Length:
20.1 km (12.5 mi) [Shortcut needed? Finish at Winchelsea after lunch (15.42 train)]
Ascent/Descent:
423/435m; Net Walking Time: 5 hours
Toughness:
6/10
Take
the 08.45 Hastings train from Charing X (08.48 W’loo East, 08.54 London Bridge), arrives Hastings 10.19.
Return trains from Rye
are on xx.47 to St. Pancras via
Ashford (67 mins journey times).
Buy a return to Rye
(Sussex).
[You will have to pay a High-Speed surcharge for the return journey, unless you
travel back via Hastings (also on xx.47, but a much longer journey)]
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.
Lunch: The New Inn
in Winchelsea (15.0 km/9.3
mi, food to 15.00).
Tea: Lots of choice in Rye, mostly just a little off route in the interesting
town centre, including The Fig, Catcher in Rye, The Devil in Rye, Corridor Café, Café Zara, The Grapevine,
The Apothecary, Coterie Tea Rooms, The George in Rye, Cozy Kitchen, The Whitehouse, Kino
Cinema Café, Ypres Castle Inn,
Hope Anchor, Mermaid Inn, The Cobbles Tearoom, Ye
Olde Bell Inn, The Standard Inn,
Cinque Ports Arms, CafĂ© des Fleurs…
For
summary, walk directions, map,
height profile, some photos and gpx/kml files click here.
T=2.29
1 comment:
And it was blowing a hooley!
The weather was broadly as forecast, only that the winds didn't feel as strong as supposed, and that the rain went on for longer than supposed, namely all the way to lunch. That didn't really matter though as we walked west to east, so had wind and rain from the right behind, pushing us on and up the four ascents. The closed footpath at Ecclesbourne Glen was a tad difficult to negotiate what with being slippery, and the track beside the Royal Military Canal was a bit roughed up by farm vehicles, else there were no problems with route or paths.
We got to The New Inn in Winchelsea in two groups a few minutes apart, either side of 13.30, and it was quite a pleasant stay: fireplaces, wooden floors, friendly staff and good meals. The slower walkers left there after 90 minutes and we opted to forgo the field crossings to Rye and instead followed the 1066 Country Walk down Dumb Woman's Lane. Got to Rye in time for the 16.47 train (most) or for a tourist tour through Rye in pre-Christmas splendour, and a final drink at the highly recommended Ypres Castle pub (the others). 17.47 train for those. All in, a refreshing day in great company, and probably a very good walk for the weather.
n=11 w=windy-with-rain-to-lunch
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