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Walk of the month:Winchelsea Circular |
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This walk starts just off the A259, on the outskirts of Winchelsea. You can park on Saxon Shore Way, the road opposite JC Leisure Motorcaravans, signposted ‘Winchelsea Beach’. The footpaths are marked on the 1:25,000 OS Explorer Map Sheet 124 which we always recommend taking with you! |
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| 1. The footpath starts soon after the turning off the A259, on the right with your back to the main road. It’s signed and you’ll see the canal, which passes under the road. The path goes alongside the left of the canal, on the flat, for some distance. Go over a stile and continue. At a bridge and waymarker, continue on the same side. 2. At the next bridge, follow the sign to cross the canal. Over the stile first, turn right over the bridge, and follow the path ahead towards the way marker. Ignore the right turning and continue ahead over the smaller, second bridge. Continue with canal on the right, ahead towards a gate in the corner of field. Pass through the gate onto rough track. You’re now on a nature reserve of international importance for bird-ringing, boasting recordings of some 250 species of bird. You’ll pass a hide for bird watching on the left. Follow the track which eventually turns into a tarmac road. 3. This is a hidden turning – watch out for it when the road curves to the left. There’s a hidden signpost on the left of the track in long grass, telling you the continuing road ahead is private land. At this point, you want to turn right off the road when you see a farm in the distance and a galvanised gate on the right. The path continues along the right edge of a field and continues alongside a small canal. You can pass around the side of the gate. Now you’re in a wide valley with a windmill up on the right. Keep going alongside the canal, past Panel Farm on the left. Continue through galvanised gate, still alongside the canal. Now head for the left corner of the field and cross a cow grate to take you onto a country lane. 4. Turn right onto the road. Cross over the canal you were walking alongside, and between the trees. Ignore the footpath marker on the left. The lane continues uphill. Continue up, pass a house on the right called White Swans and just after, get a view of the sea over Pett Level. Pass Elms Farm on left and then the turning for Icklesham, and follow signpost for Winchelsea. The road starts to slope down Hog Hill. This is now part of the 1066 Country Walk. Soon after Ashes Farm on the right, the road bends sharply left. Stop here. |
5. On the bend is a 1066 signpost over a stile ahead (right fork with road). Climb over and into field (during early autumn this was a beautiful wildflower meadow). Cross the stile at other side of field. Continue ahead through next gateway – ignore ‘permissive path’ to right. Path follows the left field edge, left then right, the sea always visible to your right. At junction of field corner, another field ahead and road, turn left to reach the lane then right onto the road for a few steps. Cross over and take the footpath on the left, over a stile and waymarker. Follow 1066 sign to right corner a stile is visible. At the stile is a sign post to Winchelsea: 1 mile. Head towards a stile just right of the houses ahead (Wickham Manor and cottages). |
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