Heathfield: Trails, Woodlands and History

Heathfield offers several ways to plan your trip, with longer trails, a specific circular walk, woodland on the High Street, a regular market and historic buildings. You can organise your time in the town around your interests. It is particularly helpful to compare the extensive Cuckoo Trail with the roughly one-hour circular walk; the market and buildings add specific local and historical points of interest to the nature-themed options.

Trails and circular walks

The Cuckoo Trail is 14 miles long, paved and runs from Heathfield to Shinewater Park. It is mostly traffic-free and used by walkers and cyclists of all ages. At this length, the trail is a considerably longer option than the specific Heathfield South, Geer's Wood and Cuckoo Trail circular walk.

This circular walk is 4 kilometres long and takes about an hour. It leads out of Heathfield, through fields and woodland, and back along the Cuckoo Trail. The approximate duration and distance give you a specific guide when planning a shorter walk.

A Parish Council walking booklet from March 2025 lists 20 walks around Heathfield, all of them circular routes. The selection therefore includes not only the individually described four-kilometre walk, but also a larger collection of circular walks.

Woodland at the north-western end of the High Street

Heathfield and Waldron Millennium Green covers approximately 5.26 hectares of natural woodland along the disused railway line at the north-western end of the High Street. It was established in 2000. Access is via the Heathfield Co-op car park. This green space offers a different point of reference for trip planning than the longer trails, focusing on woodland and its specific location near the High Street.

Heathfield Farmers Market

Heathfield Farmers Market takes place every third Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Co-op supermarket car park: 110 High Street, Heathfield, TN21 8JD. Free parking is available there for market visitors. The offerings include seasonal fruit and vegetables, handmade goods and sweet treats; local farmers and artists take part in the market. If you plan to visit, check the date before setting out.

Buildings and local history

Gibraltar Tower in Heathfield Park is a three-storey ornamental tower. It was built in 1792–93 by Francis Newbery to commemorate General Lord Heathfield's successful defence of Gibraltar from 1779 to 1782. Heathfield Park is registered as a park and garden of special historic interest.

All Saints' in Old Heathfield also offers a historical point of interest: the church was built in the 14th century and is a Grade II* listed building. The information about the tower and church points to different periods and forms of Heathfield's cultural heritage.

Another date in the town's history is 1316, when Heathfield received a charter to hold a fair. The Heathfield & District Bonfire Society was re-established in 2018 with the aim of holding a traditional celebration in Heathfield with a bonfire and torchlit procession.

Discover more destinations: Piltdown, Hastings, Newhaven, Peasmarsh, Bexhill-On-Sea, Bodiam, Saint Leonards-On-Sea, West Hoathly

For the wider travel overview: East Sussex.