Stonegate Circular walk

Remote, rolling Hills, Burwash for Lunch and Batemans (NT, Rudyard Kipling's home)

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  • Stonebridge Circular. 1/6/23
    amib, Jun-23

    An update of a walk last undertaken in November, 2009, on the mobile, and what a glorious Wealden wonder this 11 miler was!

    The weather was initially partly cloudy, but became sunnier as the walker progressed, and the north easterly breeze (some interference on commentary) made for pleasant walking.

    Almost immediately after leaving the station, the walker is into 'classic' Wealden terrain; meadows, cattle, rolling hills, valleys and woodland, with the occasional pond for interest.

    Lunch is taken at St Bartholomew's church, in the attractive village of Burwash, though an alternative pub option is also available.

    The afternoon section is more of the same, passing Rudyard Kipling's former rural retreat, Bateman's, early on.

    The notorious muddy section was no more than 'sticky' today, with occasional puddles, and the paths, generally, were dry (Wealden walks are mostly enjoyed best away from the wetter months). Some of the stiles were in need of replacing with gates.

    A thoroughly enjoyable walk in one of this walker's favourite corners of the South East. For tranquillity, it's hard to beat!

    (N.B. The walk notes are in need of an update, and are, currently, best used with the GPX track and the 'comments' page).

  • A Scenic Saturday Hike: Walking the Rye to Hastings Coastal Trail in 4K
    Hiking In London, Jul-22

    Embark on a stunning coastal hike from Rye to Hastings in the UK and discover the rugged beauty of the English Channel coastline. This trail takes you through some of the most scenic landscapes in the country, from the iconic white cliffs to charming fishing villages and historic landmarks. Experience the rich cultural heritage of the region as you immerse yourself in the local history and indulge in delicious coastal cuisine. Our 4K visuals bring the beauty of this adventure to life, showcasing the breathtaking scenery and unique culture of the UK's coastal communities. Join us for a one-of-a-kind adventure on this Rye to Hastings coastal hike.

    #hikinginlondon RyeToHastings #CoastalHike #HikingUK #AdventureTravel #EnglandTourism #4KVisuals #EnglishChannel #WhiteCliffs #FishingVillages #HistoricLandmarks #CoastalCuisine.

    - Standard walk: 19.0km (11.8 miles), 6 hours. For the whole outing including trains, sights and meals allow at least 11 hours

    - Short walk: 9.5km (5.9 miles), 3 hours.

    Toughness: 7 out of 10

    Hastings nowadays is most famously connected with the battle of 1066, although it existed long before as a small community, to become a Saxon settlement after the Romans left early in the 5th century, taking its name from the group of Saxon invaders, the Haestengas.

    Hastings Castle (tel 01424 781111) was built high on the sandstone rocks above the town, by William the Conqueror in 1067. Although just a ruin today, it is still worth a visit which includes the dungeons and an exhibition area. The castle is open 10am - 5pm, daily from April until August. 11am - 3pm daily, from September to March.

    St. Clements Caves, West Hill, Hastings(tel 01424 422964) have over time been put to many uses including a military hospital, an air raid shelter and even a dance hall. Open 11am - 5.30pm, daily from Easter until September. 11am - 4.30pm, daily from October to Easter.

    Visiting Winchelsea today it can be difficult to imagine with the sea over 2km away, that 700 years ago it was one of England's leading ports. This new town of Winchelsea replaced the earlier old town, which was sited on a massive shingle spit somewhere out towards Dungeness (probably offshore from the village of Camber). The old town of Winchelsea was devastated by storms in the 13th century, with the great storm of 1287 causing its final destruction. At the time, the loss of Winchelsea could be compared to losing Portsmouth today, such was its importance. King Edward I ordered a commission to find a new site for the town. Building commenced in the 1280s, from the Strand to the New Gate (where you can see the deepest section of the town ditch around Winchelsea, part of the town's defence), with the streets being laid out on a grid system.

    The wealth of new Winchelsea in its heyday was based largely on its huge wine trade. (There are 47 known cellars in the town.) Other trades included wool, timber, iron, shipbuilding and repair. Winchelsea along with Rye emerged to be of far more importance than Hastings (one of the Cinque Ports along with Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, Romney). The storms of the late 13th century, which had destroyed old Winchelsea, caused silting of the Hastings harbour ruining its future as a port. Thus Winchelsea and Rye joined the Cinque Ports to become the ancient towns whose duty in the days before a navy, was to defend England's most vulnerable coastline and provide transport for the King and his retinue in return for trading privileges. The King effectively gave them a licence for piracy, allowing them to attack anybody in the channel.

    However the heyday of new Winchelsea lasted only a few generations. By the middle of the 14th Century the town was in terminal decline. In the 1340s it started to suffer from shingle drifts, and was unable to get ships easily in and it started to lose its livelihood. Eventually the returning shingle bank sealed the town's fate.

    St. Thomas' Church, Winchelsea is semi ruinous. All that's left (the transepts and the eastern end) is about a third of the original 59 metre long building, although it is still a functioning church. It was badly damaged during various raids; particularly a French and Spanish raid towards the end of the 14th century. With the town in decline the damaged sections were quarried rather than being repaired.

    The Look Out is named from the days when the look out man was stationed here during the French wars. It is also the site of Winchelsea windmill destroyed in the hurricane of 16th October 1987.

    swcwalks book2 walk29

    © Club Hiking in London. Ltd (CASC) in collaboration with Saturday Walkers Club.

    #hikinginlondon #dayhikesaturday #hastings

  • Stonegate Circular.
    Javier Vagabond, Jan-16

    Music: The Hippopotamus Song by Flanders & Swann

  • Stonegate Circular. 9.11.09.
    amib, Jan-11

    Around 9.7 miles of walking through the Sussex Weald; passing through classic English wood and pastureland onto the village of Burwash for lunch. The writer, Rudyard Kipling, lived at 'Batemans', which the walker passes in the afternoon section.

    (Mobile phone quality).