Ashdown Forest is a place to make your own magical memories, inspire children to run wild, and fall in love with Pooh Bear again. With preparation, you can explore many of the books’ locations. With imagination, you can see a little boy and his bear still playing.
Preface: Story Trails We used a walk we found online (see below) and our copies of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Introduction: “We’re All Going On An Expotition…” Chapter 1: Pooh Corner We also had a good look at the map in the front of the books. Chapter 2: Pooh Bridge Pooh’s House (Best chapter to read: ‘In which we are introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and some Bees, and the stories begin’ from Winnie-the-Pooh) To find it, walk to the bridge from Pooh Bridge car park, cross the river and it is a very short walk away. Pooh Bridge (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Pooh invents a new game and Eeyore joins in’ from The House at Pooh Corner) The bridge jumps straight out of the pages of the books, having been rebuilt in 1979 to match Shepard’s illustrations. Piglet’s House (You can read ‘In which Pooh and Piglet go hunting and nearly catch a Woozle’ from Winnie-the-Pooh) Owl’s House (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Eeyore loses a tail and Pooh finds one’ from Winnie-the-Pooh) Chapter 3: Gills Lap Note: We followed the walking route linked to below but in reverse because I wanted our trail to end at the Enchanted Place, the location for the last line of the books. These places and the route are shown on the map linked to below. Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place (map marker 6) Instead, we walked a little way past the stream and gazed across at the Gloomy Place before heading back to the stream and Quarry car park. The North Pole (map marker 5) (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Christopher Robin leads an expotition to the North Pole’ from Winnie-the-Pooh ) Roo’s Sandy Pit (map marker next to the Quarry car park) (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Kanga and Baby Roo come to the Forest, and Piglet has a bath’ from Winnie-the-Pooh) The Milne and Shepard Memorial (map marker 3) The Heffalump Trap (map marker top left) (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Eeyore loses a tail and Pooh finds one’ from Winnie-the-Pooh) But be careful, Christopher Robin spotted Heffalumps just lumping along in this part of the forest… The Enchanted Place (map marker 2) (Best chapter to read: ‘In which Christopher Robin and Pooh come to an enchanted place and we leave them there’ from The House at Pooh Corner) “…in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” Notes: Planning Your Expotition Maps and Leaflets I also printed this map and guide I found on another website called Pooh Walks from Gills Lap. The Paths I have easily taken an all terrain buggy to Pooh Bridge from the Pooh Bridge car park but would opt for a sling when exploring the area around Gills Lap car park. 
A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin discovered Ashdown Forest together. 
We decided to follow in their footsteps and create our own Winnie-the-Pooh story trail. 
Like Winnie-the-Pooh, we called our expedition an Expotition.
We chose three areas of Ashdown Forest to visit:
Our Expotition began with lunch at Pooh Corner, a tea room and museum dedicated to all things Winnie-the-Pooh, which helped to set the scene for our story trail. 
The Pooh Corner staff are lovely and happy to give advice on places to visit in Ashdown Forest with maps.
Winnie-the-Pooh’s house is in a tree stump very near to Pooh Bridge. 
When you get there, don’t forget to knock and “Rnig Also” to see if anyone is home!
This picturesque spot is where Pooh invents the game of Poohsticks. 
You can find Piglet’s tiny house in the woods to the left of the main path (when walking back to Pooh Bridge car park).
Owl’s high up house is there too.
We didn’t walk all the way to Eeyore’s Gloomy Place – the name didn’t exactly sell it as a destination! A little stream runs through this part of the forest and is believed to be the spot where Roo falls into a pool of water and Pooh finds the North Pole. 
This former quarry is now overgrown and is where Pooh and his friends trick Kanga into leaving with Piglet instead of Roo.
The memorial plaque commemorating A.A. Milne and E.H. Shephard has a stunning location
with places to sit and have a picnic or rest tired legs whilst marvelling at the view.
If you are brave enough, you can build your own Heffalump trap in this Very Deep Pit dug by Piglet. 
Our final stop, the Enchanted Place, is mentioned in the last line of The House at Pooh Corner, which makes me cry every time: 
The Pooh Corner staff give advice on which places to visit in Ashdown Forest and also have a little expotition map for children. 
The conditions along the paths varies – some parts are uneven and steep and others are flatter and easier.
Visit the Ashdown Forest website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Hartfield, Ashdown Forest Opens: Daily Where to Eat: Eat at Pooh Corner Tea Rooms or bring a picnic and eat in Ashdown Forest. How Long We Spent There: Full day Parking: You can park at Pooh Corner (TN7 4AE), Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX) and Gills Lap car park (TN7 4EN). Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, deer, ponies, birds, butterflies, other insects, snakes and mammals. Information Written: September 2022
County: East Sussex
Nearest Postcode: TN7 4AE, TN7 4EX and TN7 4EN
Cost: Free
Facilities: None but there is a cafe offering snacks and ice cream at the Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX).
Buggies: You can take an all terrain buggy to Pooh Bridge. The ground is uneven around Gills Lap.
Cost of Parking: Free
Ratings
Our visit to the many enchanted places of Ashdown Forest near Hartfield is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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