In time, perhaps, for a brisk Boxing Day walk, the latest 28
miles of the King Charles III England Coast Path are open.
Bookended by Eastbourne and Rye Harbour, the new section becomes
part of what will be the world's longest managed trail when all
2,700 miles are joined up.
Starting at Eastbourne Pier, this panoramic and varied coastline
of nature, country parks and beaches takes you east to Sovereign
Harbour and the shingle front at Pevensey Bay. Then, Normans Bay
and Cooden Beach before Bexhill Promenade and the wondrous grade
I-listed De La Warr Pavilion.
Next stop is Hastings and the irony of the newest walkway in
Sussex side-by-side with fossilised sandstone cliffs, suspended
in time and place for thousands, even billions, of years.
Continuing along the coast, Hastings Country Park and spectacular
views where weald meets sea, and an extravaganza of plant life
rich in lichens and ferns, on clay paths that'll need sensible
shoes.
Turning inland towards Fairlight and Winchelsea, you'll make Rye
Harbour, near the mouth of the River Rother. Throughout the
route, you'll see some of the many Martello Tower forts that have
dotted England's coastline since the Napoleonic Wars.
Road, rail and bus routes to the new trail are good. Railway
stations pepper its course, which includes signage and existing
trails, some following improvements. In places, the path follows
existing routes where cycling may be permitted.
Sarah Davies, Natural England's principal officer for Sussex and
Kent, said:
The King Charles III England Coast Path between Eastbourne and
Rye Harbour, which links parts of the route for the first time,
extends completed sections across the country to 1,360 miles,
more than half its proposed length.
The East Sussex shoreline provides a fantastic opportunity for
people to connect with nature, witnessing habitats of national
and international renown.
Visitors can also experience the Coastal Cultural Trail and
award-winning galleries like Towner in Eastbourne, Bexhill's De
La Warr Pavilion, and the Hastings Contemporary.
Natural England worked closely with East Sussex County and
Wealden and Rother District Councils, The Ramblers and Sussex
Wildlife Trust to develop and establish the new part of the
trail.
The route between Eastbourne and Rye Harbour means completed
sections of the coast path make up a near 240-mile course across
the South East, from Chichester to Brighton and Hove, beyond
Eastbourne and Rye Harbour, to the Medway Towns, and on to
Woolwich in south-east London.
Existing coastal paths are connected to create new access where
there was none before. The public can be confident there will be
clear, well-signed and managed access around the coast in either
direction.
The King Charles III England Coast Path aims to stay as close to
the sea as possible. In many places, that means walking right
where land meets sea, occasionally heading inland, though usually
only for short distances.
The National
Trails website has lots of maps and advice on
route-planning and details of places to visit, stay or eat.
Targeted adjustments have been made to make the trail more
accessible for people with reduced mobility, where reasonable.
Great news for visitors and walkers
Andy Le Gresley, team manager for rights of way and countryside
at East Sussex County Council, said:
It's great news for walkers and visitors that this latest section
of the King Charles III England Coast Path has opened.
This new stretch of National Trail, running along the scenic East
Sussex coast, links a wide variety of famed local attractions as
well as several unique natural habitats.
Walkers can enjoy Eastbourne and Hastings, as well as diverse
terrain, including quiet stretches of shingle beach, busy
promenades and the hilly-but-beautiful Hastings Country Park. Rye
Harbour Nature Reserve, at the eastern end of the trail, offers a
chance to observe coastal birds and other wildlife.
I would like to thank the local authority access officers and
Natural England staff for their hard work in creating this
fantastic new section of the trail.
The path is unique as a coastal margin is created, giving new
rights for people to enjoy areas like beaches and dunes between
the trail and the sea.
Exceptions to access apply in the coastal margin, like through
private property and gardens, buildings, or Ministry of Defence
land. In some locations, mudflats and saltmarsh will have
restricted access due to their unsuitability.
The eventual 2,700-mile route of the King Charles III England
Coast Path is being completed in sections. Some are either open
in full, being established or proposed, awaiting approval by
ministers.
A map showing a timetable for the work can be found on
the King Charles III England
Coast Path pages of gov.uk.
