Pooh Sticks Bridge Walk
0.9 miles (1.5 km)Walk to the bridge where where Winnie the Pooh invented the game of Pooh Sticks on this lovely little literary walk in Ashdown Forest.
Walk Report 17th September 2026 by Andrew Finch
We started the walk from the Pooh Car Park at Chuck Hatch Lane, TN7 4DN.
The children were soon looking out for the little details connected with the stories. Owl's House is tucked away amongst the trees and is surprisingly easy to miss if you don't know where to look, while Piglet's House is another of the landmarks to keep an eye out for.... We found ourselves pointing things out to each other as we walked, which made the short journey to the bridge feel like part of the adventure rather than simply a walk to a destination.
One thing we quickly discovered was that we needed to collect our sticks before reaching the bridge. Despite being surrounded by woodland, there weren't many suitable sticks left near the water, presumably because so many visitors had already picked them up. We each chose one that looked promising and carried them along, with everyone already discussing whose would win before we'd even reached the bridge.
When we finally reached Poohsticks Bridge, it was smaller and more understated than some of us had imagined, but that actually added to the charm. There are no elaborate attractions or distractions here; it's simply the old wooden bridge, the stream and the surrounding woodland. We all lined up on the upstream side, dropped our sticks together and watched them disappear underneath the bridge. There was plenty of cheering when the first one appeared on the other side, and inevitably we had to have another race to settle the result.
The walk back was a little different from the outward journey because the route is downhill towards the bridge and consequently uphill on the way back. Fortunately it is a gentle enough outing for most families, and there are places to pause along the path if little legs are tiring. I thought the woodland was particularly pleasant on the return, with the trees and quiet paths giving us a chance to slow down after the excitement of the bridge.
We also liked the fact that the outing wasn't simply about Pooh Sticks. The surrounding Posingford Woods form part of the landscape associated with the Hundred Acre Wood, and there are plenty of little things to look for along the route. For younger children especially, the combination of spotting the story locations and eventually playing the game gives the walk a real sense of purpose.
If we'd had more time, we could easily have extended the outing into the surrounding Ashdown Forest, but for our family the short Pooh Sticks Bridge walk was enough to make a very enjoyable morning. We finished with everyone having had their turn at the bridge, although I'm not sure we ever agreed on the official winner. It is a simple walk, but that is really its strength: a short woodland adventure with a famous bridge at the end and something for all four of us to get involved in.
Due south of the car park you can also try the Ashdown Forest Pooh Walk. The walk visits some more of the locations associated with the books, such as the 'Enchanted Place' and Roo's Sandy Pit. There's also the A.A Milne memorial and fabulous views from the lovely Gills Lap to experience here.
The long distance Wealdway and Vanguard Way also run through the area so you can extend your walking on this waymarked, long ditance trails.
Postcode: TN7 4DN
Pubs and More Info
Head a few miles to the south west and you could pick up the Chelwood Vachery Walk. The peaceful circular route explores an ancient estate which includes the pretty Millbrook Stream and Braberry Hatch Ponds.
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Nearby Routes
Ashdown Forest Pooh Walk Hartfield Winnie the Pooh Walk Wealdway Vanguard Way
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