit neatly into a list. It’s walks that take you past 700-year-old farmsteads. It’s a really good flat white at a farm shop. It’s a medieval castle reflected in a moat on a sunny Saturday. It’s cream tea with alpacas in Robertsbridge. There is so much here, and so much of it is local, independent, and brilliant.

This post is my guide to the best of it. Whether you’re visiting for the day or lucky enough to live here like me, here’s where to start.

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Is the High Weald Worth Visiting?

The High Weald National Landscape is one of the best-preserved medieval landscapes in Northern Europe, covering 1,461 sq km across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey. It’s the fourth-largest National Landscape in England and Wales, with over 2,000 kilometres of footpaths and a character that has remained largely unchanged since the 14th century.

It really is that special. The landscape’s character was established by the 14th century and has survived everything since. That means ancient woodland, sunken lanes, sandstone outcrops, ridge-top villages, and scattered farmsteads in almost every direction. It was renamed from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to a National Landscape in 2023, giving it the same level of protection as a National Park.

And it’s on the doorstep of London. About an hour by train or car. There’s really no excuse not to visit.

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Explore Bodiam Castle and the Rother Valley

If you’re only going to do one thing in the High Weald, make it Bodiam Castle. This 14th-century moated castle is one of the most photographed buildings in England, and honestly, it deserves every single photo. You turn a corner on the approach path and it’s just there. Perfect towers, perfect moat, ducks everywhere. It’s stunning.

It’s run by the National Trust and you don’t need to book in advance. Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds, which makes it a brilliant outing with the dog as well as the kids. There are two coffee shops on site, and I’ve written about visiting our Bodiam Castle visit in more detail on the blog.

The castle is also surrounded by brilliant things. Just up the road is the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway, a heritage line that runs beneath the castle’s towers. It’s genuinely magical. And if you want to get out on the water, Bodiam Boating Station hires kayaks, canoes and paddleboards on the River Rother. For a nearby National Trust fix, Batemans in Burwash is also gorgeous and well worth an afternoon.

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What Are the Best Walks in the High Weald?

The High Weald has over 2,000 kilometres of public footpaths, with routes ranging from easy 2-mile village loops to the full 90-mile High Weald Landscape Trail that crosses the entire area. For most people, the best starting point is one of the many short circular walks from a village or car park, most of which are free and well-signposted.

If you want to walk with company and a good guide, the annual High Weald Walking Festival is a brilliant option. Now in its 8th year, it runs every September and offers more than 40 free guided walks across Kent and Sussex. Distances range from 1 to 13 miles, so it suits everyone from beginners to seasoned hikers.

For a lovely local walk from home, the High Weald has over 2,500km of public rights of way weaving through great estates, ancient forests and ridge-top villages. Check out our places to walk in the High Weald for specific routes and local suggestions.

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Discover Ashdown Forest: The Real Hundred Acre Wood

You probably know Ashdown Forest even if you’ve never been. This is where A.A. Milne wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The real Hundred Acre Wood is here, in East Sussex, and it looks almost exactly as you’d imagine.

Ashdown Forest welcomes over 1.5 million visitors every year and covers 6,500 acres of open heathland and woodland, just 30 miles from London. It’s free to walk (though car parks now have a charge), and the main Winnie-the-Pooh landmarks are all accessible on foot: Poohsticks Bridge, the A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard memorial at Gill’s Lap, and Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place.

Afterwards, head into Hartfield village and visit Pooh Corner, a tearoom, gift shop and small museum right in the heart of the village. It’s genuinely charming. Whether you’ve got little ones in tow or you just need a slice of cake and a bit of joy, it’s wonderful.

The forest is also part of the European Natura 2000 network for its rare heathland habitats. It’s not just beautiful: it’s ecologically significant.

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Where Can You Find Great Coffee and Food in the High Weald?

The High Weald is brilliant for independent cafes, farm shops and unique food experiences. Skip the chains. The best food here comes from small, local businesses that genuinely care about what they’re serving.

The best cafes and food spots I keep coming back to are exactly the kind of places that make living here so good. Here are a few of my favourites, all of which I’ve written about on the blog:

Eggs to Apples farm shop is our go-to. It’s been our family’s favourite since we moved to the High Weald over five years ago. The coffee is good, the produce is locally sourced, and they’ve recently renovated the cafe with brilliant indoor and outdoor seating. The selection of artisan food is exceptional. Twinn Cafe in Heathfield is another favourite. Really good coffee, great baked treats, and a spacious, relaxed atmosphere. And in Robertsbridge, Judges Bakery is the kind of neighbourhood coffee shop you wish every village had.

And then there’s Fisherwood Farm. If you want something a bit different, cream tea with alpacas at Fisherwood Farm in Robertsbridge is a wonderful afternoon out. The alpacas are brilliant, the scones are excellent, and it’s the sort of thing that makes you feel very lucky to live in this part of the world.

For more of our picks, browse the best cafes in the High Weald on the blog.

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Bewl Water and Bedgebury Forest: A Day on the Water and in the Pines

For a full family day out, Bewl Water is hard to beat. It’s the largest reservoir in the South East of England, spanning 800 acres of meadows, ancient woodland and open water on the Kent and Sussex border. It’s dog-friendly, open all year round, and offers 12.5 miles of paths for walking, cycling, running or horse riding.

You can hire bikes, paddleboard, sail, fish, or just walk the full loop and stop at the cafe. In summer, the aqua park is excellent for kids. Camping is also available from May to September.

Just to the east is Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, which houses the most complete collection of conifer trees anywhere in the world. The forest has miles of family cycling trails, mountain biking, Go Ape treetop adventures, and beautiful walking trails through the pinetum year-round. It’s genuinely one of those places you can go back to every season and it looks completely different each time.

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The High Weald Is Waiting

There’s a reason people choose to live here. The walks are brilliant. The food and coffee scene is growing. The history goes back over 700 years. And on a clear day, from the top of a ridge in the High Weald, you’ll understand exactly why this landscape has been protected and loved for so long.

A few things to take away from this:

1. You don’t need to go far to have a really good day out. The High Weald has enough to fill a full year of weekends.
2. Support the independent businesses. The farm shops, bakeries and cafes here are what make this area special.
3. Walk more. The footpaths are free, the views are extraordinary, and you’ll always find somewhere to stop for a coffee.

If you’re a local business, event or activity based in the High Weald and you’d like to be featured on Life in the Weald, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and let’s talk about how we can work together.

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Frequently Asked Questions