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

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

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kate’s Cellar Walking Route

This is quite a straight forward walking route starting at Chingford Station to Connaught Water car park, up Fairmead Road in the heart of Epping Forest and then back down through Little Monk Wood following the Green Ride passed Loughton Camp and Kate’s Cellar, Strawberry Hill Ponds, Warren Hill and then back to the car park and station.

I am still breaking in my new Scarpa walking boots so this 7 mile Epping Forest walk should be quite comfortable, I’ve also just bought some new zinc oxide tape for my heels so I’m testing that out too. Tomorrow I’m going to test out my Scapra boots in anger on a 15 mile Essex walk in Chelmsford and next week I’m doing a series of 15 mile walks in West Sussex so I need to make sure the boots are going to be OK so I don’t have to carry my trusted old The North Face boots in my rucksack in amongst my spare walking clothes!

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route Map

Anyway, back to the walking route…. From Chingford train station I turned right to walk uphill along Rangers Road passed the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge all the way up to the car park at Connaught Watrer. At the car park I found the main information board and walked along the path at the right hand side of the water to its far right hand side corner where I then turned left at its most northern point turning right at the next corner on to a small path walking right and then left with the shallow hollow drainage ditch on my left hand side. I walked along this path until it became a track where I then went right (where I was shamelessley overtaken by some Nordic walkers!) and then left and then right until I reached the long straight track keeping right as the track curved right to a metal barrier and the start of Fairmead Road.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Fairmead Road

I walked left to follow the road all the way up to Cross Roads with the car park and tea hut on my right hand side. I then walked ahead and to the left towards High Beach turning right at the metal bar barrier before the 20 mile an hour zone sign on to the forest track.I then walked along this track as it undulated 3 times and when the track had leveled out I then went right along the track that curved right to the Epping New Road and car park opposite. I then walked across to the right hand side of the car park and entered Little Monk Wood.

I then walked along the wide gravel track turning right at the junction of paths keeping straight ahead at the next crossroad of paths walking all the way along until the path descended. It is here you can turn right and climb steeply up through the forest to Loughton Camp which is also an area known as Kate’s Cellar, she was a tiny beautiful Witch that lived in the year 1313.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates CellarWalking Route – Kate’s Cellar

I continued my walk, with Loughton brook on my left hand side, keeping straight ahead climbing upwards to cross over Earl’s Path road to the track beside Strawberry Hill Pond on my right hand side where I then continued to walk along this track to an open area. At the end of the open area I then turned right and then left to walk on to a wide path where I then reached a gravel path junction where I then turned left to the cottages beside Nursery Road where I then walked down the track by the left hand side of the cottages uphill back in to the forest up to the top of Warren Hill. I left the track by the large oak tree and seat continuing on the right to a grass path with a small heathland on my right hand side.

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Large Oak Tree And Seat

I continued walking along the path to a junction where I kept left to the A104 close to its junction with the A1069 Ranger’s Road crossing to the path opposite. I then kept left close by the road keeping right as it then went left to a small path in to the forest following it back to Connaught Water and left to the car park and back on to Rangers Road passed the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge pond, where I saw a Heron proudly perching on a stump, down to Chingford Station 3 hours and 7 miles later with the zinc oxide tape still in place and no blisters!

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Kates Cellar Walking Route – Heron by Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Pond