3 men on a walk 2016: Across the Pevensey Levels

Hailsham to Pevensey loop

Another great summer day but already we are seeing the days taking longer to warm up as Autumn approaches at an amazing pace. This week we thought we deserved a "Flat" walk after last weeks switch-back along the North Downs so we went down to the Pevensey Levels, an area of very low lying land that has to be cris-crossed with drainage ditched to ensure it doesn't revert back to swamp-land.

We parked up at the east edge of Hailsham, once a small market town and now a massive housing estate and quickly walked down onto the levels. We were heading for Pevensey as it was the only place on the route that had a pub for lunch! In fact it had 4 pubs but we weren't greedy and the first one we came across looked good enough to us so that's where we stopped.

The problem with walking the levels is that there are so many drainage canals all different sizes and each feeding into one another that its essential that you keep to the trails as these cross the canals on bridges. However, the maps can be out of date and some bridges collapse and others get erected and on a couple of occasions we found ourselves "trapped" and having to locate the new paths that led us through this maze. Still it was flat and there was plenty of wildlife about to keep us amused although the very strong headwind was noticeable..

We eventually arrived at Pevensey emerging from the levels directly at the Castle and guess what, all those Norman Soldiers would have been mighty thirsty and so they built a pub right opposite the main gate! So if it was good enough for those conquering French Normans back in 1066 then it was good enough for us - so that's where we stopped for lunch.

Heading back to Hailsham, we again picked our way across the drainage canals and zig-zaged our way across the fields towards the car. The weather was improving all the time and with the wind at our backs now it was a very pleasant walk back.