East Sussex is a large county, whose seaside borders the English channel, just 20 miles or so over the coast to France. Inland the area is filled with the beautiful South Downs National Park, alongside many Weald villages, with ancient churches.
One of the sunniest areas of England, this area was often vulnerable to invasion during the Hundred Years War. Bodiam Castle was built here in the 14th century, to defend.
Home to the vibrant gay-friendly city of Brighton (which elected England’s first Green MP who recently wrote a book on compassionate patriotism. Right next door is Lewes, one of our most ancient towns. With its own castle (and currency).
The Chalky South Downs National Park
The South Downs is England’s newest National Park (2010), so thankfully protected. Stretching from East Sussex to Hampshire, its rolling hills and chalklands offer habitats for many rare birds, butterflies and endangered species. You may glimpse an overhead skylark or yellowhammer.
East Sussex is also home to one of England’s Outstanding Areas of Natural Beauty. High Weald (East Sussex) covers around 1500 square kilometres covering Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Home to Two Privately-Owned Villages
England only has a few privately-owned villages, and two of them are in East Sussex. Whether this is bad (feudal) or good (looked after better than some councils) is up for debate.
Eridge Park (Crowborough) is the family home/seat of the Marquess of Abergavenny, who rents it out to music festivals and weddings. A former shooting estate, today it thankfully limits itself to fishing licenses and clay pigeon shooting (which is not harmless to wildlife, but not quite as bad).
Firle (near Lewes) has a manor house, and several surrounding villages. The local viscount owns most of the properties, and offers most at discounted rents. It does appear to make efforts for local biodiversity, using profits from rent, to help surrounding nature and wildlife.
Home to One of England’s Main Sand Dunes
Camber Sands is one of England’s main sand dunes, which form when sand and seashells blow onto the coast, then get trapped by sea plants, to anchor in the sand. Home to endangered natterjack toads, walking on them is like trampling on flower beds.
Keep to main paths when crossing sand dunes (this helps dogs and you from invasive pirri pirri burr attaching to skin, fur, clothes or laces). Keep dogs away from toxic coastal flowers.
Sand dunes often hide bird nests (chicks may be abandoned, if disturbed) and seal pups, hidden by mothers. You’ll find seals in Sussex during breeding season, so keep dogs away and on leads. Read more on how to help our native seals.
Home to the Old Man of Wilmington (a giant!)
The Long Man of Wilmington is a chalk giant (70 feet tall), carved into the South Down hills, near the pretty village of Alfriston. Nobody knows who is he, or how he got there! But there’s a sketch from 1710, so he’s over 300 years old. With a stave in each hand, nobody knows why (his strength, or an astronomer measuring the land?)
Nearby is the chalk Litlington Horse, carved in 1924, in a village that sits on the banks of River Cuckmere. Also here is England’s smallest church, an architectural 13th century gem, inspired by Gothic architecture.
Home to England’s Notorious Smugglers
Back in the day, Hastings was the landing point for smugglers who would board ships in the English channel and kill anyone who resisted them taking the cargo. Today the 3-mile seafront boasts two of England’s remaining funicular railways (cliff-lifts).
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 is well-known, but was actually in the town of Battle nearby (but you couldn’t call it the Battle of Battle, because that would sound silly).
The local pier is one of many burned down in an arson attack, though local company Harbor Designs makes beautiful furniture made from reclaimed planks, to stop them going to waste and to preserve history.
The History of Brighton’s Three Piers
The city of Brighton (East Sussex) used to have three piers. The Chain Pier (built in 1823) didn’t last long. And the West Pier (1866) is now beyond repair, after much of it collapsed into the sea (after arson attempts weakened it). Read more on the history of England’s piers.
What remains is Brighton Palace Pier, which opened in 1899. Piers were originally used to extend jetties for boats, and became popular in Victorian times for people to take a stroll. Today of course, most are just housing amusement arcades, candy floss shops and tourist tat.
Located opposite historic Old Steine in Brighton, fans will remember it being used for the comedy film Carry On At Your Convenience (when the toilet factory workers take a trip to the seaside). Laurel and Hardy both performed here, before moving to Hollywood.
The pier is very long, with three months in every year being taken up to paint it. It’s also lit up at night (not good news for local birds and wildlife).
From 2024, the company that owns it now charges £1 (not local residents) to visit the pier in summer. In fact, there have not been many complaints, as the huge running costs help to preserve the pier, rather than selling it to people who may turn it into flats!
Ashdown Forest (home to Winnie-the-Pooh!)
Pooh Corner and the bridge where the friends play Pooh Sticks is situated in the village of Hartfield. This beautiful bear of very little brain remains one of our best-loved collections of stories, for children and adults alike, for such wisdom as:
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing. Of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.