As it’s 100 years since Winnie-the-Pooh first roamed and explored Ashdown Forest, I thought it was time to go in search of him. I’ve searched for Winnie-the-Pooh before, but this time, with the help of a little Winnie-the-Pooh honey, I found him. And I even managed a game of Pooh Sticks too.
You are never too old to go in search of bears, and these walks lead you to the much-loved Pooh Sticks Bridge and a meeting with Pooh himself.
Walking to Pooh Sticks Bridge
There are three ways to walk to Pooh Sticks Bridge.
From Chuck Hatch:
Park at Chuck Hatch car park (AKA Pooh car park) just off the B2026 and south of Hartfield. From here, it’s less than 1 km to Pooh Sticks Bridge, and you’ll pass Piglet and Owl’s Houses. This is an out and back walk, and you don’t need a map as it’s well signed, but bear (pun intended) in mind, the walk back to the car park is all uphill. The path is a well made track and not too muddy.
From Hartfield:
Start with Pooh Corner on your right. Follow the road, bearing right where it forks and then take the first footpath to your left and it will take you all the way to Pooh Sticks Bridge. The walk from Pooh Corner is approximately 2.2 km.
From Upper Hartfield:
This route is approximately 1.2 km. The good news is that although there’s no parking in Upper Hartfield and only limited parking in Hartfield, there is an excellent bus service. It runs from Crawley through East Grinstead and Forest Row, and on to Hartfield and Tunbridge Wells, with buses typically running once an hour.
Starting in Hartfield: Pooh Corner
I started in Hartfield, at Pooh Corner. Pooh Corner is the well-known Winnie-the-Pooh tea room and museum, and after a good mooch around, browsing the different artefacts, I equipped myself with a jar of Winnie-the-Pooh honey and set off. I made my way towards Upper Hartfield. Arriving in Upper Hartfield from Hartfield, you’ll see a garage on your right. Directly next to the bus stop, and opposite the garage, is a private lane. It’s down this private lane that the footpath begins, leading all the way to Pooh Sticks Bridge.
Finding Pooh (and His Friends)
On your way down to the bridge look carefully and you’ll spot a pile of Pooh Sticks perfectly placed for a game on the bridge. Hopefully you’re not travelling alone, because Pooh Sticks is no fun when it’s just one playing. I was lucky enough to meet someone at the bridge who agreed to a game with me, although, sadly, I lost.
From the bridge, follow the main path and cross over another small bridge. As the path begins to climb, look carefully amongst the trees. Hidden there, you’ll find a jar of honey, Owl’s house (complete with a polite little sign about knocking), and Piglet’s house too. I won’t tell you exactly where they are, that would spoil the fun.
When you’ve found them all, make your way back to the bridge. It’s nearly time to head home… but you still haven’t found Pooh. So look carefully as you start to walk back, because Pooh’s home is tucked away in the bushes. When you find him, open his front door and be sure to say hello.
The Way Back (and a Well-Earned Lunch)
If you don’t want to walk back to Upper Hartfield, you can take the footpath back to Hartfield which “bears2 off the the right. And once you’re there, don’t forget to stop at The Bear Inn for lunch. A perfect end to a morning spent in Pooh’s world.
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