Hastings to Bognor Regis

Walk 35.

Walkers, Richard Porter, Bernie Porter, Lee Wiggins, Stuart Page, Brian Milner, Fred Capel, Tim Hicks, Paul Brearley & Kevin Devereux.

February 2019. 81 miles


25th February Reculver to Sandwich - filling a small section of missing coastline from a previous walk.

Sunday evening Stuart arrives by train in Herne Bay and there are no taxis, has to walk 3 miles to the hotel. On route he stops for pie and chips, he wishes that he had waited for a taxi. Monday morning starting from Reculver to Sandwich. T-shirts in February. Very warm weather. Mileage 20.5. Walked the Viking coastal trail passed Roma For 250AD. Dog owner playing invisible ball game with his dog. Nice beach walk into Margate – the earliest GV sea resort from 1736. Prince Frederick the original Duke of York lived in Margate. Early lunch eaten outside at the Margate café shed. Kev Dev new excuse to avoid walking – the price of the parking for the mini bus. Anthony Gormley sculpture in the water just as we left Margate. Walked past the mansions in private estate in North Foreland. Ice cream stop in Broadstairs. Then took the high road into Rams gate. Second ice cream with a flake for Stuart. Walked across the country park into Sandwich. Longest first night drive to Hastings. Dinner at Whites seafood and steak restaurant.

26th February Hastings Pier to Beachy Head

22.5 miles. Beautiful sunny day. Story about the recent closure of the Hastings pier from a local resident. In the past, artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Rolling Stones and Sex Pistols have all played gigs there. Morning stop at Hughes beach café in Bexhill on Sea. Just baked Mum’s hot bread pudding and ginger cake were enjoyed. The love beach hut wins best decorated award. Stuart goes fishing without knowing the long beach walk to Peversey Bay via Normans Bay. The beach was being dug up at Normans Bay. First wasp of the year seen over lunch. Lunch at Peversey Bay, enough said. Stuart missed his Italian ice cream but managed to eat an afternoon apple pie. Lee consumed an afternoon sausage roll (not vegan). Kev Dev waits for us in vain as we were a mile further ahead. The day finishes with the Mount Everest trek to the summit of Beachy Head.

27th February - Beachy Head to Rottingdean

Started at Beach Head pub, Hamish, Tim and Brian join the walk after Brtain’s 2.5 hour drive from Burley. Richard, Bernie, Lee and Stuart in good form after epic Beach Head climb. Kev eviction from National Trust car park. Lunch at the Church Lane tea room, best pot of tea on the trip, toilet in the kitchen? Sunny, shorts on. Seven sister walk – amazing views of the cliffs. Police hunt for a missing man. Brian on all 4’s river crossing. Bambi Bernie in river corssing then manages 3 miles with boots on the wrong feet. Hamish collects the rubbish. Kev old spiace and clean teeth for speed trip to train station on fumes to drop Kev for the Chesil vs Spurs (2:0). Lee, Mac D special and takes over the driving. Parking the 18 seater ouside the Grand. Will we get a ticket? Cliff top drops. Stuart told off by cyclist. Lee told off by sunbathing women for this van positioning, it’s ok for you, you have a tan. Excellent meal in the Grand.

28th February Rottingdean to Goring by the Sea

8.5 miles. Excellent breakfast for all. Started walking ta 8:45am. Flat, wet and windy walking into the wind. Walked by Brighton Marina. Back to the grand for morning tea to regroup, with Paul B making a call on his huge iPad. Richard and Jo on the beach. Walked to Hove Shoreham by sea dock, walk very industrial. Stuart finally meets his insurance broker. Excellent lunch at Artisan in Shoreham. Ben Holman ‘Homes in the sun C4’. Traffic jam in Shoreham so walked over the footbridge to Lancing. Afternoon tea in Bungaroosh. Worthing (back for breakfast tomorrow). Advance party did the final 3 miles push to Goring by the Sea for a sunny finish.


1st March Goring by the Sea to Bognor Regis

Back to Bungaroosh for a great breakfast. Overcast today but still a reasonable temperature about 14 degrees. Good for the 1st March. East Bay Café for a morning ea and cake. Finished in Bognor Regis. ‘Macari’s’. Possibly the worst lunchtime stop on the spoilt rambler’s trip ever