Coastwalk

Cooden Beach → Hastings

Distance: 7.9 miles
Ascent: unknown
Duration: unknown

On the trail again
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The paths have been open since mid-summer, but somehow today is the first day I've walked since February. It's an easy walk to get going again: the sea-front through Bexhill, St Leonards-on-Sea and Hastings.

No matter how familiar I think I am with south-coast towns, there's always something to surprise me. Today's discovery was a strip of downland between Bexhill and St Leonards. Looking back at the map now, Galley Hill is quite clearly open space but I'd not spotted it when planning the walk. I was expecting one continuous promenade, not rolling hills and beautifully textured cliffs.

As I reached the pier in Hastings I was eager to walk further, but there's not another natural break for miles and besides, the railway (my transport back to the car) heads inland east of the town. A short walk then, but at least I'm on the trail again.