Local walks in and around Hastings
Before Hastings I spent ten years
in Plymouth, Devon.
Dartmoor and the Devon and Cornwall coastline are amazing places to walk... then came
Hastings!
My initial reaction was 'what a dump'. But my observations were made in ignorance. My ideal walk would be remote parts of northern/western Scotland, but travel from Hastings is a slight problem!
The Hastings area has a lot to offer, although the terrain is somewhat more gentle than Dartmoor or Scotland. Most walks I take in this area are in woodland. Every season brings a different aspect to woodland walks and there is great variety of wildlife.
The Fire Hills (Hastings Country
Park)
This is a popular place to come
for Hastings residents and others close nearby. There
is ample car parking away from the main road. There are incredible views out
to sea and looking east along the coast toward Dungerness. On very clear nights
the lights on the coast of France can just about be seen with the naked eye.
The large open areas of grass are kept mown and relativley free of any fouling
from dogs. Dog owners use this area heavily and there are plenty of 'poop-and-scoop'
bins. Fairlight is situated just east of the Firehills and can be reached by
foot in approx. 20-30 mins at a relaxed pace.
During
the summer months, and on some weekends other times of the year, there will
often be an ice cream van. There is a small restaurant/cafe 2 minutes
from the car park.
A voluntary field 'centre' provides lots of interesting facts about the local
area, including 'hands-on' for children - free entrance too!
A good place to visit for a family, lots of open space, but if you want a quiet
walk away from people, don't go on warm sunny weekend days!
St. Helens Woods, Hastings
This area of Hastings has a
mixture of thick woodland, open heath and some grazing for horses. There are streams and
ponds scattered throughout. When wet it is advisable to wear shoes suited for quite muddy
and slippery conditions as some of the paths can be a little treacherous.
Very popular place for dog owners. There are a great variety of trees, some are massive!
West Hill and the Old Town
This is the more scenic part
of Hastings. The West Hill offers superb views down into the 'Old Town' of Hastings, along
the sea front and across to the East Hill. It seems an increasingly popular place for kite
flighing. Parking can be limited at the top (and is metered in places), but there is a
cafe and public toilets.
You can walk down to the Old Town via a number of routes or take the 'West Hill Lift' - a
finicular railway.
East Hill
After a stroll through the Old
Town and along the sea front
a visit to the East Hill offers more superb views. The hill can be reached by steps
off by the 'East Hill Left' - a finicular railway. There is a 'pitch & put' golf
course and lots of open mown grass areas for picnics, etc.
The 'Three Hills' to Fairlight
This walk takes a little time
to complete but is well worthwhile. Excellent views, quiet paths and lovely woodland lead
you toward the Fire Hills.
Crowhurst woods
Situated just on the exit to
Crowhurst, these woods aren't particularly large, but a decent walk will take
approximately one hour. There is a lake and plenty of different birds to watch out for
(the RSPB have some involement here, but I don't know what).
Great Wood (Battle)
As the name implies, these
woods are sprawling, not massive, but big enough. There are a couple of parking areas.
These woods are popular with dog owners!
Darwell Reservoir
There are two main entrances
to the area around Darwell Reservoir. Access to the reservoir itself is limited but there
are some lovely and varied walks around. I have never actually seen any myself in this
area, but the woods have a high deer population.
Rye
Harbour
Rye is 20 minutes
drive from Hastings and is a lovely, historical town well worth a visit.
For large open areas and access to the beach, Rye Harbour is is ideal.
There is a Nature Reserve and a few bird hides overlooking some of the areas.
Some of the area is protected by electric fences to keep out foxes to allow
birds safe nesting - mind your dog (or child!) doesn't get too close, harmless
but painful!
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