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Pictures of Ashdown Forest

a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the town of Crowborough, in the county of East Sussex

Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

About Ashdown Forest

Ashdown Forest is a magnificent area of mixed woodland and heathland in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It largely features oak, birch and pine trees, with parts of the wood immortalised forever now through A.A. Milne's imaginative tales of Winnie the Pooh.

A.A. Milne wrote "Winnie the Pooh" for his son Christopher Robin, since then these gentle, colourful stories have thrilled and enchanted children everywhere. In the forest visitors can explore the famous settings that became the "back-drop" for the exploits of Pooh and his friends. You can linger on Poolsticks Bridge where the friends invented the game of Poolsticks, discover Roo's Sandpit and see Galleons Lap, a rondel of fir trees on the site of an Iron-age fort located at the top of the forest. The forest still has the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of the " the dark and mysterious forest" that inspired A.A. Milne way back in 1926. Milne was a prominent author and playwright of his time (b.18.1.1882-d.31.1.1956) but it is perhaps for the Pooh stories that he is best remembered.

The forest is also the home of Ashdown Forest Llama Park. This was opened in 1987 and has grown so much that in now contains in excess of 100 Llama's, together with a smaller number of goats and alpacas. There is a cheerful Visitors Centre where you can learn all about the Llama's, and the park offers the opportunity of "Walking with Llama's" a one and a half hour walk through the forest with a Llama and a group of other people all leading their Llama's. This is a lovely experience, allowing you to get close to these gentle creatures in their natural habitat. The Llama's are bred for sale, and the park's gift shop is stocked to the rafters with merchandise related to Llama's and Peruvian style clothing.

Ashdown Forest covers 14,000 acres. The vast tracts of heathland and forest allow visitors to wander at will enjoying fine countryside views and chance glimpses of forest wildlife, including deer. There are plenty of shaded and open picnic spots for the enjoyment of an "al-fresco" meal.

The forest was once a Royal Hunting Forest, as such it has always been grazed and animals still roam freely amongst the bracken and heathers of the landscape.

Ashdown Forest is located around 10 miles from the Spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the area has plenty of tourist attraction including historic properties, gardens, golf and vineyards. The village of Crowborough adjacent to the forest was once the home of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Ashdown Forest.

Planning a visit? Please help support this website by booking your hotels near Ashdown Forest and uploading your pictures.
Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner


Recommended attractions near Ashdown Forest

Sheffield Park Garden(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction SW)Pictures
Standen(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction NW)Pictures
Wakehurst Place(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction W)Pictures
Borde Hill Garden(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction S)Pictures
Chiddingstone Castle(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction N)Pictures
Penshurst Place and Gardens(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction NE)Pictures
Hever Castle(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction N)Pictures
Ditchling Common Country Park(10.2 miles, 16.5 km, direction SW)Pictures
Tilgate Forest Country Park(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction W)Pictures

All attractions in East Sussex
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Recommended towns near Ashdown Forest

Fletching, in the county of East Sussex (4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction S)
The village grew out of a Saxon settlement, near the spot of one of the entrances to Sheffield Park, now owned by the National Trust.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

East Grinstead, in the county of West Sussex (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction NW)
East Grinstead became notable following World War II for its Queen Victoria Hospital where remarkable plastic surgery operations were performed on badly burned servicemen.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Groombridge, in the county of East Sussex (6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction NE)
In an area of attractive, outstanding villages, Groombridge with its 18th-century tiled cottages against the back-drop of a beautiful village green, stands out as being the very epitome of the perfect English village.
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Mayfield, in the county of East Sussex (8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction E)
This is a tranquil, historic village lying close to the beautiful River Rother. The village stands on a ridge in a lovely rural location with panoramic views over the valley.
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Tunbridge Wells, in the county of Kent (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction NE)
Also known as Royal Tunbridge Wells and only a short distance from London, this popular spa town gained a reputation as the place to see and be seen during Georgian Times frequented by royalty and fashionable members of aristocracy. It also happens to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England.
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Chiddingstone, in the county of Kent (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction N)
Fascinating village, owned by the National Trust which is crammed with beautiful properties from the 16th and 17th-century probably built with iron-industry money.
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Lewes, in the county of East Sussex (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)
Lewes is the boyhood home of the famous diarist, John Evelyn (1620 - 1706) He lived at Southover Grange, an Elizabethan house, which is close to the castle.
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Tonbridge, in the county of Kent (13.2 miles, 21.3 km, direction NE)
Fine streets show a rich variety of architecture including typical Wealden tile-hung properties, and handsome Georgian and Victorian buildings dominating the river scene.
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Oxted, in the county of Surrey (14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction N)
A walk around the village reveals a riot of attractive 17th and 18th century cottages all standing on a rise surrounded by pretty flower-filled gardens.
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Burwash, in the county of East Sussex (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction E)
It is from his home in this very English village that Rudyard Kipling penned the wise and wonderful words of his poem 'If'.
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All towns in East Sussex
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Buxted Station(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction SE)
Crowborough Station(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction E)
M23 Junction 10A(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction W)
M23 Junction 10(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction NW)
London Gatwick Airport(12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction NW)
London City Airport(31.0 miles, 49.9 km, direction N)
Ashdown Forest to London(32.5 miles, 52.3 km, direction N)

Accommodation & Hotels near Ashdown Forest

Hotel Name
Ashdown Park Hotel(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction NW)
The Roebuck(2.1 miles, 3.5 km, direction NW)
Chequers Inn Hotel(3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW)
Brambletye Hotel(3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction NW)
Buxted Park Country House(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction SE)
Alexander House and Utopia Spa(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction NW)
The Felbridge Hotel and Spa(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction NW)
Best Western Birch Hotel(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction SW)
Crockstead Hotel And Conference Centre(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction S)
The Copthorne Hotel & Resort Effingham Park Gatwick(9.0 miles, 14.6 km, direction NW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts


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