The one with the jeep rescue, childhood flashbacks, and a wobbly moment.
📍 LOCATION: – Ashdown Forest
🥾 MILES:- 12.5
☀️ WEATHER: – Perfect walking weather—just right!
🚐 8:15 AM– I pulled into the little car park named “Pylon.” With so many car parks dotted along this road, I knew it might be tricky to spot, so I planted my flag with a giant smiley face to mark the spot. Slowly but surely, everyone arrived, and the chatter picked up. Martin, our reliable headcounter, whispered, “19 today, Julia,”—always good to have him around!
🥾 8:45 AM – After our warm-up question, “What’s your favourite children’s book?” we set off! The trail began across open grasslands, dotted with purple heather and lush green ferns. The weather was perfect, and I couldn’t wait to show everyone this beautiful area.
🌳 9:30 AM– Our first stretch took us through Five Hundred Acre Wood (not the 100 Acre Wood—that’s coming up later!). I decided to make a video for this walk, something I hadn’t done in a while. Everyone got involved—funny walks, jumps, and a few stories shared.
💎 11:05 AM – We paused to chat with some locals. I spotted a huge house nearby and asked if they knew who owned it. I guessed it might belong to someone famous—or maybe a retired diamond merchant, as it turns out!
🏃 11:29 AM The sun was warming up by now, so we took a quick break. A bare-chested young man jogged by, training for a marathon. We cheered him on, though I’m not sure if it was for his effort or his shirtless appearance! 😂
😬 11:38 AM– First squiggle! I got distracted chatting with Paula and missed the turn. We’d only gone about 20 yards too far, but it meant tackling a tricky stile again. Back on track, and lunch was just half a mile away—phew!
🚗 12:22 PM– We reached a junction with a giant old tree. Following the route I’d planned, we turned left along the road, not realizing the lunch spot was actually right. But it turned out well—we stumbled upon a young man and his mum struggling with a broken-down Jeep. Our group jumped into action—1, 2, 3… Push! The Jeep was moved off the road, and we continued on, only to realize we needed to head back to the village for lunch. “Squiggles!” I called out, and we turned back, waving to the Jeep guy as we passed.
🥪 12:43 PM– Lunch in the charming village of Horam. “Go explore and meet back here at 1:45 PM,” I announced. Options included Pooh Corner Tea Rooms (packed!), The Bear Inn Pub (where most gathered), and a cute delicatessen/farm shop. We relaxed for an hour, enjoying a beer and some cheesy chips. Some of us visited the Pooh Bear museum—so nostalgic! We even spotted a Porsche with the number plate E670RE and another car with P005 TEA.
🍯 2:20 PM Wow! We bumped into a lady all dressed in yellow, looking like Winnie the Pooh! Her dress was covered in Winnie prints, and she was thrilled to be there. It was lovely to see her enthusiasm. (See photo).
🏡 2:40 PM – Pooh’s House! 🏡 It was small, but do we really know how big Pooh was supposed to be?
💦 2:48 PM– Where’s Richard? He wanted to make sure the Pooh Sticks competition was fair. Turns out, he was in the river, clearing out the debris from all the previous games. All set?
🪵 The competition was fierce! Sticks decorated with all sorts of bits and bobs were dropped from the bridge. “Ready, steady… Go!” Laughter and the sound of thundering feet followed as everyone dashed to the other side to see their stick emerge. Paula’s won! Well done, Paula! 😂
🐶 2:40 PM With the excitement over, and Jess the dog having a blast in the river, it was time to start the climb. Along the way, we had some fun distractions:
A) We spotted Piglet’s house
B) Then Owl’s house
C) Eeyore’s house was just a pile of sticks!
D) A friendly lady on a beautiful horse said hello
E) And, of course, our “Winnie the Pooh lady in the yellow dress” appeared again. Lol.
😝 2:47 PM– Paul couldn’t resist some logs that had been set up as tall stepping stones. A bit wobbly, but he made it across. Sue followed, and I held my breath as she wobbled but stayed steady. Richard was last, and after managing six logs, he stumbled and fell into the brambles below. Thankfully, only his pride was hurt, and he laughed it off.
😮 3:14 PM – After a tough climb in the heat, we reached the AA Milne Memorial. The views were breathtaking and well worth the effort. We rested for a good 10 minutes before the final mile back to the cars.
🍦 4:00 PM – A welcome sight—an ice cream van at the car park! His ice cream machine was on the fritz, but there were still ice lollies. We all treated ourselves before the short walk back to the cars. For some, 12.5 miles was the longest walk they’d done in a while. Well done, everyone!
🍽️ 7:00 PM – Most of us gathered at The Gallipot Inn in Hartfield for dinner. We dined outdoors, enjoying the lovely views over the countryside. A perfect end to a fantastic day.
Tomorrow, we have a shorter walk before heading home.