Bank Holiday Walk - Hastings to Rye

Length: 20.1 km (12.5 mi) [shorter walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 423/435m 

Net Walking Time: 5 hours

Toughness: 5 out of 10

Take the 09.15 Hastings train from Charing Cross (via Waterloo East and London Bridge 09.24), arrives Hastings 10.47. 

Return trains from Rye are on xx.48 to St. Pancras via Ashford (66 mins journey time). You can also travel to Charing X from Ashford to avoid the High Speed surcharge on HS2, but the journey will be almost an hour longer. 

Buy a Hastings Return, incl. the High Speed Surcharge .

This rewarding walk starts in the Cinque Ports town of Hastings with a fine clifftop coastal walk with steep climbs along the way. This section is the most strenuous part of the walk. From Pett Level, the terrain levels out, before leading up through the New Gate into Winchelsea for (late) lunch. Just east of the town, you reach The Look Out, offering panoramic views across the whole of Romney Marsh to Dungeness, and to the Kent Downs beyond. From there it is down and along to Ferry Bridge, following an easy flat route north east to Rye.

Short Walk: finish at Winchelsea Station for the return train on xx.43 to Ashford or xx.52 to Hastings, or even take Bus Line 100 from outside the New Inn in Winchelsea to Rye (leaves 14.39/16.39/18.39).

Lunch: The New Inn in Winchelsea (15.0 km/9.3 mi, food to 15.00). 

Tea: More than 20 decent options in Rye, mostly just a little off route in the interesting historic town centre.

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, some photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=2.29