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Great Sowdens Wood

✦ Ancient woodland28 ha

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome28 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🥾Walking is best here in early morning in summer — quiet trails and good light before the heat
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Wren, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon +89 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Wren, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon +89 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Minute Pouncewort, Moon-leaved Pincerwort, Dusky Beard-moss +45 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Dark Bush-cricket, 7-spot Ladybird, Speckled Bush-cricket +64 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Dark Bush-cricket, 7-spot Ladybird, Speckled Bush-cricket +64 more · last seen 2025

Free

Waterside walks

Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking

Varies

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Saxon Shore WayWalking route262 km
Named routeLength 262 kmRegional walking route
Sussex Border PathWalking route220 km
Named routeLength 220 kmRegional walking route
High Weald Landscape TrailWalking route
Named routeRef HWLTListed length 145kmRegional walking route
1066 Country Walk - Hastings LinkWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
1066 Country WalkWalking route50 km
Named routeLength 50 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Route 2 Dover to HastingsCycling route
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route20 m
Named routeRef 2Length 20 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route655 m
Named routeRef 2Length 655 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5 km
Named routeRef 2Length 5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route738 m
Named routeRef 2Length 738 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route930 m
Named routeRef 2Length 930 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

1 / 15

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

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