Chelwood Gate, The Forest Garden and Birch Grove

We head Southeast across Ashdown Forest, passing the Old Air Strip built in the early 1940s by the Canadian army for use in World War II. It served as an emergency landing strip for British and allied aircraft that were damaged or needed to refuel. Heading through heathland and around Chelwood Vachery we enter the Forest Garden. The Forest Garden was created shortly before 1910 by Sir Stuart Samuel as part of the Chelwood Vachery estate. The four ponds each with a weir and sluice, were built at this time. It now forms part of Ashdown Forest.

We take the path to Chelwood Corner where we leave the forest, heading South we pass Chelwood Farm, where on a clear day there are views of the South Downs. We turn West passing Lambs Farm, Black Pig Orchard and The Coaches and Horses Public House on our way to Box’s lane which takes up to Chelwood Gate for a picnic lunch at the Fairy Cottage hidden in the woods.

After lunch we head West through Chelwood Gate and into the Birch Grove Estate which was the former family home of Harold Macmillan. When he was Prime Minister visitors to Birch Grove included Presidents - Eisenhower, De Gaulle and Kennedy.

After  passing Lizards Cricket Club we come to Macmillan  Clump , one of 12 Clumps on the Forest, before heading North passed  Gale  House which  was the home of Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood a British lawyer, politician , and diplomat and winner of  the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937 for his services  to the league  of Nations which he helped create.

We pass Kennedy and Wych Cross Clumps on our way back to the start.

Option drink in a local pub after the walk.