Talking of walks going up and down, on a recent walk I was suprised to find fellow walkers were not familiar with this 1927 poem by G K Chesterton (which I wrongly attributed to Kipling...). So here is the text,

The Rolling English Road

By G. K. Chesterton

Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode,

The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.

A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire,

And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire;

A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread

The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.

I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire,

And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire;

But I did bash their baggonets because they came arrayed

To straighten out the crooked road an English drunkard made,

Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in our hands,

The night we went to Glastonbury by way of Goodwin Sands.

His sins they were forgiven him; or why do flowers run

Behind him; and the hedges all strengthening in the sun?

The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which was which,

But the wild rose was above him when they found him in the ditch.

God pardon us, nor harden us; we did not see so clear

The night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier.

My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,

Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,

But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,

And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;

For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,

Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

Source: The Collected Poems of G. K. Chesterton (1927)

7 walkers off the train from Ashford, who were met by 2 unbeknownst-to-each-other walkers at the station, who had travelled up via Hastings. 9 therefore set off on this SWC Classic, for some of us for the first time in many a year in a dry month, considering the penchant of the undersigned to post this walk in winter when the marshes can be muddy and will be waterlogged in places.

So, a very enjoyable flat, then mildly undulating walk ensued all the way past the first pub in Micklesham to the second one in Pett.

One walker had kindly offered to phone the pub to reserve a table for an almost complete group taking lunch (8 out of 9) and we sat outside at the front of the pub.

The Royal Oak fell into the self-created trap of taking all food orders onto the same ticket, despite our assurances that we did not need everything to arrive at the same time. So, a longish wait it was, and second drinks were got while waiting. The food was very satisfying though, the service 10 out of 10 and the sun was shining. Suddenly a 'sphere' ghosted past and one of us (not me) immediately said "That's An****", and so it was: the rarely-spotted SWC Webmaster Extraordinaire had driven in from his abode in Outer SW London and started along the alternative start route through Winchelsea village.

Just as we were finishing, walker 11 turned up: she had missed the train and had walked an hour behind. We gave her a few minutes to replenish liquids and then set off together.

Group cohesion suffered from the moment we started the ascent out of Pett Level and it never recovered. Some may have gone swimming (please report), or walking along the exposed shore (it was outgoing tide), or later trying to avoid some of the deep drops and re-ascents in the glens and/or had F & C in Hastings, or a drink or two, but I just do not know.

All I know is that I got to Hastings Station at 16.50, where the delayed 16.30 to Tonbridge was still waiting for custom (it set off 10 minutes later). The 17.00 had been cancelled (staff shortages) and so were others. At Tonbridge, a decent non-stop connection to LBG via Redhill meant arriving home at 7.

A very fine day in very fine company.

sunny warm hazy with some clouds and a breeze

Micklesham = Icklesham

Well the view from the back of the group is that two branched off at Firehills to do a glen-avoiding route to Hastings; I lost track of our webmaster there too; maybe he went to the cafe? The remaining three went down to Fairlight beach - 4 o'clock by this time - and met two of our group who were climbing back up. We carried on down and met walker12 on the beach - he had got an earlier train in the morning. The four of us plunged into the waves - it was low tide so easy to get into the sea and nice and warm but very windy.

After our invigorating dip we got to Hastings around 6; two went in search of fish and chips and I got the 1819 Victoria train which was marginally the best for me to get home but over 2 hours in a cramped seat after a long walk was not much fun. A good day out though, many thanks for posting it Mr T

Filling in some gaps, my walk post group cohesion disbandment. Being at the front of the group I and 2 other walkers were planning a swim at Fairlight. However on the descent, I could see the tide was low. Not wishing to face the ascent back to the coastal path and still a way from Hastings I abandoned the beach visit. The rest of the walk via the remaining glens was solo until 1 beach goer caught up with me close into Hastings. There having planned to take one of 2 trains back to London I had an hour to explore Hastings (not having visited before). The old town and a heritage miniature railway were personal favourites. Walking back to the station and stopping for a drink at the Ye Olde Pumphouse (one of a few places mentioned in the text). A surprise spot for dinner options was a busy artisan pizzeria (Monellis) near the West Cliff lift. Before Hastings station I also saw The Seadog pub (not in the text) is very convenient to pass time if waiting for your train. 18:25 back to Kings X as the 18:30 London Bridge service was cancelled. A pleasant walk with variations looked into for future trips. Thanks M T for posting.

Just3 on this walk, a shame as the early rain had gone and it was a sunny day with a gentle breeze . The sea looked quite choppy though.

We picnicked by the cricket ground at Pett, watching a local game starting up. I got separated from the others on the way up to Fairlight village where I got lost in the side streets and cul de sacs - please remind me always to bring the written directions for this walk. I did catch up later though. Two of us got on different delayed trains back at around 4.30.

I forgot to add that the path through the landslip area has been beautifully restored with new (steep!) steps and there are lots of helpful new signs around the country park, though still a couple of junctions where the way is not 100% clear.

What's the likelihood of any tea places in Hastings being open on New Year's Day? Not the busiest time of year for fish and chips shops I imagine, and there won't be any freshly caught fish...

9 walkers off the train , incl. 1 first-timer, plus 1 other man dressed for walking, who turned out to be a trainspotter. There was some standing water in the marshes, and then later plenty of mud on the coastal path (clearly well-used just now), but none of that was too difficult to negotiate.

We arrived at The Royal Oak 5 minutes after my booking, and 4 of us had a sit-down lunch, 4 others had sit-down drinks followed by sandwiches outside, 1 marched on without stopping. We caught up with the marcher somewhere between the glens in the firehills and arrived in Hastings more-or-less together. The first-timer peeled off to explore the Old Town (and very busy it was), the rest arrived at the station from 16.05 onwards, which was perfect timing as trains to all three SWC-destinations were due pretty quickly. 1 left for London Bridge, 1 for Victoria, the rest to Ashford for Stratford (4) and St Pancras (2).

Worthy of note is that the landslipped and closed path in Ecclesborne Glen is neither landslipped nor closed anymore: the Council has repaired any damages, removed fallen trees and put in a well-engineered stepped path all the way up.

sunny to lunch then overcast with some sun

I understand the that the England Ukraine match will be shown on Hastings Pier.

https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/people/fan-park-on-hastings-pier-for-football-fans-to-watch-euro-2021-matches-3176067

Gavin

Sorry - I will not be with you tomorrow - my dodgy knee is playing up (an old war wound).

if one of you could do the track and trace honours for me that would be appreciated.

i have a reservation at the Royal Oak pub, Pett, for 4 at 1 pm. Give my name and the table is yours (I will let the pub know 'aforehand).

Enjoy the walk - and again, I'm sorry I will not be with you.

Thirteen on this walk, I am told. I mean I was there, it sounds about right, but I did not bother to count because I was not expecting to do a walk report. Also some people joined later and local friends turned up to walk bits of the route, and all in all it is above my pay grade (especially as I don’t have any pay) to work this all out. So 13 it is, and if you want to give a higher figure just write n= and the number in a comment and it will update the record.

The bad weather forecast was a blessing in one way. Southeastern put on a 12 carriage train out of St Pancras (good) but it would have been rammed if it had sunny (bad). As it was, it was not too busy, but much busier than it ought to have been on such a miserable day. Significant numbers of young people seemed to be going to Rye. What is it about that place that every twenty-something on the planet has to go there? But the connecting Marshlink train at Rye was at least a four carriage train, not the derisory two carriages we have had in the past.

Only SWC-ers and one startled indie walker got off at Winchelsea, which would have tripled its passenger stats for the week if we had bought tickets to Winchelsea, but since we had been told to get ones to Hastings it didn’t. The weather was grey and gloomy and paths quite muddy, but lush grasses and flowers reminded us it was summer. Climbing up to the Queen’s Head we encountered a big herd of cows and calves that even a former stockman in our group was wary of walking through. But as it turned out the cattle were more scared of us and ran off lowing.

It felt odd to pass the lovely Queen’s Head by, but we had a booking at the Royal Oak in Pett kindly made by our absent walk poster that we expanded from four to eight, and then made redundant by sitting outside anyway. They were friendly and attentive, but a bit slow with the food. About half an hour after we ordered someone else came to take our order, which was not encouraging. Then we had the old “we are just cooking it” and “We do have other customers” lines (aka “We forgot your order”). But the food when it came was very nice. Every dish looked interesting. So we award them a qualified tick.

There was some breaks in the cloud as we ate, prompting hope that the seaside bit would be sunny too. But in fact there was a tablecloth of mist on top of the Fairlight massif: you could not even see the sea from the cliff path. By now we had fragmented and so what follows is a partial and prejudiced account, but all the others I was with decided to do the high (non-dip) route into Hastings, and I hear one or two others did likewise.

Despite the gloom I felt I could not abandon this walk’s signature dips entirely. I skirted round the top of the first one (on a route known only to me and anyone who was done the Winchelsea to Hastings via Three Oaks walk) and as I was coming down into Fairlight Glen (dip two) there was definite light out to sea. I thought the weather might be clearing and went down to the beach. But any sunny interval had gone and the tide was at the awkward height where it conceals rocks but does not cover them with sufficient depth. So I went on without swimming.

Hardly had I emerged from Fairlight Glen when the sun broke through. It was then blue sky all the way into Hastings. (So murky with unexpected sunny bits ) I got there at 6.15 and went for a swim: nice silvery light and a pleasant water temperature. Afterwards, despite the sun, Hastings was showing its less salubrious side to me, so I fled to the station. I decided the tight connection on the Marshlink-High Speed route was too risky, given that the Charing Cross route was only 10 minutes slower, so I took the latter, at 7.30pm. It was the quietest train I have been on for several months. I had a carriage to myself nearly all the way. I have a feeling there is a football match on…..

Well Walker, it's all very well saying you followed a route known only to yourself . . . the two who didn't eat in the pub, both newcomers to this walk, took a wrong turning after Fairlight Glen. After much debate, following dotted lines on our phones and being confused by reaching a caravan park which was not the one mentioned in the directions, we found ourselves on the wrong side of the fencing protecting the Ecclesbourne Glen landslip. However on doubling back, a kind local lady gave us directions to Hastings which, it turned out, was very close. We made the 1750 train which was quiet until Orpington. No time for refreshment and no refreshment options at the station or on the train. Got home in time to miss the first goal!

Ecclesbourne Glen (the last steep climb before Hastings) is still blocked by a landslip. Locals still use the (officially closed) coast path. I've added directions for the inland diversion - contour around the glen, rather than (down then up) crossing it.

If you take the inland diversion, please could you walk-check the directions.

Thanks, Andrew

7 in sunny then overcast with a little rain late on and always windy weather.

Plenty of standing water in the marshes, kind of useful for getting rid of the copious mud acquired around field gates and along fenced paths. The wind was strong and in the faces yet we got to the Royal Oak within 5 minutes of the booked time. A very pleasant pub with well portioned tasty food and friendly staff. On down to Cliff End and on to the Fire Hills, then down and up through the three glens. We used the blocked route (a bit slippier than usual, but no serious obstacle) and got up the final ascent bang on 4 o'clock. So we saw Hastings as the lights started to come on, yet could still clearly see the South Downs at Eastbourne.

Just before that there were some marvellous cloudscapes, as the dark rain clouds broke to reveal mainly blue sky and some red-tinged fluffy clouds.

We were a few minutes late for the next fast connection via Ashford (16.25) and the next one was cancelled so took the 16.50 to Charing Cross.

I should add that the closed path out of Ecclesbourne Glen is clearly maintained by someone (but probably not the Council) as the growth on the sides was neatly cut back and - even after 3 (?) years of closure - all steps are still in place and in good nick, despite the landslips.

This looks like a great walk! Hoping to go on it. I was reading the comments on the walk page and it looks like there is a closed cliff path due to possible landslips. Do you know if the online version incorporates an alternate route?

Never mind above question! I didn't read the pdf carefully enough. The answer was sitting there on the first page.

Southeastern have some summer tickets on sale at £20 return. https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/destinations-and-offers/offers

...but this is technically not valid for breaking the journey at intermediate stations...

The trains to Ashford and on to Rye/Winchelsea were very full indeed, but most SWC-folk seemed to have found seats. 21 started in Winchelsea, 1 in Rye for the long walk, whom we bumped into when leaving the lunch pub. 22 therefore in total. The weather had returned to some kind of (shortlived) normality: low 20 degrees, the wind from the West, and quite some breeze at that. So choppy seas for the would-be-swimmers (not me).

A Book 1 Classic posted with the amended nice start through Winchelsea [nice, albeit largely tarmac]. All seemed to walk this variant (probably just following the 'leader'). The walk falls into three parts, really: a nice start, a drab middle (the bit from Cliff End/Pett to the boundary of Hastings Country Park: enclosed paths between garden fences, residential roads and no views), and a very nice finish up and down through the glens and along the top of the cliffs to Hastings.

Hastings itself was booming with people, temporary fairground and all.

Having just missed the 16.26 back to Ashford, the faster walkers settled into the 'interesting' Crowley's pub (named after Alisteir Crowley, the occultist, you guessed it) for a drink until the 17.26 train. warm with a strong breeze

Just to add....after some slow service at the lunch pub about 8 or 9 set-off for a leisurely afternoon with one other exploring a new route. The relaxed pack encountered many diversions along the way with some popping into a flower show at Pett and others stopping by the Coastguards for afternoon tea and drinks....I think most dropped down to Fairlight Glen at different times...but given the rough seas only 2 managed a "full body paddle" in the surf.....a pity, as the water temp was actually very pleasant....and would have made for a very nice late afternoon swim had it not been so rough....A number of the relaxed group then re-assembled in Hastings for drinks before catching the 20:50 armed with provisions to feed an army for a rather convivial trip back to London.....

For fast walkers there is also the cafe at the Jerwood Gallery: http://www.jerwoodgallery.org/whatson/current

Seaviews, open to 17.00.

I recommend the alternative route from Winchelsea station to Icklesham (section C, paragraph 27 in the directions). Very pretty. Fine views. No longer than the main route.

Ah, so happily there is an option for those of us who don't like to get out of bed at 8am on a Saturday. See all you late risers on the 10.37.

Andrew

2 off an earlier train, 12 off the posted one, making 14 doing Rye to Hastings, with 6 others starting later for the shorter walk from Winchelsea, i.e. 20 on an overcast with sunny breaks then drizzly periods kind of day, with a nice breeze from the front. Most lunched at the Queen's Head, Icklesham while a handful continued to the Royal Oak, Pett. Also about a handful seemed to have walked the alternative route to Icklesham. The footpath closure at Ecclesbourne Glen is still in place, but the alternative path so overgrown that one has to assume no one actually walks it. Until the land slips again...

The 5 faster walkers got to Hastings in good time for the 16.50 train, after a beer in the Old Town.

Nine of us swam at Fairlight Cove, despite grey skies and heaving seas. Another (non-SWC) group also turned up and swam, so the sea was suddenly quite busy.

Earlier a large chunk of the group had stopped at the Coastguards for tea. It was sunny at that point, so perhaps we should have pressed on and had the swim then. But never mind: always nice to have tea before the end of the walk and it gave us fuel for the big dips.

In Hastings a couple of walkers at least had fish and chips but six of us found a lovely Thai restaurant in a bookstore in the Old Town and had a delicious all fresco dinner there, joined by a seventh walker who just had drinks. 9.50 train home, getting back to London after 11.30pm. Tired now......

Sadly I can't join you in this occasion. Last time I led a small group of tired walkers from the Coastguard Tea Rooms (up for sale by the way) back to Hastings by avoiding the glens. Happy to advise but reluctant to suggest a less strenuous route.

Managed to go straight through the glens last time in spite of signs trying to frighten people off jfk

One of the best walks and best pubs in SE Britain....

Rich

Anybody doing this walk?

Brid - there should be a few takers

7 of us were on the scheduled train from St Pancras and Ashford, to start the walk in Rye, whilst 2 took alternative trains to start their walk from Winchelsea station, joining the rest of us at lunch, so that's 9 on a hot and sunny day but with a relieving breeze on cliff tops .

The morning leg from Rye to Icklesham on the flat was most pleasant, with late lambing in this part of the world adding to the peaceful, bucolic scenery. Up a hill to the Queen's Head pub, as busy as always, where 8 of us dined (7 satisfied customers: the chef's concept of a cheese sandwich left our eighth diner bemused - she returned it). A good choice of beer, though, and friendly staff, so having rehydrated we set off on the long, demanding afternoon leg. We took on board more liquid at the customer friendly Royal Oak Inn above Pett (Note: a good alternative lunch stop, particularly at weekends when the Queen's Head is heaving). We now said goodbye to one walker who took the bus from Pett to Hastings, to be in time for a London evening appointment, and when we reached Pett Level, another colleague opted to return to Rye on the Book 2 walk - we met him on the evening train home to Ashford. Fairlight and the glens proved to be hard work in the heat, as expected, and after much head scratching most opted to walk down and up Ecclesbourne Glen, still officially closed following land slips. It was passable, but on reflection we should have stayed on the upper glen and diverted around the closed glen. However, no harm done, but we were now behind schedule and on arriving in Hastings most of us headed straight for the railway station, taking much needed liquid there before catching the 18-36 train back to Ashford. A short wait for the Javelin train and I was soon in my local in Pimlico in time to watch the denouement of the Ajax -v- Manchester United game - accompanied by a beer or two. Verily, it had been a hot day - and I was still thirsty !

Being quite selfish I would welcome something in Kent or East Sussex!

If the London-based people can put up with a longish train journey I could post Book 1 Walk 25 (Winchelsea-Hastings), now that Winchelsea has Sunday trains again. Could someone with local knowledge confirm that it's possible to get around the landslip in Ecclesbourne Glen?

Regarding the landslips in Hastings Country Park the minor diversions are well signposted. For those who do not wish to negotiate the many steps involved in going up and down the glens back into Hastings it is possible to take a level route from the Coastguard Tea Rooms at Fairlight; this entails a walk through an overgrown quarry and then a footpath that leads to Barley Lane that leads to the East Hill lift adjacent to the Tamarisk Steps that lead to the Hastings Old Town. This level route is also very pretty and does give good views across the sea. I am happy to lead this deviation from the tearooms for those who do not fancy the strains of the glens. It probably reduces the overall grading of the walk down to 7/10 from 10/10!

Most recent feedback is that

- the coast path is still officially closed with a signed inland detour. If you've done the walk before, its the last 'up' before Hastings. i.e. after Fairlight Glen.

- but (at your own risk) you can still use it.

If the Hastings - Winchelsea train isn't running the 100 bus (The Wave) departs Hastings at 1106 and takes about 35 mins to get to Winchelsea (the village not the station).

Well the sea fret finally cleared at 5pm. Five walkers in the main group plus another couple who reduced the age profile considerably and another chap who said he was getting fit for Kilamanjaro.

5 on this walk with the weather w= cloudy-with-a-breeze. However at the start of the 4 glens stretch there was sea fret with a strong breeze which means its in your face as you do the ups and downs. After the pub in Icklesham the route to the coast can be a bit tricky and a compass is helpful. At one field the owner has built chalets and there is quite extensive camping which means the instructions to head for the corner of the field to reach a lane is really not the best route. Far easier to head for the chalets to reach the lane and turn left .

Also the Royal Oak Inn is definitely open and looks very popular.

On the 4 glens route I did not pay attention to the instructions and the gpx route file and ended up taking the "closed" path. The final climb is tricky in places and has become very overgrown - not really recommended and I should know better at my age! On the walk back through Hastings at 5pm the sun came out and it was a glorious end to the day. The HS1 which I think has really made a difference for me in getting to walks in this area whisked me back to East London in time to catch the womens Olympic road cycle race which seemed far more dangerous than the last stretch of the Hastings Country park path.

I will coming from Hastings

11 on this walk, grey and windy but mild . Most came on the high speed train, but a few on the slower option. We had a very pleasant walk out from Rye, including an interesting session of gender bias correction activities at the sign for Dumb Woman's Lane (there is a photo of this if anyone cares to post it up...). Though most seemed initially inclined to do the book 1 route from Winchelsea, they were prevailed to try the alternative route along the ridge to Icklesham and seemed to approve of it.

One is used to having lunch at the Queen's Head in Icklesham in high summer, sitting in its garden and enjoying the view of the valley below. But it was also a very cosy place to sit inside in winter. We did not emerge until well after 2pm and it seemed a bit implausible at this point that we would make it all the way to Pett Level (memories of summer swims!!) and back across the marsh to Winchelsea before dark, but we did just about manage it.

Most took the 4.49 bus here after a hasty tea in the pub, but four of us decided to walk, in the deep darkness, largely without use of torches, across the fields, which we managed to do thanks to cunning navigation by our resident Stargazer. I don't know if those who caught the bus managed to catch any of the Christmas festivities in Rye: we found the town looking very festive but empty of people, as the townsfolk had by now decamped to a carol service in the church. We looked in on this briefly but the charms of the Ypres Inn soon lured us away. Nice dinner there. 8.56pm train home.

High tide is at 4pm today, so both Pett Level and Fairlight Glen should be good for swimming (at least as far as water depth is concerned: use your own judgement re waves etc). If you arrive at Fairlight Glen after 6.30pm there could be problems with underwater rocks, however

thanks for posting this walk, can you kindly brief as to why this is such a hard walk ? plus are there any vertigo inducing clinging to cliff edge bits ?!

many thanks

It is for the most part an extremely gentle and easy walk, with gently undulating territory. But the last three or four miles are along a hilly bit of coast, with four great big descents and three great big climbs. Coming at the end of a longish walk, these are a test for the muscles, but the scenery is great, so what the hey.

There are no vertigo-inducing cliff edge bits.

thanks for info Walker

12 hot and sunny About 10 on the slow train. London Bridge was very busy, long ticket queues, and the ticket machines didn't believe in Network Cards. Guard was cool about buying a ticket on the train. The 10, having arrived at midday, didn't wait for the High Speed peeps, just as well as their very overcrowded trains were delayed due to number getting on and off at each stop. Lunch pub was great. Food looked good. But it is early on in the walk. Some minor issues in Fairlight - more roads have fallen into the sea, All met up at Firehills, most went to the Coastguards, and took the easier inland route ("Barley Lane") to avoid the hills in the afternoon heat. 2 made it down to Fairlight Glen, and were privileged to meet the volunteer path maintenance crew (the route down is in excellent repair, and has changed slightly from last year due to a landslip). The beach was unusually busy. The Fairlight 2 caught trains around 8pm.

The 4 hills at the end are hard work on a hot summer's day, especially given the books late start. An earlier start would be better, even if it meant a picnic lunch, or a much later Coastguard's Cafe lunch. Maybe the book 2 walk (starting in Hastings) just works better. A shame, as the lunch pub is exceptional.

A further 5 on the delayed "fast" connection. Both the Hi speed and the Marsh Line were overcrowded, the latter outrageously so. There were were minor spats as people tried to force their way on at intermediate stations. This caused delay. 3 of our number headed direct to Pett Level when we finally squeezed our way off. The other 2 did the proper walk. I'd just like to point out,by the way, that I was first into Hastings. I had to wait for the others to catch up at the ice cream van.

Once in Hastings, I fell in with a bad crowd. They took me drinking then persuaded me to catch the slowest imaginable train back to London me with my superfast, only bought by toffs, Hi Speed return)- it stopped EVERYwhere - and a few other places as well. :(

Historical duplicate/misleading attendance numbers cleanup project: 17