East Sussex Footpaths

Understand

East Sussex has some of the most varied and attractive paths in South East England, with over 10,000 miles worth of paths, running over hills, fields, rivers and the counties coasts walkers will always have something to look at! many follow old routes, Pilgrim or later (such as the Vanguard Way), not all are signposted by books are available in larger bookshops that give routes and things to look out for. The majority of these routes are present on Ordnance survey maps (available at almost all book stores or on-line)

The Paths

• 1066 Country Walk. This 50 km (31 mile) walk that runs from Rye to Pevensey exploring sites linked to the Battle of Hastings.

Rye on a rainy afternoon

• Monarch’s Way. A 980 km (610 mile) walk that follows the escape of Charles II from the Battle of Worcester. Skims through the county before finishing in Shoreham, West Sussex. Website

• Royal Military Canal Path. This 45 km (28 mile) walk links Hythe in Kent with Rye. It runs alongside a canal built to protect England from Napoleonic invasion. Website

The Royal Military Canal

• Saxon Shore Way. A 262 km (163 mile) path that starts in Gravesend in Kent and finishes in Hastings. Traces the shoreline as it was in Roman and Saxon times. Website

An iconic image, The Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven, nr Seaford on the South Downs Way

• South Downs Way. This 161 km (100 mile) walk follows ancient paths and beautiful across the South Downs.

• Sussex Border Path. A 256 km (159 mile) route that explores the inland border of Sussex from Thorney Island in West Sussex to Rye. Website

• Sussex Ouse Valley Way. A 42 mile continuous path, starting near the source of the River Ouse at Lower Beeding in West Sussex to Seaford Bay in East Sussex. Guidebooks can be obtained by sending a cheque for £7.95 made payable to Per-Rambulations to: Mr Terry Owen, Per-Rambulations, Larkshill, Cranston Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3HL tel: [phone] [e-mail]

• Tunbridge Wells circular. The southern section of this 44 km (27 mile) circular walk passes through the villages of Frant and Eridge Green.

• Vanguard Way. This 109 km (68 mile) long walk runs between London and Newhaven Harbour from where ferries can be caught to Dieppe and Le Harve. The path runs meets the South Downs Way near Lewes .

• Wealdway. A 130 km (81 mile) walk from Gravesend to Eastbourne. Passes through Ashdown Forest the Lower Weald and past the Long Man of Wilmington. Website

Go next

If you get tired of walking, could always visit the towns of:

• Lewes
  
• Rye
  
• Uckfield
  
• Tunbridge Wells
  

and other locations documented in the East Sussex page