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General
Fairlight Cove - formerly an official naturist beach - lies roughly
midway along the coast between Hastings to the west and the delightful
town of Rye to the east. In fact, the beach is Covehurst Bay, at the
bottom of Fairlight Glen. "Fairlight Cove" is a seaside village
a mile and a half to the east and is very definitely textile.
Following cliff falls which destroyed the wooden steps formerly used to
descend the cliff, the access route to this beach has been declared
'closed' by the local authority.
Reports in May 2004 say that numbers of naturists continue to find their way to this beach, despite the closure of the official acccess route.
PLEASE NOTE
THE ACCESS ROUTE TO THIS BEACH VIA THE CLIFF BEEN DECLARED DANGEROUS
AND FOR THAT REASON HAS BEEN CLOSED BY HASTINGS COUNCIL
WE ADVISE AGAINST ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE BEACH BY THIS ROUTE
NUFF will continue to maintain this page for background information and in the hope that safe access via the cliff will soon be restored.
As a result of the dangerous access CCBN has stated that their insurance cover for members has been withdrawn in respect of Fairlight Cove.
Access & Parking
The cove is adjacent to the Hastings Country Park (640 Acres, 5km of
coastline).
Route 1 Fairlight Road Picnic Site (which has toilets).
From the A21, A28, A2100 junction in Baldslow (north of Hastings) take
the B2083 signposted to Ore. After about 3 miles turn right at the A259
(it's a T-junction with traffic lights and a traffic island). Almost
immediately, turn off left (very sharp turn) into Fairlight Road,
signposted to the Country Park. After 3/4 mile there's a Picnic Site car
park - park there. The beach is a 1 mile walk from here. Cross the road
and take the track, it's signposted as a footpath. There used to be a cafe
after half a mile but it's closed down. Fork right before the cafe, then
left before you get to the field gate. The first bit of path through the
woods is essentially a stream bed, very rough and often muddy. Keep going
downhill until you come to a T-junction. Turn left and over the stream and
you'll see that the path is blocked and a notice says there no access to
the beach.
Route 2. Coastguard Lane (toilets).
A further mile along Fairlight Road turn right into Lower Coastguard Lane.
This leads to a car park with toilets and information centre. From here
it's is a longer walk than Route 1 but useful if the other car park is
full. You'll end up at the "no access" sign as in Route 1.
Route 3. Barley Lane (no toilets).
From the centre of Hastings head to the sea and take the A259 along The
Bourne east of Hastings Castle. Fork right into Harold Road and soon turn
right into Barley Lane. The car park is about 3/4 mile along on the right.
From the car park take the path south, then turn left, then turn right,
then turn left, then turn right. At the cliffs the path bears left - keep
going for just over half mile until you cross a stream in woodland. You'll
come to the "no access" sign as in Route 1.
Route 4. Walk from Hastings.
To walk from Hastings, follow the beach east past the Castle Hill to the
East Cliff Railway, then either ascend to the Country Park and follow the
paths always turning right until you come to the "no access"
notice.
Alternatively it is possible to walk along the beach from the East Cliff Railway, but ONLY when the tide is out - YOU MUST CHECK THE LOCAL TIDE TABLE BEFORE ATTEMPTING IT. It is about 2.5 miles from the railway to the beach, and at sea level it is shingle walking, though this route is surprisingly popular especially for dog walkers. There is no beach access from the east (Rye and Fairlight Cove direction) due to rock formations extending into the sea.
On the beach there is a tendency for naturists to head east and textiles to keep west of the cove. Don't go round the corner to the east in front of the cliff fall if the tide is coming in - you will be forced to move. Some sources recommend parking near Ore and walking through the copse to Barley Lane, briefly westward and then south again to Fairlight Glen. Others suggest that you park at the Country Park at Fairlight Glen. The beach itself is reached via steps down the cliff, reputedly 92 in number. The most energetic all can walk the coast path all the way from Hastings. Walk or take the lift up at the end of Rock A Nore Road and then walk east to Fire Hills. Go past Ecclesbourne Glen and continue until you reach Fairlight Glen.
Description
The south facing cove has a shingle beach, with sand and rocks at low
tide. At high tide the beach slopes quite steeply, but when the sand first
appears be careful of submerged rocks. The cliffs are of soft sandstone
with a good deal of vegetation, mostly goat willow bushes, but a fair
number of wild flowers and land song birds in season add to the
attractiveness. The rock pools host beadlet sea anemones, but the beach is
very poor for shells. Unfortunately virtually no shade of any use, except
in late afternoon when the sun goes behind the cliffs. The only motorised
noise is from the occasional aircraft or motor boat. Atmosphere is
excellent - with a good mixture of singles, couples and quite a few
families with children. Don't go round the corner to the east in front of
the cliff fall if the tide is coming in - you will be forced to move.
The difficult access now deters most beachgoers which means that only naturists tend to make the effort.
The Country Park itself is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and provides some entertaining walking (with clothes) if you want a change from sitting around or swimming, or if the weather turns cold.
Facilities
None on the beach itself - are there ever? - but all the usual facilities
are available in Hastings.
Water Quality
Described by one source as 'The usual English Channel mixture but above
average as it meets the lower EEC standard.. '
Update - Autumn 2004
It is reported that makeshift steps have been cut into the cliff face. It is believed that this is the work of "regulars" at the beach, however the cliff access route remains officially closed on safety grounds.
Trip Report - September 2004
"New steps have been built!!
"With forecasters predicting the end of summer, I ventured down to Hastings and took the scenic 3-mile walk through the country park. The three 'No Access' signs are still in place, along with the wooden fence (still easily bypassed). Taking the existing well-trodden path down to the point where the infamous 92 steps have collapsed, I found that the rough ground beside the former staircase had been roped off. I then noticed that the ground immediately to the left of the staircase seemed a lot flatter than on my previous visit. A few paces further on, and.. glory be! NEW STEPS down to the beach have been built into the hillside. 29 in number, the steps circumnavigate a large bush and take you safely and directly to the point at which the old staircase ended. Crucially this means that it is now possible to access this beach again without ... scrambling up or down unstable ground.
This time the tide was out and revealed beautiful sections of completely sandy beach on which to bathe. Submerged rocks, however, made swimming very hazardous indeed. Overall though, this beach is my heaven and I recommend it to all."
Trip Report - September 2004
"I was there last Thursday and new small steps have been cut only a few yards from the others. Vertical boards (risers) have been placed across the front of the steps and fixed in place with two pegs driven down into the ground. This should stop the front of the steps breaking away. They are only small and still as steep as before but a big improvement for all that. They are only on the steepest bit. Someone went to quite a bit of effort to do it.
Signs and fence are still in place."
Trip Report - June 2004
"I visited on Sunday 27th June, 2004 and walked from Hastings via the 3-mile Country Park route via Ecclesbourne Glen
I reached the point at which the previously-official path down to the beach had been fenced off; and no less than THREE 'no access' signs are now in place. The fence itself is a ramshackle wooden affair roughly 30 yards in length and reaches waist height, and parts of it have now been hacked away by beachgoers. The fence can be bypassed easily at either end, or by clambering over.
The infamous wooden staircase is now a sorry sight. The top 4 steps are still somehow clinging onto the hillside, but the middle section is in broken ruins some 20 metres below. The intervening ground is now soft and unstable following a landslip, however many beachgoers appear to be clambering up and down the rock without fear. The rest of the steps are scattered beneath.... The coastal erosion has simply left the surface rather soft and less stable than one would ideally choose to step on.
The beach itself is gorgeous. It's very private because of the limited access, yet many people frequent it. I arrived mid-afternoon to find around 25 naturists and textiles mixing freely. More encouragingly, couples outnumbered the usually dominant lone males. The east end of the beach was a deserted paradise; I left my bag by a rock and walked for almost two miles as nature intended, bumping into occasional couples happily acknowledging the glorious freedom this beach provides. Superb! "
Trip Report - June 2003
"Potential visitors to Fairlight Cove near Hastings might appreciate
an update on access to this excellent beach. On a visit on 13 June 2003, I
found the same official warning signs discouraging people from attempting
access from Fairlight Glen via the former cliff face path and wooden
steps. In the event, I discovered that between 40 and 50 naturists -
probably tempted by the fine sunny weather - had found their way to the
beach."
Trip Report - August 2002
"Being an infrequent visitor to fairlight over the past five years I
was dismayed at the reports of 'no access'. This is the only place that I
can really relax, when I can get down there that is. So... I had to see
for myself , I used the popular route past the 'non' cafe , along the
river bed etc. I the arrived at point where the stairs had been and
started to find a way down , to my amazement and relief I saw a guy
probably in his 60's WITH A WALKING STICK heading beachward. With the
thought of , if he can do it I definately can, I followed him down some
rough cut steps to paradise. Yes I did have a great day , chatted to some
of the regulars, had a walk and a swim AHHH that felt good. So good that I
went back on Friday, an even better day and was shown a different route by
a regular that was quite easy, so don't be to put off, give it a go. JUST
BE CAREFUL....... "
Trip Report 18th July 2002 - by MikeR
Wow, found it! My ideal naturist beach!
I arrived at 11.15 on a warm Thursday and parked in the Picnic Site car park. I headed down the track to the cafe only to find it had closed down (also, you can no longer park there). From there is wasn't obvious which way the beach was, but I took the only route that seemed possible, across a field. I found myself in picturesque woods and took downhill turns whenever faced with a choice. Eventually I came to a sign saying there was no access to the beach due to coastal erosion. Dash! I've driven 80 miles to get here!
I tried a path that looked as though it headed seaward. It ended where the cliff had collapsed leaving an avalanche-like slope. I saw one brave chap taking his life in his hands and making the descent but not having the right shoes (i.e. chickening out) I headed back to look for another way down. At an intersection of paths I met a young couple, Christine and Mark, who asked me the way to the beach. Ha! 'Not that way,' I said.
But it turned out they had been to the beach before. But this time they'd parked by the coastguard station and didn't know the paths from there to the beach. (There are lots of paths and junctions in the wood.) Anyway, we found our way to the sign saying there was no access - a spot they recognised. Since their last visit the path from there to the beach had been fenced off, but we found a way round and came eventually to where the wooden steps down to the beach used to be. There had been even more erosion since Christine and Mark's previous visit, but we gingerly clambered down beside where the top few step still hung precariously and found there was a way down. Steps, footholds really, rough hewn into the chalk/sandstone - aggregate rather solid rock - led down finally to the beach. Thank you, Christine and Mark, without you I may never have got down to the beach. I wonder how many people have tried and failed? (As a result of my visit this web page has been updated to reflect current conditions.)
There were a few couples and one or two single males on the beach, including a cluster of couples who were obviously regulars. Christine and Mark settled down and I left my things with them and headed east. The tide was out and I strolled along the sandy water's edge. I walked for a mile or more, sometimes crossing flat rocks. I saw a couple of people, but the beach is so wide at low tide I felt as if I had the whole place to myself. Exhilarating!
Returning to Christine and Mark I picked up the camera and headed in the other direction. Rounding the point, I could see Hastings in the distance. No sand this way, just large rocks strewn across pebbles.
There were a couple of textiles on the beach but they were the ones who must have been feeling out of place (tee hee hee!). The tricky access means this is now a beach where naturism is very much the dominant culture and that the beach will probably never be crowded. Let's hope the Council never get round to rebuilding the wooden steps!
I rated Studland 10 out of 10 amongst English naturist beaches. For me Fairlight also scores 10, but a different 10. Studland has easy access, soft sand, unabashed naturism and lots of people. Fairlight has difficult access, no soft sand but we can now say it is a naturist beach and it has peace, tranquillity, and a wonderful get away from it all factor. I was whooping with joy as I trotted along the water's edge with not a soul in sight. If you like quietude, and have mountain goat in your lineage then you'll love Fairlight.
Edwin Hutton - 1999
"I recommend Fairlight Glen. Hard work to get to and get out of (the
"famous" 92 steps) but very secluded, lots of regulars,
virtually no hassle, remarkably clean for somwhere so remote, and a pretty
bay to boot. In good weather some families take their children there."
"I heard that there may be moves afoot in the local council to make the beach more of a tourist attraction (which would explain the building of the staircase) and perhaps turn it into a 'family' beach. Sounds a bit like another Fraisthorpe, but I doubt if the regular locals would give up their freedom and the police would almost certainly jib at having to police such a remote area frequently. In any case, at the weekends it already is a family beach."
Trip report - August 2001
"I visited late afternoon Tuesday 28/08/01, parking in the Fairlight
Road Picnic Site and walking down to the beach with my dog via Place Farm.
This was my first visit and I was fortunate to meet a regular coming up
from the beach as I started the last part of my descent who showed me the
way to go and explained that the local council had demolished the wooden
steps 'just before the bank holiday' - i.e. only the week before my visit!
It was still possible to use the old steps cut into the cliff face and
although a bit of a scramble we made it safetly to the beach. There I met
another regular, Keith who pointed out one or two features including the
best place to swim and a trickle of fresh water suitable for rinsing salt
and sand off one's body (but not for drinking!) We had the beach to
ourselves as by that time it was 7.30 PM and had a magical swim in the
sunset, finishing off by moonlight. Luckily I had a torch with me and the
weather stayed fine, as Keith said that if it had rained the ascent would
have been much trickier as the old steps get slippery very quickly. We
left the beach at about 8.30 PM and it was quite dark going back through
the country park. It took about 25 minutes to walk back from the beach to
the Picnic Park. Keith said he prefers to park his car in either the farm
car park (now £2 per day) or in Mill Lane as their have been
incidents of vandalism on vehicles left all day in the picnic park."
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Any use you may make of the information is entirely at your own risk.