Hastings Country Park and the Firehills Sunday Walk

Hastings Country Park and the adjacent Fire Hills are a revelation. It is a beautiful place; a mixture of awesome cliffs and wooded slopes, deep mysterious watery and rocky glens, open grazing, conservation land, an old quarry, spectacular stone outcrops and for much of the time, stupendous views of local and sometimes French coastline.

We start by walking along the top of the park, often getting glimpses of the scenery and sea below and beyond, then cutting south and down past a deep gully towards an inaccessible but attractive wildlife-friendly reservoir and then below that the total surprise which is Ecclesbourne Glen. 

Below that, when it looks like we are getting ever nearer to the edge of the land, we turn left and climb very steep steps  until we emerge onto the grass in the third supplementary photo below and while walking we cannot see this, the photo shows how close we are to the cliff. Dogs must be under close control here!

The path carries on for quite a way now in lovely open farmland and then dips again to the deep gully below Fairlight Place Farm. We will follow the ever steepening path here to make our way down to Fairlight Beach, quite far below. Due to various landslips, the path is uneven in places and it is here that walking poles are very beneficial, I found. It isn't easy to keep too far from people going in the other direction but one can succeed with care.

This is a nudist beach for some and we will have plenty of time to swim and explore and if the tide is down, perhaps enjoy some rock pooling or beachcombing. Doubtless there may be plenty of interesting sights. I will personally not be either naked or swimming!

Up from the beach and back to the coast path which, now, has steep ups and downs. Eventually, after a hot and exposed twisty path, we will be back near the coast guards, but below them. This is the start of the Firehills, so called apparently due to numerous gorse fires. Spectacular views over the village of Fairlight await and beyond to Camber Sands and Dungeness as well as inland to Rye and Romney Marsh. There are some well-placed benches here.

The car park is close by for the end of the walk.

I have adapted this route from a longer version which I hope to do when the current rules are eased. The full route includes Hastings station, the Old Town and some sort of refreshment at the end!

The route can be seen here: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/5739349/Hastings-Country-Park-and-Firehills-circular-not-East-Hill Please note that in places, the route does not appear to be on marked paths. This is because some of those have slipped and new, as yet unmapped, paths replace them.

Please note the Outdoor Lads guidance regarding Covid-19 and your participation in this walk:

COVID-19  – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
• All are required to practice social distancing – staying 2m (not 1m) apart at all times, including the lunch stop.
• Unfortunately, there won’t be any planned pub / café stops en route or at the end, and please don’t share sweets or snacks with others – we’re sorry!
• Please bring your own hand sanitising gel for your own use throughout the day. Use of face coverings is at your own choice, but please bring one with you just in case it's needed. 
• Each person should only attend one OutdoorLads event a week. (Leaders excepted on events if they are leading.)
• On walks, one person to hold open gates and allow everyone to walk through – so minimising surfaces that multiple people touch. 
• Be aware that opportunities for toilet stops may be minimal if facilities are closed.
• Please, please cancel at your earliest opportunity if you are unable to attend or are unwell, so that we can allow others to take up these valuable event spaces.
• Much as it's difficult - no handshakes or hugs!

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