Photography by Steven Painter (except for the one of Steven Painter)

  • Woolly hats – check
  • Boots – check
  • Cute, furry companion who will run and get help like Lassie or the Littlest Hobo should one of us get stuck in the mud – check
  • Poo bags for furry companion – check

Myself, Get Hastings designer Laura and photographer Steve were all set to walk to The Cove in Fairlight for our meeting to kick off the next issue, and let me tell you, it’s not easy thinking about springtime when temperatures are low and days are dark and short but as soon as one issue hits the shelves, work starts on the next.

With Poppy the dog in tow, we met at The Crown where I psyched and warmed myself up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. We then walked up the steps on Tackleway that led us onto East Hill where we stood and marvelled at The Old Town for a while.

We walked over East Hill taking the route nearest the coast while Poppy ran rings around us. We discussed the house that should not be there as we ventured down into Ecclesbourne Glen. At this point I should point out that we did take the more difficult route and that other routes are available if you want a shorter and less hilly walk to The Cove.

The route we opted for has plenty of ups and downs and lots of mud but hey, there’s no such thing as bad conditions if you’re wearing the right gear.

Some of the views are heavenly (we were lucky that it was a crisp, sunny day) and the paths meander around thick forest ferns, streams and mini waterfalls. All of us were captivated by the natural beauty that is on our doorstep. I had done a part of this walk before, down to the Fairlight Glen beach during the midst of Summer and I felt like I was somewhere else, like exploring whilst being on holiday somewhere exotic. 

Steve and I finished with a chocolate orange tart and the best sticky toffee pudding I’ve ever had!

We all vowed to walk to the Cove again, maybe trying out some of the other routes but basically if you walk with the sea on your right, you can’t go wrong! There are many signposts offering different routes but the easiest one is sticking to Barley Lane for much of the way.

Tips: Wear the right clothing – you’re likely to get muddy feet but I found myself getting too warm due to the exercise. Take water to drink and of course, during sunnier times, take sunscreen too. It took us just over 2.5 hours but you can cut plenty of time off of that by taking an easier route. Book a table and give yourselves plenty of time to take in the scenery and to get up those hills at a leisurely pace. We took a cab back to Hastings but on longer days, a walk back would be nice. There’s also an hourly bus from Knowle Road that takes 33 minutes into Hastings station.

A huge thank you to all at The Cove in Fairlight. Make your booking HERE