Pevensey Castle and Hankham Circular Walk
Start & Finish: Pevensey Castle Car Park, Pevensey, BN24 5LF
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 80m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): 1066 Country Walk - South Downs Link
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2
Pubs / Cafes on route: Royal Oak and Castle (Pevensey), Pevensey Castle Tea Room, Cafe at Sharnfold Farm Near Stone Cross
Map: OS Explorer OL25 Eastbourne & Beachy Head
Links: Pevensey, Pevensey Castle, 1066 Country Walk
Now that my brother-in-law has moved to Eastbourne this is likely to be the first of several walks we’ll be doing in the area. We chose Pevensey Castle as a good meeting point near to the town and a great start for a flat countryside walk.
From the Pevensey Castle Car park, the walk starts in the grounds of the castle. It’s an English Heritage property but you only have to pay to enter the ruins of the main part of the castle. At the south-west end of the castle grounds take a right onto High Street and cross over the B2191. Here you’ll pick up the 1066 Country Walk which you’ll follow for 3km in a westerly direction to Stone Cross.
The Stone Cross section of the 1066 Walk is on the busy Dittons Road. It’s only for 800m though and you’ll be able to take a right back onto a footpath. After crossing the A27 Pevensey Bypass (crossing very carefully!) you’ll reach Sharnfold Farm with a Farm Shop and Cafe for a mid-point rest.
From Sharnfold Farm cross over the Hailsham road and into a large field. The path across the field wasn’t visible when we were there but it’s in a roughly north east direction crossing under the electricity lines. At the north end of the field the route follows a stream bed and through a farm into Hankham. Take a left onto Hankham Street and follow the road for 2km to Rickney.
Just before Rickney Road crosses the river and joins Rickney Lane take a footpath on the right. This follows Pevensey Haven River all the way back to Pevensey. This was extremely muddy on the day that we went so be sure to take boots if it’s even remotely damp. You’ll cross over the busy A27 for a final time before reaching Castle Road and back to the car park at the start.
