Visitor information
Opening hours
How to find us
Parking & prices
Facilities & access
Contact details

Opening hours

Read our visitor information regarding coronavirus

Our car parks open at 8am all year round.

We have the following closing times:

 March to October - 8pm

 November to February - 5pm

 

How to find us

How to find us
Abbots Wood, Arlington, Polegate
Sat Nav Postcode: BN26 6SL
By Car

From Brighton/Seaford - Take Station Road heading north from the A27 towards Berwick station. Take the first right signposted towards Arlington village. Drive through Arlington and follow the road towards Caneheath. Abbots Wood car park is on your right.

From Eastbourne/Bexhill/Hastings - Take the A22 north from the A27. Turn left onto Arlington Road (signposted for Abbots Wood). Go past Arlington Stadium and turn left at the next junction. Go past the Old Oak pub and carry on. Abbots Wood car park is on your left.

From the north - follow the Hailsham Bypass (A22). Turn right onto Arlington Road (signposted for Abbots Wood). Go past Arlington Stadium and turn left at the next junction. Go past the Old Oak pub and carry on. Abbots Wood car park is on your left.

OS Grid Ref
TQ554072

50.8439576, 0.2113215

Parking and prices

Parking charges apply at Abbot's Wood.

You can now use RingGo* at Abbot's Wood which allows you to pay for parking online or via an app. Please download the Ringo App before travelling if you can.

Pay for parking on your phone in 5 easy steps:

1. Open the RingGo app, or download for free if you haven’t already got it, using the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
2. Log in with your RingGo details, or register as a new user.
3. Select your location by entering the 3–6 digit number shown on the parking signs.
4. Enter your number plate and choose how long you’d like to park for. Remember, you can extend this later.
5. Choose to add any handy parking reminders you need, then just tap to pay.

And you’re good to go! Your details are saved so next time, you can park even faster. 

If you’re not a smartphone user, you can still use RingGo to pay for your parking by calling 0203 046 0063. You can also register and book parking with RingGo online.

*There is a small convenience charge for using this service.  See RingGo online for full terms and conditions and VAT receipts.

Disabled parking available but does require a valid pay and display ticket or Forestry England Membership.

Parking Charges

The money you pay for parking helps us to look after the forests. Read how
Up to 2 hours £2.50
Up to 4 hours £4.00
All day £5.00

Coaches/Minibuses charges

For coach and bus charges please contact info.wealdbeat@forestryengland.uk or 0300 067 4464.

Additional information

Regular visitors can save money by becoming a Member - Find out more about our membership offer

There are three designated accessible parking spaces at this forest. Please check our walking trails page before visiting for further access information. 

Number of accessible parking spaces: 3
Disabled parking available
Pay by phone available

Facilities and access

You are welcome to hire our barbecues, but to prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any other barbecues into this forest.

Access details 

There are three disabled parking bays in Abbot’s Wood. These are the closest spaces to the toilet block. The toilet block has one designated toilet for disabled customers.

The pay and display machines are accessible to walkers, but wheelchair users may find getting to them difficult. We would recommend using our pay by phone option RingGo. You can either download the app, or call – further information can be found on the parking payment page.

Abbots Wood has two way marked trails:

  • Abbot’s Amble (yellow markers) mainly follows forest roads, which are gravel tracks that can be uneven. In parts it goes through the wood on dirt trails which can get very muddy in wet weather and throughout winter.
  • Oak Wood Walk (brown markers) is mainly on dirt trails through the wood. These can get very muddy in wet weather and throughout winter.

The trails at Bedgebury (25 miles away) are accessible for wheelchair users throughout the year.

Assistant dogs welcome
Dogs allowed
Picnic area
Toilets

Contact details

The perfect location for your next forest visit, with trails, barbecues and picnic areas

Located near Polegate, Abbot's Wood is a great place for a stroll at any time of year, with walking trails, a medieval lake, play area, barbecues and picnic tables.

This ancient woodland is teeming with wildlife. Dormice live in the woodland understory and the extensive network of paths is home to nearly thirty species of butterfly, including the rare pearl-bordered fritillary. In early spring, the extraordinary song of the nightingale can be heard and summer evenings could reward you with encounters with bats, glow worms and the sound of the elusive nightjar.

At a glance

Barbecue hire available (no other barbecues allowed)
06/04/2022 10:48
Off bridleway TROT membership routes
06/04/2022 10:49
06/04/2022 17:12

Things to do

Enjoy a tasty treat in the forest at one of our beautiful barbecue stands or picnic areas, just bring along good food and company!

Abbot's Wood has three barbecues available for you to book. Our barbecues are suitable for groups of family and friends. Disposable and portable barbecues are not allowed.

Barbecue hire is £33 and are available all year round, parking charges apply. Don't forget to bring your own charcoal and tools.

In order to protect this special landscape from the risk of fire please follow our guidance

You are welcome to hire our barbecues, but to prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any other barbecues into this forest Never leave the barbecue unattended Ensure you have plenty of water available and barbecues are fully extinguished after use Make sure that all rubbish is taken away with you The collection of wood from the forest is not permitted, please do not use it to add fuel to your barbecue Open fires are not allowed  Full terms and conditions apply 

Cycling is a fantastic way to explore Abbot's Wood and soak up the beautiful scenery.

The wider forest and the trails off the forest tracks is out of bounds for cyclists. Please follow the Abbot's Wood cycle code

Abbot's Woods offers a network of riding which include a diverse and beautiful range of woodland habitats. Off-bridleway riding is restricted to specific routes and only permitted if you are a TROT member.

There is a public bridleway and designated (but not waymarked) TROT routes (please note that these are not exclusive to horse riders).

Horse riding across the site is only permitted with a valid TROT pass or membership. Further details can be found by calling TROT on 01622 735599 or visiting the TROT website. When riding you must be display your TROT permit. A map will be given to you after purchasing a membership.

For more information on our facilities, opening times and contact details, please see our visitor information.

Go for a wander along Abbot's Amble or take a short stroll on Oaks Walk. Look out for a variety of wildlife, bird boxes and bluebells in spring.

Accessibility guide for Abbot’s Wood

There are three disabled parking bays in Abbot’s Wood, which are the closest spaces to the toilet block. The toilet block has one designated toilet for disabled customers.

The pay and display machines are accessible to walkers, but wheelchair users may find getting to them difficult. We would recommend using our pay by phone option, RingGo. You can either download the app or call – further information can be found about parking payment here.

Abbots Wood has two way marked trails:

Abbot’s Amble (yellow markers) mainly follows forest roads, which are gravel tracks that can be uneven. In parts it goes through the wood on dirt trails which can get very muddy in wet weather and throughout winter. Oak Wood Walk (brown markers) follows mainly dirt trails through the wood. These can get very muddy in wet weather and throughout winter.

If you have any additional questions, please contact enquiries.eastfd@forestryengland.uk

Nearby forests

Butchershole at Friston Forest woodland

Friston Forest is within the South Downs National Park between Lulington Heath National Nature Reserve and Seven Sisters Country Park. It is the largest area of recently established forest in South East England.

This expansive beech woodland makes a perfect family day out for those who love exploring the countryside. With walking and cycling trails, great views of the Cuckmere and the sweeping South Downs, Friston Forest has something for everyone.

Autumn Leaves

Come and explore Birchden Wood, south of Royal Tunbridge Wells, it's a perfect day out for families, walkers and climbers. Harrison's Rocks, a sandstone crag owned by the BMC, are right next door and Birchden makes the perfect spot to escape out of the city and into the woods. 

Early morning mist rising up above the lake in autumn

Bedgebury is an award winning visitor attraction with something for everyone. Open all year, Bedgebury is the perfect place for healthy outdoor activity.

Thin trail running through conifer woodland

With around five miles of hard surface road and great networks of unsurfaced tracks, Hemsted Forest makes for a great day out, whatever the season!

The forest houses a mixture of conifer and broadleaf woodland and is rich in different bird species.

 

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