Introduction • Updates & Feedback • Thumbnails • Photos • OS Map • Rye to Winchelsea (PDF)

Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1

Walk 25 : Rye (was Winchelsea) to Hastings

Updates and Feedback

Summary	No major changes.

Updates	Major Update: Winchelsea station is effectively closed. The walk now starts from Rye, so you must download and print the new start of the walk (link to PDF above) which follows the 1066 County Path. The steps down to Fairlight Glen beach (which is used by nudists) have been repaired [May-08]. Swimming is not so good at low tide due to rocks. The walk is fairly flat before lunch, but after lunch the route follows the coastal path, and there are 4 steep hills (with Fairlight Glen in the middle). Lovely coastal views, but be sure to take sufficient water and a hat in the summer. Hastings has a nice beach and old town. By car: Rye station has a large car park. By train: Its usually quicker to travel out via Ashford International. Tea/Late Lunch: The Coastguards Tea Room is approximately four miles before Hastings, and a good place to gather your energies before the steep hills at the end. It also has a stunning view over the coastline down to Petts Level that you do not get on either walk otherwise. It does tea and cakes, and serves alcohol. Coastguards Tea Room, Coastguard Lane, Fairlight, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4AB. Tel 01424 812 902. www.coastguardstearoom.co.uk Opening times: April to October: Weds-Sun and bank holidays 10am - 5pm, November to mid December, and February to March: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11pm- 4pm. From the lanward side of the radar station (mentioned three paragraphs after point [8]), take the tarmac lane leading inland, heading for the church. In 300 metres, at the end of a small car park, leave the road to continue straight on, passing to the right of the Hastings Country Park Visitors Centre, up a path between two concrete bollards. In 10 metres this becomes a residential road. The Coastguards Tea Room is 170 metres up on the right.

Updates

Major Update: Winchelsea station is effectively closed. The walk now starts from Rye, so you must download and print the new start of the walk (link to PDF above) which follows the 1066 County Path.

The steps down to Fairlight Glen beach (which is used by nudists) have been repaired [May-08]. Swimming is not so good at low tide due to rocks.

The walk is fairly flat before lunch, but after lunch the route follows the coastal path, and there are 4 steep hills (with Fairlight Glen in the middle). Lovely coastal views, but be sure to take sufficient water and a hat in the summer.

Hastings has a nice beach and old town.

By car: Rye station has a large car park.

By train: Its usually quicker to travel out via Ashford International.

Tea/Late Lunch: The Coastguards Tea Room is approximately four miles before Hastings, and a good place to gather your energies before the steep hills at the end. It also has a stunning view over the coastline down to Petts Level that you do not get on either walk otherwise. It does tea and cakes, and serves alcohol.
Coastguards Tea Room, Coastguard Lane, Fairlight, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4AB. Tel 01424 812 902. www.coastguardstearoom.co.uk
Opening times: April to October: Weds-Sun and bank holidays 10am - 5pm, November to mid December, and February to March: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11pm- 4pm.
From the lanward side of the radar station (mentioned three paragraphs after point [8]), take the tarmac lane leading inland, heading for the church. In 300 metres, at the end of a small car park, leave the road to continue straight on, passing to the right of the Hastings Country Park Visitors Centre, up a path between two concrete bollards. In 10 metres this becomes a residential road. The Coastguards Tea Room is 170 metres up on the right.

Feedback	[add your comment] 6 comments Posted by Anonymous : Friday, 23 May, 2008 Moral of this walk: check the website for updates! The description of the walk in the book suggests it was last taken in about 1951: stiles that are supposed to be there aren't, ditto fences. Much of the walk is wrong. I found it exasperating, given the book was last published only in 2004, but my temper cooled when I remember the proceeds of its sales go to charitable trusts. Posted by Chris L : Saturday, 21 June, 2008 Yes, the steps to Fairlight Glen beach have been restored a few years after the old wooden staircase was lost to cliff erosion. But this is no thanks to Hastings Council, who effectively washed their hands of the problem. The 100+ new steps are entirely the initiative of an individual beach user who was fed up with the council's inaction, and spent his own time and money on buying materials and constructing the new steps to professional standards. He puts out a donations box when working on the steps, so if you go down to the beach and see Richard at work, please drop a coin or two in his box. Posted by Walker : Thursday, 07 August, 2008 August 2008: the path from Laurel Lane across Knockbridge Farm to point [5] no longer seems to have signposting, and in one early section, where you cross a field, even a stile has gone. We have reported this to the Ramblers Association, who have promise to investigate. Posted by Anonymous : Sunday, 21 September, 2008 Agree with recent comments - much of the description of the walk being out of date . Started at Icklesham (get the 100 bus from Hastings Station runs every hour (:15) Mon-Sat as of Sept 20 08). Lunch at Queens Head very nice before we started but ran into problems almost straight away. Stile at Laurel Lane at Workhouse Lane gone but if you go a further 50 metres down Workhouse Lane there is a pathway on the righthandside. Follow path and then generally keep in SW direction (lots of places to get lost however) and eventually get to some point on Pett Lane. Follow road into Pett. Once you get into the Hastings Country Park follow well posted directions to Hastings Posted by Anonymous : Sunday, 28 September, 2008 We got lost at Laurel Lane (per above comments, there isn't a stile anymore) but eventually rejoined the route a few paragraphs before Pett. We then got lost again going into Fairlight Cove - if you follow precisely the direction "the entrance to Merrie Land on your left hand side" you are led to a dead end! We traversed through Fairlight Cove by following the gravel path straight through the village until we again rejoined the route at Smugglers Way. But don't let this put you off trying the walk, it is a good one despite the confusing directions. Posted by Anonymous : Sunday, 28 September, 2008 I see one or two others have already encountered the problem I am about to describe: I did this walk on 27th September 2008 and found that there is now a major problem concerning the section covered in the final paragraph of p .199 and first paragraph of p. 200. The text reads: 'In 190 metres by a tarmac road right (Laurel Lane), go over a stile (with a metal field-gate to its right) on a footpath.' The problem is that there is no stile there now, and no footpath, and the gate to the field is padlocked. Luckily for me a helpful, lady, clearly the owner of the land, saw me and came out with a key and unlocked the padlock on the gate and guided me through the field, which had an electric fence across it, which she had turned off. She also had to guide me through an area of the field which enclosed her horse which was all-too-eager to exit when the gate was opened. What could I have done if the owner hadn't been there and seen me? I don't know. There was absolutely no sign that there was a public right of way there. Now the stile no longer exists it is not even clear which gate was intended in the text (there were one or two other field-gates nearby), and with the gate being padlocked I feel that others attempting that section will be completely stuck. I see one or two people now have found a way round. There were other smaller problems and in general I agree with others who suggest that this walk is in need of updating.

Feedback

[add your comment]

6 comments

Posted by

Anonymous : Friday, 23 May, 2008

Moral of this walk: check the website for updates! The description of the walk in the book suggests it was last taken in about 1951: stiles that are supposed to be there aren't, ditto fences. Much of the walk is wrong. I found it exasperating, given the book was last published only in 2004, but my temper cooled when I remember the proceeds of its sales go to charitable trusts.

Posted by

Chris L : Saturday, 21 June, 2008

Yes, the steps to Fairlight Glen beach have been restored a few years after the old wooden staircase was lost to cliff erosion. But this is no thanks to Hastings Council, who effectively washed their hands of the problem. The 100+ new steps are entirely the initiative of an individual beach user who was fed up with the council's inaction, and spent his own time and money on buying materials and constructing the new steps to professional standards. He puts out a donations box when working on the steps, so if you go down to the beach and see Richard at work, please drop a coin or two in his box.

Posted by

Walker : Thursday, 07 August, 2008

August 2008: the path from Laurel Lane across Knockbridge Farm to point [5] no longer seems to have signposting, and in one early section, where you cross a field, even a stile has gone. We have reported this to the Ramblers Association, who have promise to investigate.

Posted by

Anonymous : Sunday, 21 September, 2008

Agree with recent comments - much of the description of the walk being out of date . Started at Icklesham (get the 100 bus from Hastings Station runs every hour (:15) Mon-Sat as of Sept 20 08). Lunch at Queens Head very nice before we started but ran into problems almost straight away. Stile at Laurel Lane at Workhouse Lane gone but if you go a further 50 metres down Workhouse Lane there is a pathway on the righthandside. Follow path and then generally keep in SW direction (lots of places to get lost however) and eventually get to some point on Pett Lane. Follow road into Pett. Once you get into the Hastings Country Park follow well posted directions to Hastings

Posted by

Anonymous : Sunday, 28 September, 2008

We got lost at Laurel Lane (per above comments, there isn't a stile anymore) but eventually rejoined the route a few paragraphs before Pett. We then got lost again going into Fairlight Cove - if you follow precisely the direction "the entrance to Merrie Land on your left hand side" you are led to a dead end! We traversed through Fairlight Cove by following the gravel path straight through the village until we again rejoined the route at Smugglers Way. But don't let this put you off trying the walk, it is a good one despite the confusing directions.

Posted by

Anonymous : Sunday, 28 September, 2008

I see one or two others have already encountered the problem I am about to describe: I did this walk on 27th September 2008 and found that there is now a major problem concerning the section covered in the final paragraph of p .199 and first paragraph of p. 200. The text reads:

'In 190 metres by a tarmac road right (Laurel Lane), go over a stile (with a metal field-gate to its right) on a footpath.'

The problem is that there is no stile there now, and no footpath, and the gate to the field is padlocked. Luckily for me a helpful, lady, clearly the owner of the land, saw me and came out with a key and unlocked the padlock on the gate and guided me through the field, which had an electric fence across it, which she had turned off. She also had to guide me through an area of the field which enclosed her horse which was all-too-eager to exit when the gate was opened.

What could I have done if the owner hadn't been there and seen me? I don't know. There was absolutely no sign that there was a public right of way there. Now the stile no longer exists it is not even clear which gate was intended in the text (there were one or two other field-gates nearby), and with the gate being padlocked I feel that others attempting that section will be completely stuck.

I see one or two people now have found a way round.

There were other smaller problems and in general I agree with others who suggest that this walk is in need of updating.

Older Updates	Edition	Date	Page	Location	Update
	red				Lunch: on Sundays the Queens Head serves food until 3pm.The new management at the Royal Oak Inn in Pett does do food, from 12 till 2pm, not Mondays. Groups over six should phone to book on 01424 812515.
	red				The tea place at 53 High St is now called the Swedish Chef Too Caf? Restaurant, same phone number, well run by Alan and Ewa Griffiths, serving vegan, fish and Swedish food and varieties of vodka, open Sat & Sun 12 to 12 (may close in afternoon for half hour or so if not busy), open Wed-Sun 6.30pm to 12.
	red				The next paras should now read (update from J. M. Baugié): "In 200 metres, exit wood by a stile. Go to the left of the tree which faces you in the field and follow the edge of the field with the wood you left on your left-hand side. After 100 metres, cross a stile and aim ahead to the far corner of the field, where in 150 metres, beside a mini-pylon ..." etc.
	blue		190	lunch	The Oast House Inn, Icklesham, the alternative lunch place, has now closed. The Queens Head still remains the recommended lunch place.
	green	Jul-03	190	col 1	Tea, there was an alternative tea place in Hastings: The Old Town Tea Room, 16 Winding Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN343A Tel 01424 720 142. This is a restaurant that is open until late and is happy to serve teas.