By Yvette Caster, Freelance journalist and podcaster
Sunday 19 Aug 2018 8:00 am
You cant stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.
And so it was I found myself in the middle of deepest, darkest Sussex on an adventure worthy of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh themselves, following the footsteps of A A Milne, his famous son and his even more famous bear of little brain.
I embarked on the mission to mark the release of Christopher Robin – a new Disney film starring Ewan McGregor in which the eponymous hero, grown up, returns to the Hundred Acre Wood.
The fictitious wood was inspired by an area of pines called Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest – this, and the surrounding areas, provided the backdrop to Poohs adventures.
Armed with a sat nav, two maps, two phones with supposedly good map apps, and an extremely patient navigator, we headed off in my old banger – this was not a trip you can do without a car.
After some hairy moments on single track roads, more than a few wrong turns and a lot of stopping, checking and setting off again, we finally found Piglet – well, Piglets car park, off Chuck Hatch Road.
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When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.
So, walking boots on, we set off up a small track, then joined a circuit right in the heart of Poohs home land.
The trail – which you can find here – includes fine views, the best from the Milne and Shepard memorial.
If youre short on time, Id suggest parking at Piglets, walking left to the memorial, then continuing to Gills Lap car park and back to take in a good mix of scenery – pines, gorse and frankly more heath land than I imagined when reading the books as a child.
Still, we did the full trail – Roos Sandy Pit (grown over), The Enchanted Place (quite small) and Eeyores gloomy place (anyones guess as to where it really is).
Our circuit was supposed to be two miles, but it felt like more due to the hills.
In the middle of the woods, just when we were convinced we were utterly lost and due to walk another two miles, we spotted Piglets car park again.
After the trek, and in honour of Pooh, it was time for some short, easy words like What about lunch?.
So we headed to Pooh Corner in Hartfield, a lovely little shop selling all things Pooh.
It also houses Piglets Tearoom where we had delicious Poohs Cream Teas – £6 each with home made scones, clotted cream and jam or an alternative topping.
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I had mine with honey but I could have done with a balloon so as not to be noticed – the bees stayed away but it appears wasps were just as partial to the sugar and I ended up sharing mine with no less than seven.
Still, I finished without getting stung, so added escaped from wasps to the days exploits.
Next was a peek around Hartfield, the area Milne and his family called home.
They lived in Cotchford Farm, which houses a statue of Christopher Robin and a sun dial with Pooh characters carved round the base.
But this is a privately-owned home with lots of stern-looking signs at the bottom of the road, meaning you cant get a glimpse of it let alone its famous inhabitants.
The final and best stop on our adventure was the pretty walk to the poohsticks bridge.
After more hill starts, false turns, and driving through a fjord of all things, we found the holy grail – the Pooh car park, near Chuck Hatch.
The lack of signage to all the key Pooh sights was confusing and frustrating but, I suppose, ultimately all the more satisfying when we did find them.
From Pooh car park it was boots on for the nicest walk of all.
We wandered down a hill, past Owls house and Eeyores home before reaching the Poohsticks bridge.
Unsurprisingly busy, and unsurprisingly clogged with sticks, twigs and – by some over-enthusiastic poohstickers – logs, the area was nice to see.
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However, it has lost some of its magic thanks to all the crowds.
Better to play poohsticks on your own favourite bridge, Id say.
Further up was Poohs house – a brass door set into the base of a tree.
And on the way back, I spotted Piglets house with its little red door.
Then it was time to say goodbye and make our way home.
But, of course, it isnt really Good-bye, because the Forest will always be there…and anybody who is Friendly with Bears can find it.
Where to stay
I stayed at Ashdown Park Hotel in Ashdown Forest – about 15 minutes drive from Pooh car park, Hartfield or Piglets car park.
The hotel has attractive grounds, a helipad, golf course and spa with a large pool.
The decor has a conservative but comfortable feel to it while the dinner options, such as salmon, crab, chateaubriand and lamb were equally traditional.
The staff were pleasant and helpful, especially the concierge who helped us plan our Winnie the Pooh trail.
Rooms cost from £159 for a deluxe room or £179 with breakfast, which was an extensive mix of cereal, fruit, cooked and continental with Poohs favourite – honey.
Christopher Robin is out in cinemas now. All quotes from Winnie-the-Pooh / The House At Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne.
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