Sussex Coast Path - Hastings to Eastbourne

Start: Hastings Railway Station (TN34 1BA) and bus stops. TQ 814 096

(S) From the train station, join Havelock Road and follow it South-East all the way to A259 on the coastline. Carefully cross the road then turn right. Follow the promenade and hard path from Hastings through to Bexhill. Continue to the end of the promenade and then drop down onto the beach. After a short distance there is a set of wooden steps to the top of the cliff providing access to Beaulieu Road.

(1) Turn left onto the road and follow it around to the junction with Cooden Drive. Turn left and follow the road as it twists around a double bend and descends down a hill.

(2) At the bottom where the road makes a sharp turn right, return to the beach. Continue in front of the houses and beach huts and then return to the head of the beach to follow the road. The road drops down and turns sharp right to cross the railway.

(3) At this point proceed back to the beach. Continue to the first set of buildings where there is access back to the road.

(4) Follow the road through the village and holiday park then turn left at the junction beyond. Keep to the road until it reaches the village of Pevensey.

(5) Turn left into Bay Avenue and return to the head of the beach where there is a path in front of the dwellings. Where the art deco complex known as the Sandcastle juts out onto the beach, proceed around its perimeter wall and then return back to the beach head following the defined track in the compacted shingle. Keep to this until it meets a paved track past the new buildings of the harbour complex.

(6) Where this meets the outer harbour, follow the pathway around the harbour and at the end are lock gates through to the inner harbour. Traffic lights indicate which lock gate can be accessed to proceed across to the other side. Follow the track around the harbour side back to the beach where the promenade starts. Continue along the promenade to the pier.

(7) Take the first road inland past the pier, Terminus Road. Follow this through to Eastbourne Railway Station. (E)

Start: Hastings Railway Station (TN34 1BA) and bus stops. TQ 814 096

Terrain: Coastal path and beach throughout. This is a good days walk that can be undertaken by anyone of average fitness. The route is flat throughout with most of the distance covered on promenade or hard surfaces.
At the far western end of Bexhill the promenade runs out and there is a short trudge across the shingle before a path leads up to the road followed by a short walk along the pavements to emerge back onto the shingle. This is very tough walking and the proposed route of the England Coast Path leads off of this beach, beyond the beach huts, to use the coast road. This is a very welcome way ahead. Where the road turns inland the beach has to be used again through to Normans Bay. This is not too bad as the shingle at the head of the beach is pretty much compacted.

Transport: The ends of the walk are linked by the railway where frequent trains connect the two towns of Eastbourne and Hastings with late trains available. Southern Rail - Southern railway services

Accommodation : Willingdon Drove Travelodge, EastbourneRoom

Refreshments: There are plenty of options for refreshments and facilities along the route and always something new to see and admire.
Aqua Bar, Pevensey Bay View

Find more information about this walk at Griffmonster walks website here.