Sussex High Weald Robertsbridge Hailsham Uckfield Heathfield Rudyard Kipling Batemans

The Sussex High Weald AONB, The Weald Way & High Weald Landscape Trail

Marked by human activity from the pre-Roman period to the present day, the Sussex and Kent High Weald contains evidence of its iron making past as well as a choice of attractions including stunning gardens, stately homes and dramatic castles, vineyards and windmills and a wide selection of short and long distance walking trails.

Long distance walking trails within the High Weald include the 145km (90 miles) High Weald Landscape Trail which winds from Horsham Railway Station to Strand Quay at Rye. This trail is perfect for taking in some of the best of the High Weald Gardens including Borde Hill and Wakehurst as well as stately homes such as Standen.

The Weald Way is 129km (80 miles) long and pushes down though the heart of the High Weald from Gravesend in Kent to Eastbourne on the East Sussex Coast. The Weald Way takes in some of the most outstanding rural landscapes of the Weald including the heathland of Ashdown Forest and Winnie-the-Pooh famous sites within Ashdown. The Weald Way culminates at the great drama of Beachy Head and the chalk white cliffs where the South Downs meets the sea. Another incredibly popular long distance walking trail within the High Weald is the 1066 Walk which winds for 50km from Stand Quay in Rye to Pevensey Castle, taking in the Battle of Hastings battlefield site at Battle. The High Weald is one of the most accessible rural areas in England with a choice of information centres at Ashdown Forest, Cranbrook, Horsham, Battle and Rye. Families with children have access to a host of superb family attractions around the High Weald including Winnie-the-Pooh walks at Ashdown Forest, Yesterday's World Museum at Battle, the Bluebell Railway (look out for Santa Specials around Christmas at the Bluebell Railway, the Lavender Line and the Kent & East Sussex Railway), Ashdown Forest Llama Park and family farm parks such as Farm World at Beckley, Heaven Farm at Uckfield and Holmbush Farmworld around Horsham.

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Uckfield in the High Weald & The Lavender Line

The Weald Way long distance walking trail runs right near Uckfield which serves as a perfect High Weald base for walkers and for branching out and exploring the High Weald area. Attractions within easy reach of Uckfield include Bransgate Manor Vineyard, the Bluebell Steam Railway and Sheffield Park, Nutley Windmill, Heaven Farm and Wilderness Wood. Heaven Farm boasts the Stable Tea Rooms, a Nature Trail, Farm Museum and craft and farm shops.

Uckfield is a beautiful rural historic market town within the High Weald and is marked by the River Uck which flows through the town. The railways were the beginnings of Uckfield's growth from small village to thriving Weald town. Today Uckfield is well served with amenities including a Picturehouse Cinema on the High Street alongside ample shops, pubs, a leisure centre and restaurants within the town centre. Uckfield is also famed for its monthly farmers' Market. Nature reserves in the Uckfield area include Hampstead Meadows adjacent to Uckfield station and West Park Local Nature Reserve. The award winning Wilderness Wood (webguide right) is also situated near to Uckfield.

Just south of Uckfield sits the heritage Lavender Line Railway at Isfield Station. The line is one mile long beginning at Isfield station and pushing north towards Little Horstead. Train rides usually last around 15 minutes. Isfield Station is the site for numerous attractions including the listed Isfield signal box, a Children's Play Area, a Model Railway, Cinders Buffet, a gift shop with a range of railway gifts, an exhibition coach wih photos and railway memorabilia, a picnic area and free parking adjacent. Boasting excellent disabled access (new disabled toilets are at Isfield Station), the little Lavender Line is one of the Weald's most charming attractions. Santa Specials run at Christmas, with a choice of other events running throughout the year. Standard opening times are on Sundays throughout the year. See the Lavender Line's webguide for Santa Specials and additional opening times. The Lavender Line, Isfield Station, Isfield Near Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 5XB. Tel.01825 750515.

Uckfield Farmers' Market at Luxford Car Park from 9am to 1pm on the first Saturday of every month. Tel. 01825 760646 for information.

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Batemans Rudyard Kipling's Home (NT) at Burwash

Batemans at Burwash is one of the High Weald's most famous historic homes. This splendid Jacobean house built in 1634 was home to the author Rudyard Kipling and Batemans remains much as it was during Kipling's time here from 1902 until his death in 1936. The estate was bequethed to the National Trust by Kipling's wife Carrie who lived on at Batemans until 1939.

Kipling experienced several tragedies through his life including the death of his son and young daughter. Batemans was to serve as a much needed retreat after these tragedies which Kipling's eldest daughter stated he never recovered from. The house is first throught to have been owned in the late 17th century by a Wealden iron maker John Briteen. The tiles of the house are all of Wealden clay with the interior wood features all carved from Sussex oak. Extensive gardens surround the Batemans house and also on-site is a watermill. The interior reveals much on Kipling's taste for the oriental.

Other highlights include an original illustrated copy of The Jungle Book and Kipling's 1928 Phantom 1 Rolls Royce. A gift shop and tea room are also within the site.

Bateman's, Burwash, Etchingham, East Sussex TN19 7DS. Tel. 01435 882302. The House is open from Mid-March to early November, 11am to 5pm on Mon, Tues, Wed, Sat & Sun. See the National Trust's webguide for more details on opening times. The gardens are open for free in November.

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Heathfield, Hailsham & The Cuckoo Trail High Weald

Market town Heathfield is perfectly placed for exploring the High Weald, accessing the Weald Way and is directly linked to the Cuckoo Trail in the area which can be accessed from The Millennium Green in the town. The Cuckoo Trail is a cycle/walking pathway following the route of the old railway Cuckoo Line from Polegate to Eridge which was used in the late 19th century to carry not just passengers but also livestock, milk and animal feed. This was one of the railway lines, all currently receiving much attention, that were closed by Beeching in 1968. The stunning Cuckoo Trail, (the Cuckoo name came from the sounds of the Cuckoo heard at Heathfield Fair in early Spring) runs for 11 miles and takes in the three towns of Heathfield, Hailsham and Polegate as well as the villages of Hellingly and Horam. (download a detailed leaflet guide for the Cuckoo Trail via the Weald DC webguide).

Heathfield benefits from ample facilities including specialist shops. The town has strong links with farming and the annual premier Heathfield & District Agricultural Show takes place in late May. Cycling is incredibly popular in and around the town via the Cuckoo Trail. Heathfield is the site for the annual summer cycling event, Le Tour de Wealden. The historic Cuckoo Fair is usually held around the 15th April.

Hailsham is one of the High Weald's most historic market towns, with a charter first given by Henry III in 1252. The town boasts numerous historic buildings including the Fleur de Lys Inn on Market Street dating from 1540 which in the Victorian era served as a Poor house. Georgian buildings are to be found on Hailsham's High Street. The town is also famed for its Farmers' Market (see webguide right) and has close links with farming with agriculture being the main industry in the area. The Cuckoo Trail passes the pretty Common Pond in Hailsham town centre and the town also contains an excellent choice of specialist shops, character inns, restaurants and tea rooms. Also within the town is the Hailsham Leisure Centre, a Heritage Centre at Blackman's Yard to the rear of the town council offices and the gloriously resotred Hailsham Pavilion, a picture palace cinema dating from 1921 which now serves as both cinema and theatre. .

Heathfield Farmers' Market in the Co-op Car Park from 9am to 12.30pm on the third Saturday of every month. Tel. 01435 862798 for details. Find the spectacular Hailsham Pavilion on George Street, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1AE. Box Office Tel.01323 841414.

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Herstmonceux Castle & Observatory Science Centre

Mid-way between Hailsham and Battle sits the magnificent Herstmonceux Castle. This castle has a fascinating history dating back to its original function as a mid-15th century country home. The castle has links with the Fiennes family with Sir Roger Fiennnes Treasurer to Henry VI first starting work on Herstmonceux in 1441. The building was revolutionary for its use of bricks and Herstmonceux stands as one of England's first major brick buildings to be constructed. Beautiful Elizabethan gardens and parkland surround Herstmonceux with the gardens including a walled garden and stunning roses and herbaceous borders in summer with rhododendrons, azaleas and bluebells creating colour in spring.

The castle is moated to great effect and the moat lake surrounding the castle is covered with lilies. By the early 20th century Herstmonceux had fallen on hard times until in 1911 it was purchased by Lt.Col. Claude Lowther who rebuilt much of the South front. In 1993 it was purchased by Drs Alfred and Isabel Bader to be used by Queen's University of Canada. Alfred Bader already had strong links with this area of Sussex where he spent some of his childhood after being evacuated around the time of the Second World War. The history of both Alfred Bader and Herstmonceux is explored in-depth via an exhibition on-site and highly professional and fascinating guided tours are available to the public. A castle tearooms are also on-site. Herstmonceux also plays host to a spectacular Medieval Festival over several days in late August annually involving jousting, archery, falconry displays, medieval magicians and more. Herstmonceux Castle, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1RN. Tel. 01323 833816. Open from Mid-April to early November from 10am to 6pm, last entrance 5pm.

Herstmonceux is also the site for another famous historic site - The Observatory Science Centre, now a top Sussex family attraction. The Royal Greenwich Observatory were based here with six historic telescopes until their move to Cambridge in 1990. Three of the six original telescopes are used today for astronomical viewings and demonstrations. The 26-inch Thompson reflector is a particular highlight and on-site exhibitions explore both the history of the telescopes and various scientific themes all aimed towards children. The on-site outdoor kids play area and indoor science exhibits featuring interactive optics, bouncing balls and collisions which explain gravity, how pendulums work and scale models of the order of the planets all make The Science Observatory at Herstmonceux an incredibly popular family attraction.

The Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1RN. Tel. 01323 832731.

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Bodiam Castle, Northiam & the Kent & East Sussex Railway

Bodiam Castle in the Sussex High Weald is one of the most breathtaking of all the English castles. Surrounded by a dramatic Medieval water moat and with Medieval battlements and ramparts, Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 for reasons of defence and as a home. Part of Bodiam's magic is the fact that the exterior is almost totally complete, as it was when it was built and plenty survives in the interior too. A particularly good castle visit for children, at Bodiam are Bat Packs, kids quizzes and a choice of children's events. See the National Trust's webguide for details and opening times. Bodiam Castle (NT), Bodiam, nr Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA. Tel. 01580 830196.

The 10 mile light rural Kent and Sussex railway is a gem, with three main stops at Tenterden in the Kent High Weald (main station), Northiam in the Sussex High Weald and finally Bodiam in Sussex. Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most striking castles with moat and medieval battlements. Part of the route of this light railway journey is actually below sea level, moving across old marshland that was once under the sea. The journey takes in marshland called the Rother Levels pushing on to Wittersham Road station then onwards to Northiam with views of the River Rother along the way. You can park and ride at Northiam station too - recommended for visits to Bodiam Castle as this National Trust site lacks its own parking facilities. From Northiam to Bodiam it's 3 miles, but you'll see views of striking medieval Bodiam castle on the approach.

Two outstanding High Weald Homes and Gardens are at Northiam, Brickwall House & Gardens and Great Dixter House and Gardens. Brickwall is a Jacobean house with highlight 17th century plaster ceilings and boasts an 18th century bowling alley, a chess garden, sunken topiary garden and an arboretum. Great Dixter was the birthplace and home of the gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The house dates from around 1450 with feature timber-framed hall and collection of needlework. The gardens at Great Dixter consist of long borders, ponds, an exotic garden and feature clipped topiary.

Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE. Tel. 01580 765155 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

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