High Weald Landscape Trail

Feeling up for a challenge? Tackle an iconic 145km (90-mile) route that meanders through the AONB from east to west, linking ridge-top villages and historic gardens for which the area is famous.

Quick look:

Length: 145 kilometres (95 miles)
Start point: Railway Station, Horsham
Finish point: Strand Quay, Rye
Users: Walkers
Days to complete Trail: 7 days on average
Highest point: West Hoathly, 183 m (600 ft)
Explorer maps: 134, 135, 136, 125
Landranger maps: 187, 188, 189, 198

An online guide was published in 2012 and you can download the sections below.

Please be aware there will be changes over time to locations and facilities within these pdfs which we are unable to update at present:

map showing the route of the high weald landscape trail

Along the route…

Waymarking
The Landscape Trail waymark, with an image of a tree and church, makes it easier to identify the Trail route.

Highlights
Historic gardens open to the public – Borde Hill, Wakehurst Place,Standen House and Gardens and Groombridge Gardens are on the route. The distinctive sandstone villages dominate in the west and white weatherboarded villages are found in the east.

Famous associations
William Morris, Siegried Sassoon, Henry James

High Weald AONB Unit’s favourite sections
Ardingly to West Hoathly for the gentle climb through a steep-sided, wooded valley to the quiet ridge-top village of West Hoathly. Matfield to Goudhurst for the wonderful colours of the orchards in the spring and autumn.

Access
The Trail passes through or close to Horsham, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and Royal Tunbridge Wells train stations, all of which are accessible by train from London within 60 minutes. Rye can be accessed by train from Ashford and the South Coast.

a stile by a veteran tree, leading into a field