Just east of Hastings are some nice opportunities to run to a hilltop castle and then explore some fairly gentle paths along the bluffs above the water. We’ve mapped out a route from Queens Rd. to the Castle, then West Hill, East Hill, and then Ecclesbourne glen/Hastings Country Park. It’s up to 5 miles one-way and nearly 1,000 feet of climbing. Some trails are dirt or grass and they can be muddy.
Hastings Old Town, Castle, West Hill. Explore Old Town, sandwiched between two cliffs with its seaside vibe and tudor buildings. Run on the main streets — High St., Queens Rd., and festive George St. Then take the lift, or run on Castle Hill Rd. to the Hastings Castle. For some more hills and trails, do a loop around West Hill, then back down the hill and west along festive George St. to Marathon Lift (lower station).
Creative Commons: Marathon
East Hill to Hastings Country Park. From here, follow the trail up to and then alongside the cliff, or enjoy some of the other bluff-top trails. Some gorgeous views! Continue through Ecclesbourne glen to Hastings Country Park, an 858-acre area of ancient gill woodland, maritime cliff and slope, cliff top grassland and mixed heather, lowland meadow and sustainably managed farmland, all sitting with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Note: parts of this, especially up East Hill & Ecclesbourne glen are steeper & challenging — a trail run/hike.
Shorter Route/Less Climbing: You could park at the Hastings Country Park and run atop the Weald on the relatively flat trails.
Add-Ons: Explore our waterfront route — it’s 6 miles from Hastings west to Brexhill
Just east of Hastings are some nice opportunities to run to a hilltop castle and then explore some fairly gentle paths along the bluffs above the water. We’ve mapped out a route from Queens Rd. to the Castle, then West Hill, East Hill, and then Ecclesbourne glen/Hastings Country Park. It’s up to 5 miles one-way and nearly 1,000 feet of climbing. Some trails are dirt or grass and they can be muddy.
Hastings Old Town, Castle, West Hill. Explore Old Town, sandwiched between two cliffs with its seaside vibe and tudor buildings. Run on the main streets — High St., Queens Rd., and festive George St. Then take the lift, or run on Castle Hill Rd. to the Hastings Castle. For some more hills and trails, do a loop around West Hill, then back down the hill and west along festive George St. to Marathon Lift (lower station).
Creative Commons: Marathon
East Hill to Hastings Country Park. From here, follow the trail up to and then alongside the cliff, or enjoy some of the other bluff-top trails. Some gorgeous views! Continue through Ecclesbourne glen to Hastings Country Park, an 858-acre area of ancient gill woodland, maritime cliff and slope, cliff top grassland and mixed heather, lowland meadow and sustainably managed farmland, all sitting with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Note: parts of this, especially up East Hill & Ecclesbourne glen are steeper & challenging — a trail run/hike.
Shorter Route/Less Climbing: You could park at the Hastings Country Park and run atop the Weald on the relatively flat trails.
Add-Ons: Explore our waterfront route — it’s 6 miles from Hastings west to Brexhill
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Essentials
It's up to 5 miles from Hastings to the end of Hastings Country Park
Hilly -- but depends on route chosen
Can start in old Hastings. Or can park at the Hastings Country Park Visitor Ctr. to avoid some hill climbing
Train station in Hastings. There's a funicular up East Hill
Pretty much anywhere on this island is gorgeous for running. We've designed several routes showcasing seafront promenades, runnable beaches, clifftop coastal trails, and quiet roads passing a verdant landscape.
Lovely waterfront running in the seaside town of Worthing, located 10 miles west of Brighton. A wide seafront promenade runs for 6 miles between the Widewater Lagoon and Goring-by-sea Beach. Expansive water views the whole way.
Brighton is a historic and popular seaside resort on the coast of England. We've mapped several routes showcasing the 10+ miles of seafront paths between Kingston Beach and Saltsean, and gorgeous trail running in the vast, open countryside near town.
Scenic waterfront and clifftop running in Seaford, located 12 miles east of Brighton. 1.5 miles of a paved seaside promenade, and then good-surfaced trails on the cliffs overlooking the water at the Seaford Head Nature Reserve. Beach also good for running!
Scenic waterfront running along the Eastbourne Promenade in this scenic resort town known for its seafront Victorian hotels and 19th-century pier. The path runs for 4 miles between Helen Garden and Sovereign Harbour, with additional paths in the parks.
Nearly 6 miles of waterfront running on wide seafront promenade paths between Brexhill & Hastings. Great Channel Coast views, and cliffs as you head east toward Hastings. One fun option: do the full 6 miles and take the train back!
In the port city of Folkestone, a seafront promenade runs for 6.4 miles west to Hythe Beach. Great views of the Channel and Strait of Dover the whole way. Some additional paths just inland along the way.
Running atop the White Cliffs of Dover makes for a memorable experience! A series of fairly gentle footpaths traverse the bluff atop the the landmark chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel for up to 6.5 miles to Kingsdown Beach.
Scenic waterfront promenade in Deal, which lies where the North Sea and the English Channel meet. Overall it's 3.4 miles between Kingsdown Beach and Sandown, great water views the whole way.
Nearly 6 miles of scenic waterfront running on a wide, paved promenade from Broadstairs north through Kingsgate, Margate, and Westgate. Great views of the North Sea.
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Essentials
It's up to 5 miles from Hastings to the end of Hastings Country Park
Hilly -- but depends on route chosen
Can start in old Hastings. Or can park at the Hastings Country Park Visitor Ctr. to avoid some hill climbing
Train station in Hastings. There's a funicular up East Hill
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!