Ashdown Forest & Crowborough Circular
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eastsussex.gov.uk 4 Cycling in East Sussex: Avenue Verte Route Guide Ashdown Forest & Crowborough circular This route and the Forest Way route a rough gravel track will eventually (Map 5) both describe a circle around bring you towards the village of Eridge Crowborough on roads across the near the Kent border. High Weald, an area of old rocks revealed by the erosion of the huge Places of Interest → chalk cap that used to cover the Rotherfield The first reference to whole of Southern England millions Rotherfield is in AD792, when Duke of years ago. This is not a ride for the Berthoald bequeathed a church on his faint-hearted – if it’s not up, it’s down estate of Ritheramfeld . The church on a maze of Sussex lanes. was dedicated to Saint Dionysius, Groombridge – Duddleswell a French saint to whose monastery Berthoald had made a pilgrimage Leaving Groombridge on National in order to have his illness cured. Cycle Network Route 21 (NCN 21) you The original wooden church was soon join the B2188 just past Motts replaced in the 11th century by a stone Hill as you head south through Five structure, with additions in the 12th, Hundred Acre Wood, made famous in 13th and 14th centuries. By this time the ‘Winnie the Pooh’ books. the dedication to St Dionysius had The lush pastures and woodland give been corrupted to St Denys. way to a landscape of gorse and ferns Ashdown Forest The largest and as you climb up through Ashdown best-preserved area of heathland Forest but you will eventually be in the South East. Once the hunting rewarded with a fabulous descent, playground of kings, today it is an offering an opportunity to stop for area of open access where you can refreshments near to Duddleswell. wander freely. Fairwarp – Butchers Cross A closer look at the High Weald’s Turning off the B2026 at Fairwarp ‘routeways’ reveals a unique, takes you on to a series of much radiating network – created by quieter lanes, past many fine tile- farmers moving their pigs to the hung houses. Watch out for the woodland for fattening in autumn. decorated crests of Oldland Hall, These drove routes are now preserved just before dropping down through as footpaths, bridleways and roads the Ford and up through woodland – and are often deeply sunken from towards Butcher’s Cross. centuries of use. In 1086, when the Butcher’s Cross – Eridge practice was already past its peak, Domesday records indicate that Having negotiated the A267 at around 150,000 pigs would have been Butcher’s Cross you rejoin NCN driven to and from the woods of the 21 along what’s known as Avenue High and Low Weald annually. That’s Verte, the Anglo-French cycle route 30,000 more than the total human from London to Paris. Continuing population of the High Weald today! north through the quaint villages of Rotherfield and Blackdon via However, with their heavy clay soils 2 and steep slopes, many High Weald Grade meadows have never been ploughed Strenuous, with over 800 metres of up to grow crops. Compared to many climbing areas of Britain, the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Major climbs still has a relatively large number of Eleven climbs of 40-150 metres, ancient, undisturbed, wildflower-rich the longest takes you to the top of hay meadows and pastures. These Ashdown Forest and the High Weald unimproved grasslands are some on Black Hill of our most important habitats for Refreshments wildlife conservation, supporting a huge range of grasses and wildflowers Eridge Station, Friars Gate (on the which are home to a wide variety of B2188), Duddleswell, Fairwarp, High insects and other creatures. Hurstwood, Rotherfield Tourist Information Centres Starting point Royal Tunbridge Wells: 01892 515675 Eridge Ashdown Forest Llama Park: 01825 Distance 712040 29 miles / 47 kilometres Cycle Hire and Shops Off road/rough sections Forest Row: Future Cycles: 01342 822847 There is a ¾ mile gravel section alongside the A26 to the northeast of Eridge Station 3 Cycling in East Sussex Ashdown Forest & Crowborough circular Avenue Verte B y 20 a dw 2 e 6 M er Groombridge Riv 6 2 A 0 1 1 2 B 8 8 1 y 2 Forest Wa B e B2 Vert 110 nue Ave Hartfield Harrison’s 200 Rocks 180 Motts 160 Mill 140 120 0 8 k 100 1 8 c Metres 21 1 ra B 2 The Huntsman T 80 B l e v 60 ra Eridge G h 40 g A u v o e 20 R n u 0 Eridge e V e See inset r t e Eridge Fairwarp High Hurstwood Rotherfield Eridge 6 2 0 2 Half Moon B 6 Inn 2 A k The ac Tr Huntsman h Bream g ou Wood Br R idle Five Hundred Acre way Wood 8 Eridge 8 F 6 1 OR 2 2 GE Sta A B R OAD Eridge Beechen Blackdon Wood Hill Circular Route (on road) Crowborough Traffic-free route 7 5 1 Hornshurst 2 B B2188 B Wood 2 0 National Cycle Network (on road) 26 A259 A Road B2 100 Town Row B2244 N B21 B Road O 00 R T H M S a T r e s f Minor Road (arrow indicates steep i e B2100 Kings l d hill pointing downhill) Arms Railway Crowborough Rotherfield Eridge Railway Station (with name) 6 A2 Church B Pub 21 01 CASTLE HILL 6 2 0 2 Car Parking B Take Care! Duddleswell Herstmonceux Follow Road Sign as Marked F A I V v E Oldlands e A n S 6 u H Hall 2 Start of route E A e S R V O e A r D Hadlow t Burnt Oak Down e Fairwarp OL DL AN Foresters DS Arms H IL L High STREET P THE ERR Hurstwood FIR TOLL Y MANS LANE H A S K T D ROAD A IN R O G T N N FO R E D E R BUR G LANE L A H 7 N G 6 6 I 2 E 2 E A 0 L 2 R O B Maypole H Inn Butcher’s Cross E LAN LNS K KI STOCKLANDS LANE BRIC 6 2 A Maresfield Five Ash A272 Down 0 Hadlow Down 1 2 Miles 2 Buxted A27 Buxted 0 1 2 3 Kilometres © Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100019601 Cartography © CityCycle Guides.