“A Slower Weekend in Sussex (2-Day Itinerary)”
The Quiet Acre — EVRC’s Glamping Journal
Not every weekend away needs a packed schedule. Here’s how we’d suggest spending two days based at the bell tent, with just enough to do and plenty of room to do nothing at all.
Day One: Arrive, Settle, Slow Down
Aim to arrive by mid-afternoon — enough time to get properly settled in before dark. Pop the kettle on, get your bearings, and let the forest do the rest. If you fancy it, an afternoon hack out across Ashdown Forest is the perfect way to loosen off after the drive down; if not, a wander around the yard and a chat with the horses works just as well.
As evening draws in, head to The Hatch Inn at Coleman’s Hatch — a genuinely fifteenth-century pub tucked in the heart of the forest, all low beams and open fires, with a proper menu and a well-earned reputation locally. Book ahead if you can, it’s a popular spot. Back at the tent afterwards, it’s lantern light, dark skies, and an early night that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Day Two: A Gentle Morning, Then Pooh Country
No alarms — birdsong will do that job for you. Coffee in hand, ease into the day before heading into Hartfield, about fifteen minutes away, for a walk through the real Hundred Acre Wood. Park at the Pooh car park on Chuck Hatch Lane and take the easy 20-minute stroll down to Poohsticks Bridge itself — the actual bridge that inspired A.A. Milne, with Owl’s House and Piglet’s House tucked into the trees along the way. It’s a properly easy, unhurried walk, whatever your age.
Round it off with a cream tea or light lunch at Pooh Corner in Hartfield village — the tea room and shop dedicated to all things Pooh, and about as gentle a way to spend a Sunday as they come.
If you’re not quite ready to head home, the wider area has plenty to stretch the weekend further — Sheffield Park Garden, Standen House, or a steam ride on the Bluebell Railway are all within a short drive, should you fancy making a full day of it before setting off.
The Point of It All
That’s really the shape of a Quiet Acre weekend — nothing rushed, nothing over-planned, just the forest, decent food, and somewhere comfortable to come back to at the end of it. Bookings for the bell tent are opening soon; follow along on our socials or check eastviewridingcentre.uk for updates.
