Eastbourne to Bexhill coastal walk

The Walk:Starting at Eastbourne Pier, we follow the coast all the way around Pevensey Bay, walking on the shingle beach, ending at the Art Deco masterpiece, the De La Warr Pavilion, overlooking Bexhill sea front.

Staircase, De La Warr Pavilion

Route

NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.

Having visited the Victorian splendour of Eastbourne Pier, head along the promenade all the way to and around Sovereign Harbour to reach the long shingle beach of Pevensey Bay. Walk all the way to Cooden Beach, where a concrete promenade provides respite if you need it. Continue to Bexhill, either along the beach or promenade.

Why do it?

Eastbourne Pier, Grade II* listed. It is owned by one Sheikh Abid Gulzar, and is nicknamed Sheikh's Pier, after the Bard.

Seaside ambience along Eastbourne promenade.

Sovereign Harbour is an impressive marina for luxury yachts, impressive to watch them going in and out of the locks. Trendy apartments line the harbour front, although the development has a somewhat lifeless air (does anyone actually live here?).

Sweeping views around Pevensey Bay reaching as far as East Hill behind Hastings (traversed on another walk), also looking back to the whale-back South Downs Ridge behind Eastbourne, culminating in Beachy Head.

Pevensey Bay was the scene of William the Conqueror's landing on the English Coast on 28th September, 1066, although the coastline was radically different then: there was probably an inlet leading to the Saxon Shore fort of Pevensey Castle, now firmly on dry land.

From copy of Bayeux tapestry held by Reading Museum

Looking back to South Downs and Beachy Head

The houses lining the beach around Pevensey range from tumble down shacks to Grand Designs statements.

There are several surviving Martello Towers.

Logistics:

Start: Eastbourne Pier. Either Park nearby (eg NCP Trinity Place, c£8 for a whole day), or walk from station (about half a mile).

Finish: De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea. Get the 99 bus back to the start from the bus stop just outside, or walk short distance to Bexhill Station, for the train back to Eastbourne or further afield.

You could shorten the walk and catch a train from stations along the route, most easily Normans Bay or Cooden Beach.

Distance:

12 miles

Challenges:

Pevensey Bay Beach is all shingle, and quite heavy going. Around Normans Bay, a roadway has been compacted presumably by vehicles banking up the shingle for coastal protection. You could follow roads behind the beach, but you would miss the proximity to the sea and great views over the Bay.

It is possible a firmer sandy beach is revealed at low tide, which would be easier to walk on, although around Eastbourne and Bexhill, long high breakwaters extend into the sea and would hinder progress.

Refreshments:

Several cafes along the promenade at Eastbourne (for example The Glass House), around Pevensey (Aqua Bar), the Relais at Cooden Beach (nice terrace on a sunny day). There is a cafe in the De La Warr Pavilion with great views from the balcony overlooking the sea front.