The quaint Weald village of Hartfield is on the northern edge of Ashdown Forest. Once home to A A Milne, Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh Hartfield is 7 miles south west of Tunbridge Wells.
Local Life
Hartfield is home to Pooh Corner, perhaps the most famous village shop and tearoom. This is the shop where Christopher Robin bought his sweets whilst spending summers at Cotchford Farm, A A Milne’s second home. It is the perfect place to find yourself busy doing nothing. A short walk from Pooh Corner is the traditional Gallipot Inn and the 15th century Anchor Inn where you can eat, sleep and drink.
For local convenience and produce pop into Hartfield Stores in the High Street and Harvest Supplies, an organic produce shop set in woodlands at Chuck Hatch. Nick the Butcher in Sackville Lane is a local favourite along with Perryhill Orchard farm shop, butchers and tea rooms. For homemade desserts, cakes and treats you can order online from The Dessert Kitchen.
Most people cannot resist a game of Pooh Sticks at Pooh Stick Bridge or Posingford Bridge as its named on the map. A few miles outside of the village the bridge sits at the bottom of a wooded hill a short walk from The Hatch Inn at Colemans Hatch. Also, on the village doorstep there is the Dorset Arms at Withyham and the Roebuck Inn at Wych Cross, both boosting excellent local produce menus.
The village hall plays host to the annual village fete and various regular events clubs including beaver, cubs, brownie and girl guides. Local stoolball and cricket teams play on the grounds opposite the Anchor Inn during the summer months. Wider a field attractions include the opera festival at Glyndebourne and the annual jazz festival Love Supreme at Glynde Place. Just 15 minutes from the village is Pippingford Park, the annual Elderflower Fields festival a family-orientated event with music, activities and local food.
For those who want to explore the countryside there are 6400 acres of heathland and forest at Ashdown Forest and several cycle routes including the 9 ½ mile Forest Way which runs through Hartfield but also forms part of larger cycle routes National Cycle Network Route 21, Downs and Weald Way, Forest Way and Ashdown Forest circular and Ashdown Forest and Crowborough circular. For golf enthusiasts visit Sweetwoods Park a par 72, 18-hole course set in parkland on the Sussex/Kent border, Holtye Golf Club a 9-hole course or Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club.
Travel
Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead are easily accessible by road as is Gatwick Airport less than 20 miles drive. For the commuter there are mainline stations at East Grinstead, Cowden, Dormans and Tunbridge Wells. A bus route passes through the village providing access to Forest Row, Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead. If you want some sea air the coast can be reached in approximately one hour.
