The 2nd Canterbury Pilgrimage 1979

Day 4: St Leonards to Rye

Today we are promised a beautiful coastal walk, in contrast to the previous day's obscured coast! We start by walking the seafront at Hastings, passing the old town and its fishing huts and boats.

Then we climb (what else?) up East Hill and over the golf course - the stiff climb is worth it for the views from the cliff top.

Six miles of walking (not to mention ups and downs) past Ecclesbourne Glen and Fairlight Glen (remembered from 1975) brings us to the Fairlight Cove Hotel and a welcome lunch.

Not mentioned in the route notes, this is the tiny church at Fairlight - did we stop or did we pass by?

Mid-afternoon we entered the parishes of Pett and Guestling, and this sign of welcome.

before we prayed in their little church of St Nicholas at Pett Level

We then walked out following the coast along Winchelsea Beach (the shingle covering the remains of the town, flooded in 1288) and passed Camber Castle (Built as a sea defence by Henry VIII, but left high and dry by the retreating sea) and across the flat coastal land (former seabed) to Rye (itself a port, now some way inland).

Our accommodation was the Community Centre in Rye.

As usual, the washing up was outside - you do wonder what the neighbours must think.