JUST an hour train ride from London Bridge is a quaint village that was crowned best place to live in the UK in 2023 – and even if you don’t up sticks and move there, it’s a great weekend break.
Wadhurst, named best place to live by The Sunday Times last year, is a place I’ve called home for the last four years after deciding to leave city life during the pandemic.
Wadhurst is full of beautiful places to go for walks including woodlands, parks and reservoirs[/caption]
Wadhurst high street is very picturesque and has everything you could need all in one place[/caption]
Bedgebury offers the perfect Autumn walk, with all the different trees creating a kaleidoscope of colour[/caption]
It was a village I’d never heard of before, but offered a cheaper cost of living than London, while still being on a direct train route into the capital.
But boring essentials aside, it has plenty of other amazing attributes and this time of year is when it really shines.
If you’re looking for some beautiful walks and cosy pubs to warm up in this Autumn, I definitely recommend you visit.
Just a half an hour walk from Wadhurst train station, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the village high street.
There are Indian and pizza restaurants, a small supermarket, a butchers, deli, a florist, charity shops, and two pubs – everything you could need, all in one place.
The village is very picturesque with an historic charm and vibrant community, but there are a host of beautiful places beyond the high street.
Bewl Rookery is a smallholding which is home to 16 alpacas.
As well as being able to meet the alpacas, you can enjoy afternoon tea alongside them – for adults, it’s £48, for children 10 and under, £38.
Mousehall is a family-run, sustainable distillery and winery that makes chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and various gins.
Guided tasting experiences are £25, and you can also stay in Mousehall Oast – an 18th century traditional oast house that sleeps 6.
Virgin Hot Air Balloon Rides also launch from Wadhurst, offering views across the High Weals Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Prices start from £169 per person.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there’s Little Tidebrook Farm, a lovely converted granary offering bed and breakfast.
There are also plenty of walks and pubs nearby that are perfect for the Autumn months. Here are a few of my favourites below.
Wadhurst Park
Wadhurst Park is a 796 hectare estate that’s home to a range of wildlife, stunning natural landscapes and pretty walks.
Swedish industrialist and the founder of Tetra Pak, Hans Rausing bought the estate back in 1975, making it his main residence.
Following his death in 2019, the house remains a private residence of the Rausing family.
But walkers are welcome to enjoy the estate by following marked pathways.
There’s plenty of wildlife to see as the park has undergone huge conservation efforts.
It’s a partner in the White Stork Project, which aims to restore a self-sustaining breeding population of storks in southern England – many of which can be seen by the Wadhurst Park lake.
In recent years, a handful of Mangalitsa pigs were added to the park, to mimic the activity of wild boar and help restore the habitat by breaking up dense grass. Although I’m yet to see these on my walks!
The park is a 10-minute walk from Wadhurst High Street and there’s no entrance fee.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Probably one of my favourite autumn walks is Bedgebury.
It’s a 17-minute drive away and does cost to park there, but is an absolutely stunning place to visit at this time of year.
Its huge variety of trees create a kaleidoscope of colour, and the reflection of this in the lakes makes for the perfect Autumn picture.
There’s fun for all the family available with children’s play areas, a Gruffalo trail, mountain biking tracks, and a cafe selling hot and cold food.
A gravel trail around the forest also means you don’t have to get muddy.
Parking for an hour is £4, £8 for two hours, £11.50 for three hours, and £14.50 for all day.
If you’re there around lunch or dinnertime, then it’s worth making the trip 5 minutes down the road to the Bull Inn in Ticehurst, a quintessential English pub with a stunning garden and roaring open fires.
Bewl Water
If you fancy a longer walk, Bewl Water, a reservoir that’s the largest stretch of open water in the South East, is nearby.
To walk round the whole thing takes approximately six hours (so not for the faint-hearted), but there are plenty of places to stop and rest, have a picnic, and take in the beautiful views across the water.
If you’re walking from Wadhurst, check a map for the best entry point.
It’s also a great place to head for fishing, and paddle boards and rowing boats are available for hire.
There’s even Aqua Park for adrenaline junkies – but maybe summer‘s best for getting in the water.
If you want somewhere to stay, there’s camping and glamping with Mongolian yurts available too.
Bewl Water is free for people walking in and £7 a day for parking.
The Bell pub in Ticehurst
Wadhurst has some lovely pubs, including The White Hart and The Greyhound Inn.
But my favourite pub in the area has to be The Bell in Ticehurst.
Just an eight minute drive away, The Bell is known for its tasty food, snug atmosphere, and eccentric design.
As well as a big open fireplace you’ll find exuberant art, top hats as lampshades, uneven floors, and four lodges you can stay in out the back, including a unique Love Nest.
One of its most notable features can be found in the men’s toilets – urinals made out of tubas.
The pub’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Equally great towns near Wadhurst to visit
Tunbridge Wells
A 17 minute drive away from Wadhurst is Tunbridge Wells – the closest big town if you’re looking for more shops and restaurants. The Pantiles walkway is an iconic feature in the town, famous for its Georgian architecture and independent shops and restaurants.
Hastings
Not far away is the seaside town of Hastings. You can hop on the train at Wadhurst and it’s at the end of the line (about 30 minutes away). Hastings’ medieval Old Town is a main attraction, with its narrow streets, antique shops, boutiques and cafes. The beach is pebbly, but the perfect place to sit down and enjoy some fish and chips.
Bodiam
Less than half an hour away is Bodiam, a small village but with a rather large castle. The castle is owned by the National Trust, and it another good place to head for an Autumn walk. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, there’s the Castle Inn across the road or The Hub @ Quarry Farm, which has the Kent & East Sussex Railway nearby.
Bewl Water has a lovely circular walk, although it does take around six hours, so isn’t for the faint-hearted[/caption]
Wadhurst Park is full of wildlife, including deers, storks and even pigs[/caption]
The Bell in Ticehurst has a very eccentric design, inside and out[/caption]
As well as a big open fireplace The Bell has exuberant art, top hats as lampshades, and uneven floors[/caption]
