Heading off into the woods with an Ordnance Survey map and a sense of adventure has its place. But sometimes you just want a nice easy walk with cracking good views and a pub at the end (or possibly at the beginning and end). This out-and-back walk at Pevensey Bay is just that: a simple walk with views of the coast and out to sea, a few points of interest and a bit of history, and you can make it as long or short as you like.
Pevensey Bay through time
It may feel like a sleepy stretch of coastline, but Pevensey Bay has had some interesting visitors over time. And of course, this stretch of coast has changed a great deal over the centuries. As you stand on the shore, admiring the gentle curve of continuous shingle beach, it’s hard to believe that you’re standing in what was once the mouth of a busy bay and harbour.
At the time of the Romans, the bay (perhaps the clue is in the name after all) went inland as far as Wartling and Herstmonceux, and much of what is now Pevensey village was underwater. The land on which the castle now stands was a peninsula. If you walk from Pevensey, north across the Pevensey Levels, you’re walking across the bay which would have been accessible to ships at high tide, and you can clearly see the demarcation of where the water ended and the land began at the edge of the Levels (near Herstmonceux).
It was the Romans who first built the fort at Pevensey (Anderita). After they left, Britons moved in for a while, but they were then massacred by the Saxons and the fort fell into decline. Then William the Conqueror arrived and refortified what is now known as Pevensey Castle.
Pevensey itself was granted a Royal Charter in 1207 by King John and became part of the Hastings Cinque Port. But from the 13th century onwards, the harbour and port were in trouble, gradually silting up until the bay had practically disappeared by the 1500s.
But back to our walk
There is lots of walking in the area and there is parking at Pevensey and Pevensey Bay, as well as a train station. If you want to explore Pevensey Castle first, from there, there are footpaths you can take down to the beach. It’s just over 2 km and you’ll arrive near the Martello towers. Alternatively, park in Pevensey Bay (What3Words:gentics.honey.dives).
Pevensey Bay beach is made up of vegetated shingle, which is a rare habitat in Sussex (similar to that at Shoreham). Plants like sea kale, sea campion and yellow horned-poppy should grow in the shingle. It is described as a fragile habitat owing to visitor damage (amongst other factors), so take care as you walk.
I walked west because I wanted to see the Martello towers. There are four to spot between Pevensey Bay and Sovereign Harbour, and another one that you can see across the harbour entrance. As you walk, look out for the white horse. It’s roughly 3 km to Sovereign Harbour and if you fancy it, stop there and get something to eat. If needs be, you could even catch the bus back to Pevensey Bay.
Of course, you don’t have to walk that far, and you can turn around at any point. You could also walk east instead of west, and guess what? After about 2.5 km, you’ll come to a Martello tower and eventually Norman’s Bay. There is a pub there, The Star Inn, in case you need fodder.
Back in Pevensey Bay, The Castle Inn is a very short walk from the beach. It is also a 16th-century pub which was originally a coaching inn.
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