Walks from Battle

Highly recommended: Beautiful landscapes and multiple historic sights.

Pevensey Castle (15m in)

Herstmonceux Castle (2h30 in)

Battle Abbey and Battlefield (7h30 in)

Pevensey Levels

Battle (7h15 in)

Time: 10h (8h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

2 lunch spots: Nuthatch Kitchen and Terrace (2h30 in), or the Ash Tree Inn (4h45 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the White Hart Pub, or Battle Abbey and Battlefield

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Rolling Wealden countryside, fields, woods and the historic town of Battle.

Battle Abbey and Battlefield

Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Gentle farmland, woodlands, golf course, parkland, riverside paths alongside streams and the River Brede and historic town centre.

Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

An enjoyable but not especially scenic route, easy to follow, with a variety of gradients through landscape, villages and views. A number of difficult stiles, either damaged or high and several crossings of the A21. Mud is bearable but the route would be difficult after rainfall; some sections are hard to push through brambles and nettles. Wildlife seen along the route includes roe deer, buzzards, orchids and clouds of butterflies.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: There are several crossings of the A21, though on straight sections that are fairly safe to cross. A number of stiles are damaged or high, and brambles and nettles make a few sections hard to push through, so long sleeves and trousers are advisable. Can be difficult after rainfall. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

A walk in three contrasting sections, largely along the waymarked 1066 Country Trail: a paved seaside promenade, then green spaces and the Combe Haven wetlands and finally rural High Weald with small steep valleys and wooded farmland. Expect very slippery mud in Combe Haven and heavy going elsewhere; kissing gates en route. Largely follows the 1066 Country Trail; passes the Combe Haven SSSI and the RSPB reserve at Fore Wood. Crowhurst, Crowhurst station and West St Leonards station allow the route to be split.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Battle Abbey: An abbey founded by William the Conqueror on the site of the 1066 battlefield.

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

1 lunch spot: the Plough

End-of-walk reward: Numerous pubs, cafes and shops in Battle, though some are aimed at Abbey visitors so check times.

Warnings: Combe Haven has very slippery mud (a pole helps). Road walking up Chapel Hill in Crowhurst is on bends with poor visibility and limited room to stand aside, so use hi-vis. Crossing the fairly busy Powdermill Lane needs care, as visibility is poor heading north.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Nice view approaching the church; wonderful view across Powdermill Stream. Starts urban, then a varied mix of countryside trail, footpath and forest walking, following much of the Bexhill Link of the 1066 Country Walk and a disused railway line; passes through two nature reserves and ends along the edge of Battle's famous battlefield. Several stiles and kissing gates and footbridges; some sections get extremely boggy in winter. Follows the Bexhill Link of the 1066 Country Walk for about 90% of the way. Passes through the Combe Valley Country Park and the RSPB Fore Wood reserve (which now has an all-weather path). Crowhurst is a good half-way stop.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Battle Abbey: An abbey founded by William the Conqueror on the site of the 1066 battlefield.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

1 lunch spot: the Plough

Warnings: Certain sections can get extremely boggy in winter, requiring heavy-duty boots or wellies; several stiles and gates; signs warn of livestock. The short road-walking section between the pub and church in Crowhurst can be avoided by sticking to the waymarked field path.

Walk details: Slow Ways.