If you don’t think of Sussex as a place of waterfalls, then think again. If you look hard enough, you’ll find them tucked away all over the county and in particular, there are a number of beautiful waterfalls on Ashdown Forest. Although a little off the beaten track, they are magical, so if you fancy a little adventure, grab Ordnance Survey Explorer 135 and head to the forest.
They are not always easy to find, but that is part of the fun. Here are three of our favourites:
Mungo’s Waterfall
This is a stunning waterfall but you need a sense of adventure and the spirit of a mountain goat to get to it. Park at the Hollies car park (on the Crowborough Road between the B2026 and the A22). From here, the best route is to walk west along the main path for about half a kilometre until you reach a bench that has fabulous views across the valley and to the South Downs. The waterfalls are almost directly south of here. Unfortunately, the footpath isn’t.
It’s hard to find a path, but if you head vaguely south west down hill, you come to a worn track that runs above and along the river and you start to hear the sound of flowing water. Follow the path until you see one of two waterfalls flowing into a clear pool of water below you. It’s a short but steep climb down to the pool but one of the most magical and beautiful spots. The waterfall is only one kilometre from the car park and you just have to retrace your steps back up the hill to get back when you’re ready.
The Garden of Eden
Despite its exotic name, this is perhaps the plainest of our three waterfalls on Ashdown but a great spot nonetheless. Our navigation told us to park off the B2026 down a private drive at Old Lodge Nature Reserve. I would not recommend this route as although we found the waterfall, it involved a scramble through the undergrowth and along the river bed to get there. In the end, we made it a 3.5 km circular walk but it was challenging and we found our way more by chance than by route planning.
A better option is park at one of the car parks on the edge of the Crowborough Road between the B2026 and the A22, like the one at Friends Clump. From there, the waterfall is north (downhill). Follow the path down until you get to the river, and then follow the river until you get to the waterfall. It’s only about one kilometre to the waterfall from the car park and in a fairly straight line.
The Forest Garden Waterfalls at the Vachery
Either park at Chelwood Gate and walk east (look for the bridlepath, it’s just north of and on the opposite side of the road to Streeters Rough) and it will take you straight to the Forest Gardens.
When you come to a bridge / folly over the river, turn right and follow the river until you come to the base of a number of waterfalls. It’s less than a kilometre from the road to this point.
Alternatively, park at car park close to Chelwood Vachery on the A22 and walk around the side of the vachery and down the hill towards the valley. There is a sequence of waterfalls, cascading all the way down.
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