The Wealden Wine Trail

The High Weald has one of the densest clusters of vineyards in England, most of them within a few miles of Uckfield and Heathfield. This two-day route takes in seven, from a woodland vineyard reachable by heritage steam train to Rathfinny, one of the most ambitious sparkling wine estates in the country.

Bluebell Vineyard Estates sits on the edge of Ashdown Forest and splits into two experiences: a tasting room and cellar door open Thursday to Sunday, and self-guided woodland vineyard trails open every day of the week. A good one for a slower visit.

Wildwood Vineyard, near Eridge, is reachable without a car: the Spa Valley Railway heritage steam train stops at Eridge station, a 12-minute walk from the vines. It only opens Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, and only from May to September.

Winklestone Vineyard at Fairwarp, also on Ashdown Forest, is a newer organic estate with tastings in a converted barn. Visits are by appointment only.

Hidden Spring Vineyard, in Horam just outside Heathfield, opens Thursday to Saturday, with Sunday hours added seasonally. Worth checking ahead if you're planning a Sunday visit.

Off The Line, at Hellingly, makes an award-winning rosé and opens Thursday to Sunday, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Henners Vineyard sits close to the Pevensey Marshes and opens Thursday to Sunday, walk-in tastings usually available.

Rathfinny Wine Estate, near Alfriston, is the trail's flagship: a large, ambitious sparkling wine producer with its own restaurant and tasting room, open Wednesday to Sunday.

Base in Uckfield or Forest Row for both nights. Bluebell Vineyard Estates is the easiest start; the woodland trails are open regardless of the day, and the tasting room is close by. Wildwood is a short drive on, worth timing for late morning if you fancy the steam train connection at Eridge rather than driving. Winklestone, also nearby on the Forest, rounds out the day. Book the tasting ahead.

Wildwood only opens Saturdays and Sundays, and only from May to September, so day one needs to be one of those two days.

Head south to Heathfield, about 12 minutes from Uckfield. Hidden Spring and Off The Line are close together here, both open Thursday to Sunday. Henners, over toward the Pevensey Marshes, fits in next. From there it's about 11 minutes to Rathfinny, near Alfriston, a good finishing point with a restaurant on site if you want lunch before heading home.

If day two lands on a Sunday, check Hidden Spring's hours before you go. Their Sunday opening is seasonal rather than fixed.

Two of the featured vineyards have their own accommodation. Bluebell Vineyard Estates has on-site glamping in a vintage Airstream trailer, right among the vines. Rathfinny Wine Estate runs The Flint Barns, ten en-suite rooms with a restaurant downstairs, a good way to end day two without driving anywhere after dinner.

For day one, Ashdown Park Hotel in Forest Row is a large country house hotel with a spa and golf course, close to Wildwood and Winklestone. Near Rathfinny, Wingrove House is a smaller country house hotel in the middle of Alfriston village, if you'd rather stay off the estate.

This route only works as a weekend, and only from May to September, because Wildwood, the trail's one heritage-railway stop, is Saturday and Sunday only, in season. Outside that window, swap Wildwood for Beacon Down Vineyard, a few miles from Hidden Spring: it's appointment-only rather than day-restricted, so it works any day of the week if booked ahead.

Winklestone and Beacon Down both need booking in advance. The rest are walk-in friendly, though a call ahead is never a bad idea outside peak season.

A car is the easiest way to do this route. Uckfield has a direct train to London Bridge in around 80 minutes, and Berwick station, close to Rathfinny, has a direct service to London Victoria in a similar time, useful if you want to start in Uckfield and finish near the coast without doubling back for a car.