Bexhill-on-Sea – My London+

A countryside walk, St Leonards and Bexhill by night

Thursday 27th May: Today turned out to be the day I walked just over thirteen miles (according to my Fitbit). It didn’t feel that way because of the stops. The weather was beautiful, and particularly hot inland. I set off towards Combe Valley Countryside Park, following various paths, and was helped by a lovely couple who could see I was dithering about which way to go! They kindly walked me to the right place and explained how to get there. We talked about where we were from (they moved here from London some years ago) and we chatted along the way. I’m always amazed how friendly other walkers are, always ready to help someone like me, who constantly gets lost!

The map of Combe Valley Countryside Park

There seem to be many entrances to the park. As usual, I had to cross the railway line and eventually came across an entrance into the park, after having crossed a busy main road and moved from Bexhill to St. Leonards and Hasting. It was shortly after this that I met the couple and their dog as I walked alongside reedbeds. I explained where I thought I was going! They walked with me and we ended up going down the side of a house and into a field. Without them I don’t think I would have spotted this as it looked like we were going into someone’s back garden! Yet there was path across, and the lady explained I had to go through two kissing gates to reach my destination. I thanked them and went on my way.

Again I walked alongside reedbeds and eventually came across a lake. It was breathtaking. All around me I could hear birds. Nothing else. Just nature going about its business. I’d have happily have stayed here all day. Reluctantly, I pulled myself away and went to see what else I could find. I had hoped to walk around the lake, but that seemed impossible. It was at this point that abandoned the map and decided to go with instinct!

There were some marker posts with names I recognised and chose one route, later to double back and follow another. I crossed a road of some industrial plant and found a field where model aircraft were being flown. I stopped a man with his dog (so many dog walkers) and asked if I could cross this and get out on the other side. He showed me a vague track and said there was gap on the other side. Wary of low-flying model aircraft, I set out. Indeed, there was a gap, and as I emerged on the other side, I recognised Combe Haven Holiday Village up on the hill to my left. Caravans littered the hillside. I knew where I was!

Combe Haven Holiday Village, St Leonards

Across the field heading for the seafront beyond the houses

Now I just had to cross the busy road and head for the seafront. However, it took a while to find the right place that led back to the promenade, as there are many industrial sites that run along that walkway. Finally, I was there, on the edges of St Leonards.

I sat for a while reading on the seafront before my tummy told me I should eat. Everywhere was so busy. The good weather had brought people out. Also St Leonards tends to be busier than Bexhill. I spotted Smiths Real Food Cafe. It sounded like my kind of place, so I crossed the road to investigate. I had the most delicious quiche and salad there. I sat inside away from the sun, yet still had the view across to the sea.

Afterwards I walked a little further, and in the distance I could see Hastings Pier. I did consider walking there, but decided against it. I still had the walk back.

Busy St Leonards with Hastings Pier in the background

The walk back was an amble. I took my time over it and came across some interesting things, like the fact that St Leonards once had a pier of its own. They also had a bathing pool (now grassed over). I made a last stop at a cafe on the seafront which was really busy when I passed it in the morning. Now there were just a few people, and I felt happier about stopping.

Marine Court, St Leonards. Built like a ship

I have done a little research to find out about St Leonards Pier and the first moving picture shown here. I came up with this. Makes for interesting reading.

I’d like to do another walk in the countryside park some day, but with a proper map! Next time I would print off stuff first (before my holiday!) as I have only touched a fraction of the pathways. It is a lovely place to walk.

The walk back to Bexhill along the seafront

That evening, as the weather was still so gorgeous, and it was last day in Bexhill, I decided to go out and try to catch the sunset. I was a little late, but I still got some nice shots. I saw a fox on the beach, which was really unexpected. Enjoy the last photos!

Something to bring home – Bexhill shells

Sea air and countryside

Tuesday 25th May: I set out on my first full day of my holiday in Bexhill-on-Sea to find a nature reserve I had spied on the map. Gillham woods Nature Reserve is owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust. My map reading skills aren’t the best, but I knew I had to be on the other side of the railway line and I’d end up walking through housing estates. Did I get lost? Yes, I did. But I found Collington Wood on route, which I decided to walk through. This piece of land is owned by The Woodland Trust (yet the website says it’s not…confusing!). It made a lovely cut through, and is obviously popular, especially with dog walkers.

Back on the trail, I finally found I was on the road that led to the nature reserve. What a long, windy road that was. It meandered through a rather nice housing estate, and suddenly there it was on the other side of the road. The reserve itself isn’t very large, but again it seemed popular with dog walkers. I kept to the main path and before long I was out the other side. Decision – which way now?

Look at that, some blue sky! Gillham Nature Reserve

I wanted to get back to the sea walk, which meant crossing the railway again. There appeared to be only one way, and that was to walk into Cooden Beach where I could walk under the railway bridge. That is what I did.

Cooden Beach is small. There is one hotel, and the rest is housing which spreads along the seafront. This means walking along the road, or walking on the beach with its large pebbles. There was just one part where I could access the beach and take some photos. Then it was off along the road as I made my way back to Bexhill. As soon as I could I got back to the beach, walking a short way on the pebbles when I reached Collington (I assumed). It was a leisurely walk back. This area is very flat, so it makes for easy walking.

Pages Gap (yes I went up and down it. It’s steeper than it looks!

I’d eaten such a big breakfast that morning, I had no need for lunch! Just to the edge of Bexhill is Egerton Park and Bexhill Museum. I fell in love with the park. It’s been beautifully laid out with the stream, art sculptures and a cafe. There are areas for tennis, a kid’s play area, basketball and plenty of seating. Ducks are plentiful, and the whole park has a great atmosphere. It is a lovely place to relax in.

The museum is accessed from the road and was once the shelter for the park. Some shelter! It is enormous. The museum houses an interesting collection of its past with ancient tools, dinosaur bones, stuffed birds, shells, maps and models. There is much about the families whose names still live on in the names of buildings around Bexhill, name De La Warr, but others too, all of whom appear to be connected.

Bexhill Museum. Former shelter to Egerton Park

The Brassy family are a very interesting lot, and where all the connections to Bexhill seem to lead from

Eddie Izzard has a connection to Bexhill. He is building a model railway set in the 1940’s when his father came back from the war to the town. It was a winter’s day that his father returned, with snow covering everything. So, the model railway is set in the snow and has moving parts – not just the trains but the windmill, an air raid scene and children in the park skating. The model is almost finished. There was a short presentation while I was there when all the moving parts were given their part to play, including the church bells. Eddie also donated another model railway to the museum in 2016, built by Eddie and his brother, Mark.

Eddie’s other contribution to the museum is props and mood boards to the film Six Minutes to Midnight, starring Eddie Izzard and Dame Judi Dench. On display is a school uniform and gym wear, photos, and lots of information, including a film where Eddie interviews someone who worked at the school. Basically, the Bexhill school was a Nazi girls’ school!

Here is a trailer:

Bexhill is known as the birth place of motoring and cars were driven up and down the promenade. You can read about it here on these boards that are dotted along the seafront.

After then museum I then strolled along the seafront and eventually back to my B&B. The weather had thankfully held. Lots of heavy cloud, but I never got rained on, and there were some bright spells.

There was a lot packed into this day. On Wednesday I was off to Eastbourne, and I’ll blog on that tomorrow.

A stormy start for my staycation

I arrived in Bexhill-on-Sea today for a four night stay. Oh, gosh, it’s good to be beside the seaside again. As soon as I knew lockdown was ending, I was on the phone to book a B&B.

May has been a rainy month. Certainly the wettest in some years. Not only that, but it has been very windy. One day I resorted to wearing a woolly scarf and hat! Today I got really cold waiting on the station platform, and then we went through one cloudburst after another. But I’m here now and I went for a walk this afternoon without getting rained on!

Today was about familiarising myself with Bexhill. On the map, it showed that Bexhill had a Tourist Information Office. Well, that’s gone! But it has a nice mix of shops and quite a lot of independent ones. The shelters on the seafront are colourful, and one plays music (just one section of it). When you enter, the music starts up. Music for the older generation – it played Ken Dodd! That made me smile.

It’s still windy, still rainy, but when the sun comes out, it is lovely. I’ve ordered a full vegetarian breakfast for the morning. Then a long walk is in order!