High Weald

The High Weald is an historic, subtle and much valued landscape full of surprises. ‘Weald’ means wilderness or forest: once an untamed, wooded area, with patches of wild grassland and heathland. By Domesday (1086) the High Weald remained the most densely wooded area of England and now boasts the highest proportion of ancient woodland in the country and the Ashdown Forest. A closer look reveals flower rich meadows, patches of heathland, hop gardens, orchards, sandstone outcrops, steep, wooded ravines with their secret streams and ‘hammer’ ponds - remnants of the Wealden iron industry. It comes as no surprise, then, that this intimate, diverse landscape supports a wide variety of wildlife. The constantly changing height and terrain give an ever changing view of this patchwork countryside, created and maintained by traditional farming. The picture has remained almost the same through the last five centuries: the High Weald is, essentially, still a medieval landscape. This can be said of few other places in the country. There are many short walks linked to pubs and delightful towns and villages from Battle to Cranbrook to Burwash. For the more adventurous there are three long distance walks cross the area: the High Weald Landscape Trail, Wealdway and 1066 Country Walk.