With a midweek break in the constant deluge of wet weather this winter in south east England decided on a walk through Ashdown Forest on the High Weald in East Sussex.

Wealdway Ashdown Forest

I parked up in the village of Fairwarp, the plan was to follow the Wealdway footpath through Ashdown Forest to Camp Hill.

Ashdown forest is the highest ridge of the high weald in east Sussex so was hoping with the open heath land would command some good views of both the south downs and north downs.   Ashdown forest was originally a hunting ground for kings since the Norman times.

Camp Hill, Ashdown Forest

Out of Fairwarp  I got my first composition with the south downs in the background and the morning sun nicely highlighting the row of trees.

Water droplets on the ferns in the foreground add interest and depth.  Light was low and needed a tripod for a sharp exposure.

The views from the top of Camp Hill were extensive and stretched to the south downs.   Problem with taking landscape photos across this type of terrain is portraying depth.  As most of the interest is in the background far away.  Not all great views make a good landscape composition.  So I was scouting around on Camp Hill for some midground and foreground interest.

You cold feel the wind chill on top of Camp Hill with it being 200m above sea level and open heath land.

From Camp Hill I followed the wealdway to a viewpoint marked on the map.  With all the wet weather the ground was very wet and muddy, good boots and waterproofs were essential.

The winter sun was casting good light on the distant pine trees.  Needed to use the telephoto end of lens to get in intimate.  The landscape is very similar to the New Forest in Hampshire.

Ashdown Forest viewpoint North Downs

I made my way to the viewpoint as marked on the map and was greeted with far reaching views all the way out to the North Downs.

Talking to a local at this point, she recommended parking up at one of the car parks along Crowborough road for the best views of the South Downs.  Talking to locals about the landscape is always a good tactic when you are not familiar with a location.  Even offered me a lift back to the pub at Fairwarp as was complaining about the long walk back.  But I declined as really needed the exercise.

Sunset over the South Downs

After making my way back to Fairwarp and enjoying a well earned pint I drove back to the carpark along Crowborough road and waited for sunset.  I actually fell asleep in the car.  Good thing at this time of year, close to the shortest day is sunset comes early, before 4pm.

I had already studied where sunset would occur using the Photopills app.  I made my way out over the open heath land to capture a sunset over the distant south downs.

I made the mistake of having left my polariser on my lens, so a longer exposure than was required.  Not a very eventual or colourful sunset that evening, but a good day out scouting.

I think the best landscape photos capturing the essence of Ashdown forest would be sunrise, a red sky with lots of morning mist clinging to the heath land.