If you are looking for an amazing coastal walk, with breathtaking views from the top of cliffs, endless green fields, a gentle canal stroll and a forest, the Hastings to Rye walk has it all. Get ready for one of the most beautiful coastal walks, with a pub stop at the end, of course!
The sun does not shine often in England, but when it does, you should make the most of it by rushing to the coast for a walk. Enjoy the fresh air of the sea, the sound of the waves and the beauty of small coastal towns! Make the most of a sunny day in South England with the Hastings to Rye walk!
Logistics for the Hastings to Rye Walk
- Distance: 13.2 miles (21.24 km)
- Ascent: 1260 feet (384 m)
- Walking Estimate: 5 hours and 15 minutes at a 4km/hour average speed
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there: It is faster to take the train to Ashford International from London St Pancras and change than taking the direct train to Hastings from London Bridge. The direct train is a slow train stopping absolutely everywhere and the journey takes 2 hours. When taking the train to Ashford International and changing for a train to Hastings, the whole journey takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- What to bring with you: Comfortable footwear and clothing, bringing a pair of hiking poles could be a good idea as the start of the walk is quite hilly. Bring a backpack with water. I would recommend 3L for this walk as the start is quite strenuous so you intend to drink a lot. Also, most of the path is along the coast and is exposed so if you are going on a sunny day you will be sweating a lot and will need to hydrate often. Moreover, carrying a small bottle of water with electrolytes can also become handy to replace the salt lost when sweating. Don’t forget a headcover, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring snacks and a packed lunch, identification and money for the pub at the end.
- Additional Information: There are no public toilets on this walk however there is a coffee shop stop with toilets for customers in Pett Level
- Pub stop: The Globe Inn Marsh
Highlights of the Hastings to Rye Walk
- Hastings
- Hastings Country Park
- Ecclesbourne Reservoir
- High Weald
- Fairlight Village
- Pett Level
- Royal Military Canal
- Wickham Manor
- Winchelsea
- Landgate
- Rye
The Hastings to Rye Walk
Hastings
Hastings is a seaside town in East Sussex, settled in the Iron Age, as shown by the discovery of artefacts such as a flint arrowhead and the excavation of a fort. The town was later invaded by the Romans in 55 BC who started the iron trade from Hasting Port. The town fell under Saxon domination from 771 to 1066, when the Norman Conquest started. Even though the events took place 7 miles (11km) away from Hastings, the town gives its name to the famous Battle of Hastings, where Willam, the Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold Godwinson. This event marks the start of the Norman domination.
During the middle age, even though Hastings suffered from many natural disasters and floods, the port continue to expand. The town also saw the emergence of a new profitable business: smuggling. It is only after the Napoleon Wars, that Hastings becomes a fashionable sea resort, welcoming rich holidaymakers. In the nineteenth century, the opening of the railway contributed to the massive expansion of the town.
Nowadays, Hastings is a well thought seaside resort and has the UK’s largest beach-based fishing fleet.
Getting out of Hastings
Welcome to Hastings! No time to go to the beach, we have a long walk ahead of us.
As you come out of the train station, walk across the car park in front of you to reach Station Road. Continue on this road until you reach Wellington Place. If you forgot your lunch or want to grab a bite before the start of the walk, you can stop at the 1066 Bakery for a tasty cheese roll.
Then, take left onto Wellington Place to join Pelham Place. Walk on the boulevard alongside the beach and as you arrive at the Marina Parade, deviate from the main road and take George Street. This lovely old High Street has plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs. Walk all the way up the street between traditional timber-framed houses and Victorian-style painted facade buildings.
Take East Street and continue straight until you find stairs on your left. And here begins the ascent to the top of East Hill.
East Hill & Hasting Country Park
East Hill is the home of Hastings Country Park, an 850 acres area of sandstone cliffs covered with gorse and trees, offering breathtaking views of Hastings and the Coast. But before you get there, you need to climb. You have two choices:
- The staircase
- The Railway
East Hill is famous for its funicular railway taking passengers to the top of the hill. With a 78% gradient and a length of 81 meters, it opened to the public for the first time in August 1902. Following an accident, the funicular was closed from 2007 to 2010 for major refurbishments and improvements.
At the top, the beauty of Hastings Country Park unravels before your eyes. This site is classed as an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest as well as a zone of archaeological research.
Ecclesbourne
As you arrive at the end of East Hill, walk on the road to go around Rocklands Holiday Park and then take the footpath behind the holiday park to enter a forested area. In these woods, you find the Ecclesbourne Reservoir. Known locally as the “Spoon” the reservoir is Eden on earth for whoever likes fishing. With 17 pegs placed around the reservoir, you are sure to catch carps, roach and tench!
Further down the woods, if you follow the stream from the reservoir, you arrive at the Ecclesbourne Glen, where the stream turns into a waterfall coming down the chalk cliff. Unfortunately, our walk does not take us there, but you can make a little detour if want to.
Glen Wood
After leaving Ecclesbourne Reservoir, you are back on the road. Follow Barley Lane and when you get to the end of the road, turn right. This is the highest point of this walk. Walk down the road on the right that leads straight to Glen Wood.
If you were looking for some change of scenery, you get what you want: it is like walking into the rain forest, minus the monkeys and the parrots. In a humid environment, green lush vegetation mixes with bluebells and (smelly) wild garlic.
Fairlight
As you come out of the woods, you might encounter horses, roaming freely in the High Weald. Walk on the footpath along the coast, with breathtaking views over the Channel and the coastline.
I leave it to the pictures to describe the beauty of the High Weald because pictures speak louder than words.
As you get closer to Fairlight, a village in East Sussex, you come across the massive tower of the coast guard station. A little further away from the noise made by the tower in operation, the green field overlooking the sea makes it the perfect spot for a lunch break.
After lunch, continue walking on the coastal path until you reach Cliff End.
Royal Military Canal
When the footpath comes to an end, take right onto Pett Level Road. You soon reach the Royal Military Canal. The 28 miles (45 km) long canal stretches from Folkestone in Kent to Cliff End. The idea of the canal came from Lieutenant-Colonel John Brown as a defence against a possible French invasion during Napoleon’s wars.
Walk alongside the canal towpath and when you arrive at the first bridge, cross over to the opposite bank. Here you find a coffee shop (with toilets) next to St Nicholas Chapel. A coffee cup in your hand, walk up the stairs behind the coffee shop to get to the beach.
Walk alongside the beach and when you reach Toot Rock, take a left to go back onto the canal towpath. Follow the canal towpath bordered by meadows, with cows taking a dip in the canal on one side, and sheep grazing on the other side.
As you arrive at a bend, take the footbridge leading to a field with cows resting. Walk across the field and you find stairs going up a hill. Not to worry, compared to what you did at the beginning, this is nothing!.
Winchelsea
At the top of the hill, continue straight and at the end of the footpath, turn right. Follow this path until you reach Monk’s Road, leading straight to Winchelsea.
Such a rich history for a small place! The current town of Winchelsea was founded in 1288. Before, the old town was a successful and prosperous port playing an important role in the cross Channel trade. Unfortunately, the original town was destroyed by a flood in 1287. The inhabitants moved the town further away however it suffered much damage due to battles and invasions during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Fun fact: The mayor of Winchelsea is elected every year on Easter Monday by members of a corporation and not by the general public, and this since 1295.
Walk straight down on the road across Winchelsea and when you reach North Street, take left. Follow the street until you get to Station Road on your right. This part of the walk is a bit perilous as you are walking on the A259 with no sidewalk. As you arrive at the bend, you need to cross to get to Station Road and there is, of course, no pedestrian crossing there. Once on Station Road, the footpath leading to Rye is at the end of the road.
Rye
We are now almost reaching the end of our walk. From Winchelsea to Rye simply follow the footpath in the middle of the yellow rapeseed fields.
Rye, along with Winchelsea, was a prosperous port but also subject to invasions. To protect the town, the Ypres Tower was built in 1249 and the four gates of the town in 1329. Today, only the Landgate remains.
As the economy declined following the emergence of bigger ports, smuggling took over as one of the main activities in town. It is said that gangs met at the Mermaid Inn and the Olde Bell and that there are galleries underground linking the two buildings.
When you arrive in Rye, well, I chose the pub literally on the opposite side of the town. The choice of the pub remains yours, however, I could only recommend walking a little bit more and going to the Globe Inn Marsh. You won’t regret the extra effort!
In a quirky and cosy environment, enjoy the catch of the day or fish and chips with a jug of Pimm’s!
Bon appetit!
Hastings to Rye Walk Map
Do you want to do the same walk? Download the map by clicking on the button below. To upload the map on your navigation app, read my step by step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Hastings to Rye Walk
Hiking by the coast on a bright day sounds like a lovely idea. However, hiking in summer is not without risk. To make the most of your summer hikes, follow my top tips guide.
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