Abbot's Wood Sussex

3 miles (5.5 km)

Explore miles of walking and cycling trails in these extensive woods in Arlington, Sussex. There's nice waymarked footpaths and bridleways which are great for mountain biking. You can reach the woods from Hailsham by heading south along the Cuckoo Trail and then heading west along National Cycle Route 2 from Polegate.
There are two trails to try on the site. Abbots Amble will take you through bluebell woods to the lake. The Oak walk will take you through the collection of Oaks with bluebells and woodland birds to look out for. Both are easy paths ideal for a peaceful afternoon stroll.
To extend your walking in the area you can head about a mile to the west and visit Arlington Reservoir. There's a nice walking trail around the water with lots of birdlife to look out for.
The Wealdway passes through Arlington so you could pick this up and head towards Hailsham or Wilmington.
Also nearby is Michelham Priory in Upper Dicker. It's just to the north of the woods and is well worth a visit. The Augustine Priory dates from the 13th century and includes a restored watermill in the pleasant grounds.

Postcode

BN26 6SJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Abbot's Wood Sussex Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Abbot's Wood Sussex Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Abbot's Wood Sussex OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Abbot's Wood Sussex Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

On the western side of the woods you'll find the noteworthy Old Oak Inn. This 18th Century oak beam traditional English pub has a good menu and selection of drinks. There's also a splendid garden area where you can sit out and enjoy lunch on fine days. Large family tables for 8 offer outside seating for up to 150 persons with views of the countryside and the woods. It's the ideal spot to relax in when the sun is shining. You can find the pub in the little village of Arlington on the western fringes of the woods. The postcode for your sat navs is BN26 6SJ.

Dog Walking

The woods are great for dog walking with lots of paths to explore. The Old Oak Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

On the northern fringes of the site, just above Wilmington Wood, you will find one of the notable local attractions at Michelham Priory at Upper Dicker. This former�Augustine�Priory dates from the 13th century and includes some original buildings which are�Grade I and Grade II listed. It's a very pretty site with a�watermill�in the grounds of the priory which has been restored to working order and is open to the public. You can easily walk there from the woods by exiting on a footpath at the northern edge. There's also some nice trails along the Cuckmere River on the Wealdway, just to the west of the priory.

Above:Michelham Priory views. An idyllic setting with with the lovely pond and house on the right.