Rye – UK Walking Routes

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks – 1066 Country Walk Walking Route.

We were staying in Combe Haven near St Leonards in East Sussex and, as always, I had just about negotiated a walk whilst we were down there. Perhaps the most famous East Sussex walking route is the 1066 Country Walk which starts in Pevensey and ends in Rye. The total distance is 30 miles of long distance path so I decided to break it down in to two walking routes; Pevensey to Battle then Battle to Rye, making it roughly 15 miles each walk.

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks – Kent Walks – 1066 Country Walk – Walking Route

For the first stage of this 1066 Country Walk walking route I got a lift from Combe Haven to St Leonards Warrior Square railway station and then got the train to Pevensey Westham railway station. This was my first walking route without a paper OS map and I was at the mercy of ViewRanger following the route purely on my Samsung Galaxy Smartphone. Fortunately this stage of the walk is extremely easy to navigate with plenty of 1066 Country Walk signposts for me to follow so I was only really using ViewRanger to see what was coming up next on the walking route.

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks – Kent Walks – 1066 Country Walk – Walking Route – ViewRanger on my Samsung Galaxy Smartphone

With this walking route being so easy my mind quickly wandered in to the psychology of walking and what I do to keep me moving, plan and pace out a walk whilst I am doing it. The weather was miserable, really low dense cloud with a really humid feel. Within a short while I was sweating and only had a long sleeve t-shirt on and my The North Face Apex Elixir Jacket on despite the recent spate of cold and rainy weather.

I found the first two hours a real struggle whereas normally the first hour is settling in to the walking route and the second hour is finding my pace. After two hours I normally hit a bit of a wall, especially if the walking route turns out to be a bit dull, and then after that I stop noticing the time until I get to 5 hours when I start to tire and then by six hours I am seriously wilting. However, if it is a really good walk I hardly ever notice the time and just thrive in enjoying the landscape, fresh air and views.

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks – Kent Walks – 1066 Country Walk – Walking Route – Rape Fields

For the second stage of this walking route I got a lift to Battle, restarting the walk where I left off, walking to Rye where I got the train back to St Leonards Warrior Square and a lift back to Combe Haven. The weather was mainly drizzle before really heavy rain set in midway during the walk and after getting my walking trousers trashed with mud on the first stage I decided on gaiters for this stage of the 1066 Country Walk.

With the weather being so drab I was only cheered by the lambs bounding around the fields and on the riverbanks with the omnipresent bluebells. With the weather being so wet I was also keen to find out just how waterproof my new Scarpa walking boots were going to be without the reassurance of being Gore-tex lined. Over each day I splashed around through sodden hills, flooded fields, thick saturated grass and drenched rape fields and they came out with flying colours maintaining their water resistance and being dry inside.

The 1066 Country Walk is too long to do a detailed step by step walking route so I have expanded the ViewRanger maps and have sketched out the general directions.

Stage One – Pevensey To Battle – 17 Miles – 5 Hours 45 Minutes

From Pevensey and Westham railway station walk right and then walk right up the High Street B2191 walking left before the church to a footpath crossing the A27 walking left at the river to Rickney crossing over Rickney Lane following the river walking left to a lane and then crossing Maskelhye Road walking right down Wartling Road. Walk left along the edge of Wartling Wood walking right on to the road walking left at the junction of Boreham Lane walking right on the A271 Boreham Street walking left along Boreham Hill to the footpath signpost crossing the stream walking left to the lane at Pain’s Wood walking right along Henley’s Hill. Walk left then right to Ponts Green crossing over and walking right to Peens Wood to the A271 between Cowland Wood crossing down the lane to The Green B2204 walking left to Castlefield Road walking right through Hoathybank Wood to Upper Lake Road A2100 and Battle Abbey and Battlefields car park and the midway signpost for the 1066 Country Walk at Battle.

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks 1066 Country Walk Walking Route Map 1

Stage Two – Battle To Rye – 16 Miles – 5 Hours 50 Minutes

From Battle village outside Battle Abbey and Battlefields on the 1066 Country Walk turn right walking down Lower lake A2100 walking right on to Marley Lane walking right through Great Wood crossing over Kent Street walking left and then right crossing Wheel Lane through Horseman’s Wood. At Cottage Lane cross the main road A28 walking left to Fourteen Acre Lane walking left to North Lane and then left and right to Broad Street walking left and then right through Icklesham crossing the A259 walking left on Workhouse Lane to Wickham Rock Lane to Winchelsea. Walk left to Monk’s Walk on to Hiham Green walking left to Robert’s Hill crossing over the footbridge and then walking right, right again and then left to Station Road and Winchelsea Lane walking right at Dumb Woman’s Lane keeping straight ahead to Udimore Road and the Windmill at Rye.

All of the photographs from this 1066 Country Walk walking route are on the Walks And Walking Google+ page and you can see them here 1066 Country Walk Photographs

Walks And Walking – East Sussex Walks 1066 Country Walk Walking Route Map 2

Guest Post by Michael Smith, Editor of A Walk in the Garden seasonal Kent countryside magazine.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Elham Valley Way Walking Route

The Elham Valley way weaves through the heart of the Kent Downs. Starting from City of Canterbury and finishing 22 miles to the south in the picturesque coastal town of Hythe, following the course of the Elham Valley Railway.

In 1881, the Elham Valley Light Railway Company were granted permission to build a line from Folkestone to Canterbury, serving the villages of Lyminge, Elham, Barham, Bishopsbourne, and Bridge. In 1887 the Shornecliffe to Barham section was opened and was soon followed by the completion of the railway to Canterbury in 1889. The prominence of the Elham Valley line came when it was used as a diversionary route in 1915 after a landslip at Folkestone Warren blocked the mainline to and from Dover. Used in both World Wars for storage and a huge railway mounted gun that could fire shells over 12 miles, which was kept hidden in Bourne Park Tunnel. After being returned to public service in 1946, the railway could not compete commercially with the road transport and was closed in 1947. Three stations still exist today, Lyminge public library and two private residents Bishopsbourne and Bridge. A railway museum at Peene contains many artefacts of the railway’s past as well as a working model of the Elham Valley Railway.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Elham Valley Way Walking Route - EVW Heading to Elham

Starting by the Cathedral in Canterbury, the city streets soon give way to quieter suburban roads and then open countryside tracks that lead to small villages of Patrixbourne and Bridge. A short distance along the route from Bridge is the grand 2000 acre estate of Bourne Park, a famous guest being Mozart in 1765. Just past Bourne Park is the village of Bishopsbourne. This village was home of Richard Hooker, who in the 16th century played a signiciant role in the development of the Anglican Church. Bishopsbourne Paddock was a cricket ground for Bourne Park and staged many first class matches from 1766 to 1790.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Elham Valley Way Walking Route - EVW Patrixbourne

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Elham Valley Way Walking Route - EVW Covert Wood

Past the outskirts of Barham, the ancient woodland, Covert Wood provides an inspiring view across the valley before descending in to the tree lined country lane. Leaving the wood and heading downhill, the Elham Valley Way crosses over the busy country road and rises sharply again up the valley side. There are many opportunities for distant and panoramic views from the regular vantage points to Elham. Proudly holding the title of Kent Village of 2011, this idyllic village dates back as a settlement to the Neolithic age, with finds dating back over ten thousand years.

Heading south to through Lyminge and the Etchinghill Golf Course, the Elham Valley Way heads up Tolsford Hill which is one of the highest points in Kent, giving stunning views from Ashford to Rye across the Romney Marsh and out to the world’s busiest shipping lane, the English Channel. Back downhill, the descent is consistent to Peene along the actual route the trains would have taken. Across the M20 motorway, the Elham Valley Way leads to Dibgate Camp, an Army training facility, before crossing Sene Valley Golf Course. The final descent in to Hythe offers a final vista over the Romney Marsh before reaching Hythe.

For more information please visit:

Website: A Walk in the Garden

Twitter: @AWalkInTheGdn

Facebook: A Walk In The Garden