Forest Row: Forest, cycle route and village life

Forest Row combines its connection to Ashdown Forest with the Forest Way and its own local attractions. When looking for a hotel, your travel plans may be the deciding factor: cycling, circular walks, local history and a market visit each point to different priorities. Sorting out these reasons for your trip in advance can help you plan your stay more purposefully.

Forest Row and Ashdown Forest

Ashdown Forest lies between Crowborough, Forest Row and Maresfield. This places Forest Row in the wider regional context of the forest. It gives the destination a tangible connection to nature; at the same time, the forest can be considered a destination in its own right, alongside local attractions. If nature and outdoor activities are central to your stay, you can take this connection into account when planning.

Cycling the Forest Way

The Forest Way is about 10 miles long, passes through or near Forest Row, and is used for cycling. Its length and connection to the village complement one another: the approximate distance gives you a sense of the route’s scale, while its location connects it to the destination. If cycling is a focus of your trip, this gives you a specific route to factor into your plans. As a cycling route of about 10 miles, the Forest Way offers a different kind of trip from a walk in the forest.

Circular walks in Ashdown Forest

Car parks in Ashdown Forest are connected to walking trails that serve as starting points for circular walks. This offers a different outdoor activity from the Forest Way: cycling is the stated use there, while here the focus is on walking trails and circular walks. Check trail conditions before setting out. This lets you consider both the type of walk that suits you and the trail conditions before your planned hike.

Church and local history

The south aisle and porch were added to the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity in 1877–1878. This provides a specific starting point for exploring the building’s history: the detail concerns two named features and a clearly defined period of extension. If you are interested in architecture, these additions can give your stay a local historical connection.

Café and market

Tablehurst Community Farm in Forest Row has a café serving hot meals made with produce from the farm. This gives you a specific local food connection alongside nature and history. If you plan to eat there, check the café’s current information before visiting, as details of the offering may change.

Forest Row Market takes place on the first Saturday of each month from March to December. If you want to visit the market, plan your dates around this schedule and check the specific date before travelling. The market has up to 45 stalls selling fine foods and crafts; the number of stalls and the selection may vary. Both the period from March to December and the first Saturday are relevant when planning if the market is to be a fixed part of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bexhill-On-Sea, Polegate, Buxted, Hartfield, Westfield, Rye, Mayfield, Robertsbridge.

For the wider travel overview: East Sussex.