3 men on a walk 2016: February 2016

Pevensey to Hastings along the coast

The sun was out, it was dry, but the north wind was cold so we set out for the seaside. As Ivan & Trevor had already walked from Beachy Head to Pevensey the choice was to pick up the coast at Pevensey and walk to Hastings - a distance of about 10 miles.

We parked up just after 10-15 and set out along the beach with Cooden head in the distance. What we hadn't realised is that there is no path along this section and we had to walk along the shingle beach through Norman's bay and almost into Cooden, a distance of around 4 miles. Walking on shingle is tiring and really pulls on the legs so we were mighty glad when we reached Cooden and a tarmac path at last.

We reached Bexhill just after noon and the sight of a cafe advertising "Fish & Chips" for lunch caused us to stop and take refreshment. Bellies full we had to walk off the calorie intake so we set off along Bexhill Promenade and up and over Galley Hill to reach St Leonards and then Hastings. Tired legs were happy to sit on the bus back to the car!

Looking across to Beach Head from Pevensey Bay

Norman's Bay - named after the Norman Conquest who built the Beach Huts!

Lunchtime Cafe on Bexhill Prom.

Looking back at Bexhill from Galley Hill

Hastings in the distance.

Now that's what you call a walk!

Stats for the day were ...

Finished Hike: 29 Feb 2016, 14:06:36

Route: Pevensey to Hastings

Weather:

temperature	8°C
humidity	62%
wind	18 mph ENE

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20160229-1035

Import Link: KML download link

Hike Time: 2:53:36

Stopped Time: 37:39

Distance: 10.13 miles

Average: 3.48 mile per hr

Fastest Pace: 12:51 min/mile

Ascent: 254

Descent: 207

Calories: 1069

London Bridge - Wapping - Millwall - Greenwich - Rotherhithe - London Bridge

It was cold with snow flurries early morning but the forecast was for a dry day even if the strong North wind would keep the chill factor close to zero all day. And with Ivan sunning himself in temperatures of 25 deg in Southern Australia (may his sun hat fall over his eyes to block the view) it was just Trevor and I who set out to give our legs the usual Monday stretch. Because of the recent rain we stayed well clear of the fields and chose to do this 11 mile loop walk around London's historic east end and docklands.

We left London Bridge station and walked up and across Tower Bridge, always a great sight, and into St Katherine Dock. From here we followed the North Thames path to Wapping. An alley down the side of the "Town of Ramsgate" pub leads to Wapping old stairs which was the traditional landing place for fish caught by Ramsgate fishermen to be landed. It was also the place where the Pirate Captain Kidd was hung and a noose hangs at the back of the pub to prove it. This area of London was also a rough area and the cellars of this pub were used to hold men press-ganged into serving on ships and convicts were also held here ahead of deportation to the colonies.

Half a mile further on we reached "The Prospect of Whitby" pub which claims to be the oldest pub in London. It had a reputation as a meeting place for smugglers and villains and was known locally as "Devils Tavern".

We then walked through the Canary Wharf development and onto the Isle of Dogs where we found the slipway that Isambard Kingdom Brunel used for building the "Great Eastern" ship . Eventually we reached the tunnel that links the Isle of Dogs to Greenwhich and we walked under the Thames and into "The Spanish Galleon" pub for lunch!

The next half of the walk was back along the south side of the Thames to London Bridge. We walked this section last year but you would never tire of the views as you approach the city. The path passes Brunel's Engine House which was built to pump out water from the tunnel under the Thames he had just built and opposite this is "The Mayflower Pub" where the founding fathers set sail in 1620 to set up a colony in America. A few hundred yards further on is "The Angel" pub. It is claimed that Christopher Jones, the Captain of the Mayflower, hired his crew for the sail to America in this pub and also that Captain Cook prepared for his voyage to Australia here. I have emailed Ivan and if he see's him he will direct him back.