East Sussex has lots of accessible walking routes that take place in the South Downs, our stunning beaches and the beautiful countryside.
Walking is good for your physical and mental health and a wintry walk is a great way to dust off those cobwebs and enjoy a blast of fresh air after one too many episodes of your new Netflix obsession.
So wrap up warm, step outside and enjoy a few of our favourite wintry walks through the cold months.
Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex
The view of the Cuckmere Valley and the Seven Sisters is perhaps one of the most picturesque in the world.
The Easy Access Trail at Seven Sisters Country Park is suitable for people with impaired mobility, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and push chairs and it’s great for walking or cycling.
The trail follows the valley floor down to the shingle beach and the mouth of the River Cuckmere and is around 1.3 miles (2.6 miles return). It takes in spectacular views of the valley and Seaford Head.
Ditchling Beacon
This Miles Without Stiles circular route is set in a beautiful area of the South Downs National Park and suitable for off-road class 3 all-terrain mobility scooters.
Enjoy stunning 360-degree views from Ditchling Beacon, the highest point on the chalk in East Sussex, and visit the historic Jack and Jill windmills.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is one of the largest and most important wildlife sites in England, set in an exceptional coastal and wetland landscape that is home to more than 4,355 species of plants and animals.
The Beach Reserve with its long tarmac road is particularly suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. Electric and some manual wheelchair users can get around the short circular route that takes in the Discovery Centre, River Mouth and the Gooders, Parkes and Denny Hides.
Access to the Discovery Centre is step-free and there are two accessible toilets in the building.
Hastings Country Park
Hastings Country Park is a scenic nature reserve with stunning coastal views found within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Beauty.
The nature reserve has 342 hectares of ancient gill woodland, heathland, grassland and farmland together with five kilometres of dramatic sandstone cliffs and coastline.
Two walks, the Fairlight Head walk and the Firehills walk, are on paths with a hard surface and are suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.
The Fairlight Head round trip is about half a mile and takes you to a stunning view over the English Channel. The Firehills walk is a little longer at about a mile in length and takes you towards Fairlight Cove with views over Rye Bay.
Miles without stiles – more accessible walks in East Sussex
123 Walks is a collection of one, two and three mile walks around local parks, woods, nature reserves and rural footpaths. The website includes details of accessible routes with surfaced paths suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.
Accessible Countryside for Everyone is an independent voluntary project that details walks and countryside places which are accessible for those with restricted mobility, or by those who use wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
Remember, route conditions and access can change so please do check locally before travelling.
Image credit – A brisk winter walk at Seven Sisters by Sam Moore
