Wadhurst, East Sussex
About Wadhurst, East Sussex
The small village of Wadhurst, East Sussex sits towards the north of the county, around 10 minutes away from the border with Kent.
It’s a small market town which serves as the main village within the Parish of Wadhurst, which includes surrounding villages such as Sparrows Green, Cousley Wood, Woods Green, Durgates, Best Beech, Tidebrook, and Mark Cross.
Wadhurst is set in the beautiful rolling hills of the Sussex Weald, and has some fantastic views that are not to be missed.
The High Street has a diverse range of local shops and supermarkets. It’s a very picturesque village which is typical of a Sussex village.
Around the lanes surrounding Wadhurst, you’ll get glimpses of the nearby Bewl Bridge Reservoir, which is about an hours walk to from the village centre. Despite the village being fairly small, you’ll still be able to find shops such as barbers, coffee shops, supermarkets, dry cleaners, clothes shops and a bookshop.
The town is twinned with the French town of Aubers in Northern France.
History of Wadhurst
According to Visit South East England, the village once played an important role in the Wealden Iron Industry. In the churches of Wadhurst Parish, you’ll find a number of iron slab memorials owing to this trade.
The town’s name originates from the Anglo-Saxon period which literally means Settlement in the clearing in a Wood. This still rings true today; the village is surrounded by many woodland areas such as Snape’s Wood and Coulsley Wood.
Other notable landmarks include Wadhurst Castle, which is a castellated manor house dating back to the 19th Century. The Castle plays host to a number of weddings, funerals, conferences, and other events throughout the year. With its stunning gardens and
The town was put on the railway map in 1851 when the South Eastern Railway built a station just outside the village. The train station is still in use today and is located along the Hastings-Charing Cross line.
Walking in Wadhurst
Being set in the beautiful countryside ofthe High Weald, there are plenty of walks and trails to follow.
Bewl Bridge Reservoir is one of the most scenic routes you can take nearby. It’s 13 miles around the whole of the reservoir, and is relatively flat all round.The trail around the reservoir is mainly dirt trails, so this is definitely not a walk for the winter months (unless you want to get muddy!).
There are plenty of lane walks that take you around the outskirts of the village. Wadhurst is located on a ridge, so unfortunately that means there are quite a few steep hills.
There are plenty of lanes that lead straight off the high-street, which is always a good starting point as you can end your walk with a slice of cake at Piccolo’s Cafe or even a Beer at some of the pubs in the village centre.
Nearby Snape Wood is also a popular place to walk in the area, but again this is best to avoid during periods of heavy rainfall. This woodland is owned by the forestry commission, and you can see more information and photos of the area here.
Visiting Wadhurst
If you plan on visiting Wadhurst, there is The Greyhound Inn located in the High Street which offers rooms. Other options you have are a number of AirBnB‘s in the area which vary in price from around £70 to £170.
If you’re looking for a bit more variety, there are plenty of options for places to stay in nearby Tunbridge Wells.
You’ll no doubt have a lovely time in Wadhurst – although it’s small, it still offers plenty of things to do and see. Read more about other nearby towns such as Heathfield, Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells here. Or read more of my blogs here.