High Weald National Landscape – Rolling Hills, Ancient Woodland, and Sunken Lanes

A Medieval Landscape Shaped by Woodland, Ironworking, and Dispersed Settlement

The High Weald National Landscape — formerly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — lies across parts of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Kent in South East England. Defined by rolling hills, ancient woodland, sunken lanes, and scattered farms, it is one of the most distinctive and historically rich lowland landscapes in the country.

Walking journeys in the High Weald are shaped by intimacy, texture, and continuity. Unlike open chalk downs, the landscape here feels enclosed and layered, with routes passing constantly between woodland, pasture, hedgerows, and small valleys. The terrain is gently undulating rather than steep, making the area especially well suited to relaxed, self-guided travel that rewards observation and unhurried exploration.

The High Weald is recognised for its remarkably well-preserved medieval field patterns. Irregular hedged fields, ancient routeways, and dispersed farmsteads create a countryside that has changed little over centuries. Walking routes often follow holloways and sunken tracks, reinforcing the sense of moving through a lived-in landscape shaped by generations of farming and woodland management.

Ancient woodland is a defining feature of walking here. Oak, beech, and chestnut woods cloak hillsides and valley slopes, creating shaded walking in summer and rich colour in autumn. Many routes thread between wood pasture, small streams, and quiet farmland, with constant variation in scenery over short distances.

Village-based walking plays a central role in the High Weald experience. Routes link settlements such as Rye, Tenterden, Cranbrook, and villages around Ashdown Forest, allowing walkers to combine woodland loops, ridge paths, and valley routes directly from town and village centres. These places act as natural gateways rather than busy hubs, keeping walking calm and uncrowded.

The river valleys of the High Weald add further contrast. Routes follow the River Rother and other small rivers through meadows and low-lying pasture, offering gentler walking beneath wooded slopes. Historic mills, ponds, and former iron-working sites appear regularly along these routes, reflecting the area’s long industrial as well as agricultural history.

Beyond walking, the High Weald supports a range of gentle outdoor adventures. Cycling follows quiet lanes and rolling countryside, trail running suits woodland tracks and ridge lines, and wildlife watching is rewarding across ancient woodland, hedgerows, and meadows. The density of footpaths and bridleways makes it easy to create varied, car-free itineraries with minimal road walking.

Accommodation is spread throughout the landscape, from village inns and traditional B&Bs to countryside hotels and rural retreats. Bases in towns such as Rye, Tenterden, Cranbrook, and villages around Ashdown Forest provide excellent access to footpaths, long-distance routes, and rail connections on the landscape’s edges.

While much of the High Weald’s walking is inland and woodland-focused, its southern edge connects naturally with the coast through historic routes. The Saxon Shore Way traces the former Roman and Saxon shoreline, running from Gravesend to Hastings and skirting the margins of the High Weald as it approaches the Sussex coast.

For exploers seeking woodland-rich scenery, historic routeways, and one of England’s most characterful lowland landscapes, the High Weald National Landscape offers a deeply rewarding walking destination rooted in continuity, craftsmanship, and place.

Where to Walk and Explore

High Weald Landscape Trail

‍A long-distance route created to reflect the defining character of the High Weald, linking wooded ridges, sunken lanes, historic villages, and rolling pasture across the heart of the National Landscape.

Saxon Shore Way (High Weald Fringe)

‍A historic coastal route following the line of Roman and Saxon defences, connecting the southern edge of the High Weald to estuaries, marshland, and the Sussex coast near Hastings.

Ashdown Forest & Woodland Ridges

‍Heath and woodland walking across one of the High Weald’s most recognisable landscapes, with wide views, sandy paths, and quiet forest tracks.

River Valleys & Gills

‍Sheltered walking along the Rother and its tributaries, where narrow valleys, streams, and wet woodland cut through the surrounding hills.

Village-Based Circular Walks

‍A dense network of footpaths allows flexible loops from villages across Sussex and Kent, combining ridge walking, woodland paths, and historic lanes.

Adventure Highlights

• Ancient woodland walking beneath oak, beech, and chestnut
• Rolling hills and enclosed valleys rich in texture and history
• Sunken lanes, medieval field patterns, and historic routeways
• Gentle cycling on quiet lanes and ridge roads
• Wildlife-rich hedgerows, woodland edges, and meadows
• Excellent village-based walking with minimal crowds