Hastings Country Park

History

The park had a lot of human activity in prehistoric times. Archaeological finds and landmarks date from Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon, Medieval, post-Medieval, Victorian to World War II periods.

The majority of the park is an Area of Archaeological Interest, within which, a large area of the East Hill is a designated Ancient Monument.

About

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. Much of the area is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the unique wildlife and fossil rich soft rock cliff.

Hastings Country Park received its first Green Flag Award in 2006 and continues to hold this status.

To find out more, download the Hastings Country Park Leaflet.

Facilities and Features

The facilities at Hastings Country Park include:

• Picnic areas
• Seats
• Toilets
• Parking
• View Points
• Farm Fields

There are also a number of great features to visit and explore, such as:

• Costal Walks
• National Cycle Route
• Accessible Paths
• Visitor Centre
• Ancient Monument Site
• Notice Boards
• Belted Galloway Castle
• Exmoor Ponies

Find out more about the heathland habitats project in the February update.

Visitor Centre

There is now a new Visitor Centre for Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, 'The Bale House'. The centre has been built in a sustainable way using straw bales. It is home to information about the park, its geology, habitats, species and heritage together with a café for refreshments which is open 9am to 5pm every day and new toilet facilities.

The centre provides an exciting facility for visitors to the park to find out about this special landscape, for schools visits, activities and family events.

The centre is located on Lower Coastguard Lane opposite the main carpark for the Firehills area of the park, making the most of the park's stunning views over the English Channel.

The project was funded by Hastings Borough Council together with an award of £475,000 from Interreg North West Europe. The Interreg award is part of the innovative project called 'Up Straw' which is increasing awareness of public building with straw across North West Europe.