Things to do in Arlington: there are many things to do in and around Arlington village, with plenty of adventures for children and adults alike.
Abbots Wood
We are so lucky at the Oak to be but an acorn’s drop from one of the entrances to this enchanting ancient woodland. Abbot’s Wood is a great place for a stroll at any time of year, with walking trails, a medieval lake, play area, barbecues and picnic tables. The wood is teeming with wildlife. Dormice live in the woodland understory and the extensive network of paths is home to nearly thirty species of butterfly, including the rare pearl-bordered fritillary. In early spring, the extraordinary song of the nightingale can be heard and summer evenings could reward you with encounters with bats, glow worms, owls and the sound of the elusive nightjar. We often stumble upon small herds of deer at twilight, and marvel at the ingenuity, sound and beauty of the spotted woodpeckers.
The historic site of Abbots Wood derives its name from the times of Henry I, when the wood was gifted to Battle Abbey and overseen by the Abbot.. A mixture of tree species, including conifer, hazel and hornbeam can be found. Go for a wander along Abbots Amble to view waterfowl and dragonfly on the lake or take a shorter stroll on Oaks Walk. We thoroughly recommend a visit in spring to view the magnificent woodland bluebells.
Arlingtonvillage.co.uk/abbots-wood/
Bluebell Walk and Garden
The Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail based at Bates Green Farm is a very special place, just a five minute walk from the Oak. Open for just four or five weeks in April and May it offers seven interesting walks over three working farms. Visitors to Beatons Wood are treated to a profusion of spring flowers, beginning with tiny white wood anemones and followed by carpets of bluebells throughout the woodland floor established over centuries. This is where you see white anemones followed by the vistas of bluebells, established over centuries. On this walk there are seats for you to enjoy the peace and tranquility of this oak and hornbeam ancient wood. Along the walks there are signs illustrating the flora and fauna of the countryside for your information. At neighbouring Parkwood Farm (2.75 mile walk there and back), milking of the large dairy herd can be seen from a special viewing gallery every afternoon between 3:00pm and 5:00pm. At Primrose Farm there is a horse livery, also this is where the young cattle are reared.
Arlington Reservoir
Arlington Reservoir is a pleasant 40 minutes stroll away. A path that circumnavigates the reservoir is partly paved and provides a lovely walk, although there is also a car park to the north of Berwick. The reservoir is a local nature reserve which provides a sanctuary for thousands of over-wintering birds such as wigeon and shoveler – as well as great crested grebe, Canada geese, heron, reed warbler, kingfisher and barn owl. Occasionally, Arlington Reservoir is visited by ospreys as they migrate to and from Africa in the autumn and spring. Unsurprisingly, it is a popular spot for ‘twitchers’ who can view over 170 species of birds from the bird hide.
The reservoir is home to many fish species including, bream, roach, perch, eels, carp and gudgeon. In fact, it offers some of the best trout fishing in the South East and has a well-deserved reputation for excellent fly fishing from its banks or by boat.
Construction of the reservoir began in 1969 to meet the growing demand for tap water by building a dam across the River Cuckmere and using the spoil from the excavation to build the rolling landscape around the edges of the reservoir. During excavation, animal remains – including a mammoth tusk, bison horn and the skull of a woolly rhinoceros were discovered.
Arlingtonvillage.co.uk/arlington-reservoir/
St Pancras Church
Shortly before you reach the reservoir, you can pay a visit to our gorgeous church of St Pancras, which has been serving the parish of Arlington for over a thousand years.
Arlingtonvillage.co.uk/st-pancras-church/
Michelham Priory
800 years of history is on a doorstep with Michelham Priory and Gardens situated just a mile down the road. The Priory is set on a picturesque private island within England’s largest medieval water-filled moat, complete with medieval gatehouse and watermill.
Founded by Augustinian canons in 1229, the site is steeped in history. King Edward I stayed overnight on 14 September 1302. During the reign of Henry VIII the Priory and its possessions were seized as part of the dissolution of the monasteries, being passed to Thomas Cromwell and upon his execution in 1540 to Anne of Cleves. It returned to royal hands as part of a property exchange between the Earl of Arundel and Queen Mary in 1544. The history of the site continued up to WWII when it was home to evacuees and the Canadian Army while they prepared for the Dieppe Raid in 1942.
Inside the Grade I and II listed buildings, there are fascinating displays of furniture and artefacts, set in rooms reflecting different periods of Michelham’s rich history. These include an historic kitchen and the evacuees’ bedroom. Children will enjoy the hands-on activities and outfits to try on as well as the play area
The priory is allegedly haunted and was the site for the pilot episode of “Most Haunted” where poltergeist activity was supposedly detected. The most commonly encountered spirit is the Grey Lady often seen staring into the moat where her child drowned many years before but sightings also abound of the black hooded monk in the undercroft, the young boy in the kitchen and the maid in the hall.
Outdoors there are seven acres of beautiful grounds and buildings to explore including: a great barn; the medieval gate house; watermill; and the kitchen, physic and medieval herb gardens.
Sussexpast.co.uk/attraction/michelham-priory/
Arlington Stadium
Situated to the north of Abbots Wood, the stadium is host to a variety of spectator motorsports, including Speedworth hot rods, stock car racing and banger racing. More famously, it has been the home to the Eastbourne Eagles speedway racing club and plans are afoot to bring speedway back in 2023.
The quarter-mile oval concrete track has banked corners and a protective ‘armco’ barrier, which ensures the safety of spectators while allowing them to be close to the action. The stadium facilities, include a covered grandstand, licensed club house, hot-dog/hamburger stalls and toilets. There is also ample grass terracing and plenty of car parking space. It is exhilarating fun for all the family, especially when combined with a visit to the Oak.
Eastbourne-speedway.com/stock-cars-at-arlington/
Charleston
Charleston is the celebrated modernist home and studio of the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, It is a mere 15 minute drive away. It became the gathering point for some of the 20th century’s most radical artists, writers and thinkers known collectively as the Bloomsbury group. It is where they came together to imagine society differently, and has always been a place where art and experimental thinking are at the centre of everyday life.
In addition to the house and artists’ garden, Charleston hosts a year-round programme of Bloomsbury and contemporary exhibitions in a suite of galleries Two restored barns are home to The Threshing Barn café and The Hay Barn where events and workshops are held throughout the year. The outer studio at Charleston hosts a permanent display of Bell and Grant’s Famous Women Dinner Service, and there is also a shop selling Bloomsbury-inspired art, homeware fabrics, fashion, books and stationery.
Charleston hosts a number of special events throughout the year, most notably the Charleston Festival, which each May invites artists, writers, thinkers and changemakers to discuss the best in art, literature, ideas and politics, past and present, just as the likes of Virginia Woolf, EM Foster and John Maynard Keynes did around the Charleston dining table.
The rooms on show form a complete example of the decorative art of the Bloomsbury artists. The collection includes work by renowned artists such as Renoir, Picasso and Sickert.
Berwick Church
Continue your appreciation of Bell and Grant’s work by paying a visit to the beautiful church of St Michael and All Angels, which also dates back over a thousand years. The stunning murals were created as a beacon of hope during the second world war and depict local people in period clothes but in biblical settings.
Drusillas Park
Considered to be one of the best small zoos in Europe, Drusillas is a ten minute drive away. It cares for wild and domestic animals and visitors will be enchanted by the ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, camels, giant anteaters, owls, bats, flamingos, penguins, serval cats, numerous types of monkey and much more. It is aimed at children between 2 and 10 years old and as well as being great fun, it is also educational.
There are many hands-on activities, an adventure play area separated for different age groups, an indoor soft play centre, and thrilling rides. There are also cafes, shops, and a restaurant.