Between Bexhill and Hastings, Coombe Valley Countryside Park is a strikingly wild stretch of countryside, with a landscape that feels a long way from the nearby towns.
The park covers around 2.3 square miles (about 6 sq km), reaching from Sidley in the west towards Hollington in the east and north towards Crowhurst. It also includes a two-mile stretch of coastline at Bulverhythe, between Galley Hill and St Leonards.
The land includes two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the central marshes are particularly atmospheric but in winter, they can flood. The area has an abundance of wildlife, including different types of insects and birds, reeds, wildflowers and bulrushes.
There are footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes to explore, including the 1066 route which passes north to south through the park and the Coombe Valley Greenway. The Greenway is a 4.4 km route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, running from Sidley towards Crowhurst Road, near Upper Wilting Farm. Much of it follows a corridor just east and south of Coombe Valley Way, with plans for it eventually to connect to the Hastings Greenway.
The Glovers End circular walk
For a shorter introduction to the park, start from the car park at Glover’s Lane, near Glover’s End. Follow the Greenway north towards Acton’s Farm, then take the footpath alongside the waterway. When it meets the 1066 Country Walk waymark close to the A2690 (where you will see a bridge and a sign to Crowhurst), turn right through the marshes to two little bridges, following the 1066 Country Walk path across and around two large fields.
The path reaches the old dismantled railway, which once ran between Bexhill and Crowhurst. Turn right here to follow it back towards the start. There is also a left-hand stretch leading to a viewpoint, which is worth a short detour. The loop is around 2.5 miles (4 km). The open, level landscape makes it an appealing way to experience the valley, although paths may be muddy or waterlogged after wet weather.
A longer Greenway and Filsham Reedbed loop
For a longer day out, instead of turning right when you meet the 1066 Country Walk, keep going along the Greenway to Upper Wilting Farm. From here, you can make a wider loop towards Filsham Reedbed, a Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve, before picking up a footpath westwards to return to Glover’s Lane.
This route is around 6 miles (9.7 km). It takes in more of the park’s network of paths and the quiet, reed-fringed landscape around the reserve.
Getting there and facilities
The Discovery Centre is at St Leonards Playing Fields in Freshfields, off Bexhill Road. There is a car park and a dog-friendly café, and the centre organises activities in the park. Other parking options include Glover’s End and Bulverhythe Recreation Ground. Bexhill, West St Leonards and Crowhurst stations are nearby, and the number 98 bus serves the area. National Cycle Network route 2 runs through the Bulverhythe beach section.
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