Forest Way facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest Way |
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| Length | 10 mi (16 km) |
| Location | West Sussex, England |
| Trailheads | East Grinstead - Groombridge |
| Use | Hiking, cycling, horseriding |
The Forest Way is a fantastic path in the countryside where you can walk, cycle, or even ride a horse! It's like a long, green park that stretches for about 16 kilometers (that's almost 10 miles). This lovely route goes from East Grinstead all the way to Groombridge.
The Forest Way is located in a beautiful area called the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Sussex, England. To the south, you'll find the famous Ashdown Forest. This path used to be an old railway line, but now it's a special home for many animals and plants. It creates a "green corridor" through the valley of the River Medway. The route passes through towns like Forest Row, Hartfield, and Withyham.
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Exploring the Forest Way
The Forest Way has a flat, smooth path along its whole length. This makes it super easy for everyone to use, including people with wheelchairs or pushchairs. It's also a perfect and safe place for kids to learn how to ride their bikes away from busy roads.
You can find public toilets in Forest Row along the way. At the western end, in East Grinstead, the Forest Way connects to another path called the Worth Way. This means you can keep going even further, all the way to Three Bridges!
Circular Walks and Nature
There are also many smaller paths that branch off from the Forest Way. These are called "circular trails" because they loop back to the main path. They come in different lengths and difficulties, so you can choose one that's right for you. You can often find leaflets with maps and information about these walks.
As you travel along the Forest Way, you'll see lots of trees and plants that have grown naturally. These create a wonderful home for many wild animals. Keep an eye out for birds like swallows flying overhead. You might also spot badgers, deer, and foxes in the fields and woodlands nearby.
The Forest Way also gives you access to some other cool places. You can visit Weir Wood Reservoir, which is a great spot for watching birds and even sailing. There's also Standen, a beautiful old English country house designed by Philip Webb. Inside, you can see amazing designs by William Morris.
History of the Forest Way
The path you walk or cycle on today used to be a busy railway line! In 1866, a train line opened that connected East Grinstead to Royal Tunbridge Wells. This was an extension of an older line from Three Bridges.
The Beeching Axe
Sadly, in 1967, this railway line was closed down. This happened because of something called the "Beeching axe". This was a plan led by Dr. Richard Beeching to close many railway lines across Britain to save money. It's quite interesting that Dr. Beeching himself lived in East Grinstead, right next to this very line, and often used it to travel to London!
After the railway closed, East Sussex County Council bought the disused line in 1971. They then officially made it a Country Park in 1974, so everyone could enjoy it.
Modern Improvements and Connections
In 2002, the path got a big upgrade with a new, smoother surface. This improvement meant it could become part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, which is a huge network of cycling paths across the country.
As mentioned before, to the west of East Grinstead, the cycle route continues as the Worth Way. This path follows another old railway line all the way to Three Bridges. There are also plans for the future to connect the Forest Way from Groombridge to another trail called the Cuckoo Trail. The Cuckoo Trail also follows an old railway line and runs from Heathfield to Hampden Park near Eastbourne.
