West Sussex · United Kingdom
Ashurst Circular via Winnie the Pooh House
Just around one hour by train from London, the Ashurst Circular Walk via Winnie-the-Pooh House takes you deep into the peaceful landscapes of Ashdown Forest, the inspiration behind A. A. Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories. This beautiful countryside route combines ancient woodland, open heathland, historic landmarks, and a touch of literary magic.
Walk Highlights:
Visit Poohsticks Bridge, the inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh's famous bridge, and explore the landscapes that inspired the Hundred Acre Wood Wander through the enchanting Ashdown Forest, with its ancient woodland, open heathland, and peaceful trails
Follow sections of the Forest Way Path, a scenic route through the heart of the Sussex countryside Discover St Michael and All Angels Church, Withyham, a historic village church surrounded by beautiful countryside
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
📏 Distance
19.3km/11.9mi
⏱️ Duration
5 hours
📈 Elevation
260m/853ft
🗓 Best Season
All year round
ESTIMATED COSTS
🚌 Transfers
~15-30 GBP
The Route
⚠️ The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
🧭 Navigation Tips
Download offline maps before you go - cell signal is unreliable.
Be familiar with key safety locations and emergency shelters in case you need to bail part way.
Check weather and trail conditions before starting.
Getting to the Trail Head
🚂 Train
The are frequent trains operated by Southern Railway and Thameslink which leave every 30 minutes from London terminals. The most economical way to travel is to buy a return journey from London Victoria to Shoreham-by-Sea and get off early at Hassocks.
~15-30 GBP · 1 hr 30min
🚎 Transfer Tips
Tickets vary quite a bit depending on the time and route. The most economical journey is the direct train from London Victoria to Shoreham-by-Sea.
Railcards can provide up to 30% off the tickets during off-peak hours (after 10am on weekdays and all weekend and bank holidays).
The network railcard is valid for this journey.
If you are travelling as a group, consider getting a Daysave Group Off-Peak ticket which gives you unlimited travel on Southern Railway trains. Tickets for 3-4 adults costs 52 GBP and must be bought at least 3 days in advance.
You can purchase train tickets directly from train operators or via third party apps such as trainline which have slightly better interfaces. Please note that these apps do charge a small booking/handling fee.
Food Options
☕ Wildflower Café
The Wildflower Café is a cosy, welcoming spot offering fresh, homemade food, cakes, coffee and other refreshments.
5-15 GBP
🍻 The Devils Dyke
Refined country pub offering classic gastropub serving classic pub food, hearty meals, burgers, sandwiches and a selection of drinks
10-20 GBP
Getting Home
🚂 Train
The are frequent trains operated by Southern Railway which leave every 30 minutes from London Victoria. Ideally, you would have bought a return journey.
~15-30 GBP · 1 hr 15min
Not sure on what to bring?
The complete
hiking kit list
Everything you need to pack — from blister-prevention basics to gear that's keeps you safe and comfortable on the trail.
Terms of Use
A quick but important note for all visitors: we do our best to share high-quality, accurate information, but it’s always possible that we’ve missed something or that conditions have changed. All GPS tracks (GPX files and maps) and route suggestions are meant to be used as general guidelines—not exact instructions.
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