All aboard the Smugglers path, Hastings to Rye

From the cobbled heart of Rye, we board a train bound for Hastings, a town steeped in the echoes of 1066. Hastings is famed for the Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror defeated King Harold, reshaping England’s future. Today, it retains its fishing fleet—Europe’s largest beach-launched fleet—and offers a lively cultural scene.

Stepping onto the King Charles III England Coast Path, we trace the coastline south. The sea breeze carries stories of smugglers past, while the path is now part of a national initiative to provide an unbroken route along England’s coast. Inland we veer across Winchelsea Marsh, reclaimed land once under the sea, now a haven of grazing sheep and quiet waterways.

Returning to Rye, we are welcomed by a tapestry of medieval lanes and half-timbered houses. The town’s historic pubs—like The Mermaid Inn—still whisper of smugglers known as the Hawkhurst Gang. Sit in these centuries-old taprooms, where ghosts of the past might lean over your shoulder, and tales of clandestine activities drift through the air, blending history and legend in every pint.........

The Route

Is it dog friendly? 

All my walks are dog friendly, however please have your dog under control at all times. There will be livestock on route. Ensure you abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h). Remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.

New Members

Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the My First Event section under "About Us".

Image / photo credits:  All images taken by the event leader (May 2026) with permission for ODL use.