If you’re a fan of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, then you won’t want to miss the Pooh Stick Bridge. This iconic bridge is located on the Winnie the Pooh Trail, which is perfect for families and even pushchair-friendly. You can race your Pooh Sticks under the bridge and enjoy a fun-filled day out in the great outdoors. But where is it and how do you get there? 

How to Find Pooh Stick Bridge

The Winnie the Pooh Trail to find pooh sticks bridge is a must for any A.A. Milne fans. It’s the perfect trail for families as it’s just a short walk and is pushchair friendly. You can race your Pooh Sticks under the bridge in the Ashdown Forest, made famous by the classic Winnie the Pooh story where Pooh Bear plays the game with Christopher Robin, Tigger and Eeyore. 

Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is home to Hundred Acre Wood where A.A. Milne created the magical Winnie the Pooh Stories for his son Christopher Robin Milne back in the 1920s. All these years later, the much-loved stories have been immortalised and are still enjoyed by children and adults alike around the world. 

Where to Park for the Winnie the Pooh Trail

The nearest car park is Pooh Car Park. You can park further away and have a longer walk through the beautiful Ashdown Forest. However, if you have little ones with little legs with you, it’s only a 20 to 30-minute walk from Pooh Car Park to Pooh Stick Bridge. 

The car park isn’t massive but normally has a space free. It’s in Coles Hatch rather than Hartfield and can be found on Google Maps. If you put the postcode for Pooh Bridge (found on some other websites), your sat nav may take you down a private lane. This happened to us and we had to turn around!! Instead of going down the private road, carry on for a little longer. There’s a right turn further ahead (if coming from Hartfield direction) and then it’s the first right with the car park on the left-hand side. 

Top Tip: Set your sat nav to Pooh Car Park rather than the postcode for pooh bridge. 

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The Winnie the Pooh Trail

As mentioned it’s not a long trail to Pooh Bridge and is perfect for pushchair-friendly walks. The surrounding forest is very beautiful. Keep your eyes peeled for any Winnie the Pooh finds such as Owl’s house, which is up in a tree on the right-hand side along the way. 

Also along the way, you will find dens in the woodland and my particular favourite, a wooden climbing ramp which adds to the fun of your adventure. 

The first bridge you come to is not Pooh sticks bridge. Walk on just a little bit further and you will know when you come to it. 

It’s a lovely path but it does get quite steep on the way back so if you’re pushing a pushchair it can be hard work. Thankfully it’s not a long path. There are also lots of benches to stop off for breaks if needed. Or to just stop to enjoy the beautiful countryside and wildlife. 

You can see how such a magical story was created. The area is so beautiful and really does feel enchanted. 

Distance

Pooh sticks bridge is approximately half a mile from the nearest car park. 

Pushchair Friendly

Yes, Pooh Sticks Bridge is accessible via a track. It’s downhill to Pooh Sticks Bridge and uphill back to the car park. 

Watch Out

This is a bridleway so there can a lot of horse poo on the pooh trail!

Top Tip

Visit the gift shop Pooh Corner shop in the lovely village of Hartfield before you go on the walk. You can visit the shop to pick up some Pooh memorabilia, walking maps and a map of hundred acre wood. Alternatively, they have a lovely tea rooms where you can enjoy some delicious treats – including honey – after your walk. They even have a small museum which is a must to visit if you have any Pooh fans! It’s located in the small village of Hartfield on the edge of the forest. 

Top Tip Two

If you want to understand the surrounding of the wood in relation to the Winnie the Pooh stories, the book “The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring the Real Landscapes of the Hundred Acre Wood: A Walk Through the Forest That Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood” is highly recommended. 

The History of Pooh Sticks Bridge

Fans of Winnie the Pooh have often been surprised to find that Pooh Stick Bridge actually exists! It was first mentioned in the much-loved book published in 1928, The House at Pooh Corner. Winnie the Pooh invents the game when he accidentally drops a fir cone from the bridge into the river below. It was a game which author aa milne actually played with his son on this very bridge all those years ago. 

Poohsticks Bridge was reopened by Christopher Robin Milne in 1979. It was originally known as Posingford Bridge, put up in 1907 but by the late 70s, the original bridge was falling down. The bridge had further reconstruction in 1999 with the Disney corporation donating towards the cost to build and modernise the bridge, whilst retaining its original style. It’s a beautiful wooden bridge and perfect for playing a game of Pooh sticks!

More recently, in 2021 the bridge was sold to Lord de la Warr. The bridge is located on his estate, Buckhurst Park, and the worthy new owner hopes that children will get to admire the original bridge on his estate. 

How to Play Pooh Sticks

If you’re looking for a family-friendly game that’s both fun and simple game, then look no further than a game of poohsticks! This classic game has been played by generations and remains a popular choice for those looking to spend some quality time outdoors. The rules of the game are easy to understand and . Not only will it provide hours of entertainment for all involved, but it’s also a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. So why not grab your loved ones and head out to your nearest pooh sticks bridge for some wholesome fun!

1. Ideally, you will need at least two players. Although you can always race your own sticks if you don’t have anyone else to play with. 
2. Find a stick or pine cone that you think will win! It might be worth looking out for the perfect stick before you get to Pooh Sticks Bridge. 
3.  Find a spot on Pooh Sticks Bridge. Have a look about you and through the cracks in the bridge to see if there is any debris that might block your stick from going through. 
4. Check the water flow: Make sure you’ve checked which way the river is flowing so your stick goes under the bridge. 
5. Drop your stick: On the count of three everyone drops their sticks into the river. 
6. The stick that comes out of the bridge first is the winner! Good luck!

You can play this on any bridge in the woods with a flowing river but of course it’s magical to be able to play on the actual spot where author a.a. milne and Christopher Robin were said to play pooh sticks together!

Pooh Walks

There are longer walks, one child friendly and one much longer. These take in some of the fabulous sites from the Winnie the Pooh books including the Enchanted Place and the Sandy Pit. Whichever way you decide to get to Pooh Sticks Bridge you’ll come across babbling brooks, swaying trees, and a sense of calm that will fill you with contentment. So, pack a picnic, bring along your family and friends, and get ready for a day of relaxation in the gorgeous outdoors.

Make sure you subscribe to My Balancing Act as we will be walking this trail in the near future.