A morning walk from Butts Brow over Willingdon Hill opened up a new view across the South Downs, looking towards Jevington Church with Firle Beacon rising behind it. It is one of those compositions that only appears when you take a slightly different path from the usual route.
Continue reading Jevington Church and Firle Beacon from Willingdon HillCategory Archives: Natural History
South Downs Poppy Fields 2026 – Following East Sussex’s Wildest Colour Across Four Hills
Every year the same question starts appearing across local Facebook groups and photography pages.
Where are the poppies this year?
Unlike bluebells or lavender, poppy fields rarely stay loyal to one location. Some years they appear in huge numbers, some years almost not at all, and when they do arrive the display can vanish within weeks.
This spring early summer became an unexpected project. One discovery led to another until four separate South Downs poppy fields formed a trail across East Sussex.
From Balmer Down… to Itford Hill… to Beddingham Hill… and finally Firle Beacon.
Continue reading South Downs Poppy Fields 2026 – Following East Sussex’s Wildest Colour Across Four Hills
Firle Beacon Poppy Field Below Mount Caburn
A sudden splash of red on the South Downs can change the whole shape of a walk. This poppy field below Firle Beacon was not the field I had planned to photograph, but it became the one I could not ignore.
Continue reading Firle Beacon Poppy Field Below Mount Caburn
Poppy Field Below Beddingham Hill on the South Downs
Some seasonal photographs take a bit of effort to reach, but that is often what makes them worth the walk. This poppy field below Beddingham Hill stood out from the A26, but the stronger composition came from getting above and then down into the landscape, where the red flowers could be framed against the wider South Downs view.
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Poppy Field Below Itford Hill on the South Downs
A sudden sweep of red poppies can change the whole feel of a South Downs view. Below Itford Hill, near the Firle Beacon ridge, this field stood out from the surrounding greens and distant hills as a brief but striking moment of early summer colour.
Continue reading Poppy Field Below Itford Hill on the South Downs
Poppies on Balmer Down, South Downs
I headed up to Balmer Down in late May to scout the poppies and see if the location might work for a wider South Downs landscape photograph. It felt early for poppies, but after the recent warm, dry weather, they were already starting to appear across parts of East Sussex.
Continue reading Poppies on Balmer Down, South Downs
Hermit’s Cave, Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings
Introduction
Ecclesbourne Glen is one of those places that feels completely removed from the town above. Within a few minutes of leaving the cliff top, you drop into a narrow, wooded valley with a running stream, small waterfalls, and steep sandstone sides.
On this walk, I came down a footpath I’d never used before and finally found the Hermit’s Cave — tucked into the rock face, half hidden by vegetation and easy to miss if you didn’t know it was there.
It’s not large, but it has presence. The surrounding sandstone is heavily weathered and pitted, with a natural overhang that forms a shallow cave. Combined with the woodland setting, it feels like a place that belongs to a different time.
A short clip from the walk:
After filming, I’ve included the exact location below so you can find it yourself, along with the full map of all the places I’ve explored.
- View the exact location on Google Maps
- Explore all locations on my custom map
The Story of the Hermit
The cave is most commonly linked to John Hancox, often referred to as the East Hill Hermit.
He was originally a London draper who fell on hard times in the late 1800s and came to Hastings. At some point in the 1890s, he took up residence in this cave in Ecclesbourne Glen.
Local records suggest the landowner, Rev. Sayer-Milward, later allowed him to stay and even gave him a small patch of land in front of the cave. Here, Hancox lived a quiet, isolated life, growing some of his own food and becoming something of a local curiosity.
He remained here until his death in 1918.
Standing in front of the cave today, it’s easy to see why someone might choose this spot. It’s sheltered, tucked away, and surrounded by woodland and water — completely separate from the town just below.
The Landscape
Ecclesbourne Glen is part of the wider Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, where the High Weald meets the coast.
This landscape is defined by soft sandstone, which erodes easily and creates the steep-sided valleys, overhangs, and rock formations you see throughout the area. The cave itself is simply a natural feature shaped over time, later adapted as a shelter.
The glen is also classic gill woodland — a damp, sheltered valley with its own microclimate. You’ll find ferns, moss, and early spring growth covering the ground, with the stream cutting through the centre.
It’s this combination of geology and woodland that makes the area feel so enclosed and atmospheric.
Visiting the Cave
The Hermit’s Cave works best as part of a walk through Ecclesbourne Glen rather than a standalone destination.
The approach is what makes it — following the stream, hearing the water before you see it, then suddenly coming across the cave set into the rock.
For photography, a wider composition works well to show the cave in context with the surrounding sandstone. A lower angle helps emphasise the overhang and the texture in the rock face.
Spring is ideal when the valley is fresh and green, but it would also suit autumn colours or damp winter conditions.
Practical Info
Location
Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings Country Park, East Sussex
Access
Reached via public footpaths through Ecclesbourne Glen. Paths can be uneven, muddy, and steep in places.
Safety
This is an area of soft sandstone and ongoing erosion. Keep well back from cliff edges and avoid unstable sections.
Best Time to Visit
Spring for greenery and water flow, autumn for colour, winter for mood and atmosphere.
Nearby
If you’re exploring Ecclesbourne Glen, these are all close by and worth combining into the same walk:
- – A quiet, remote beach below the cliffs, far less busy than Hastings seafront
- – A small but interesting water feature cut into the rock, hidden along the cliff paths
- Hastings Old Town – Historic streets, fishing quarter, and one of the best preserved old towns on the south coast
- East Hill – Cliff-top views, coastal paths, and access down into the glens
- Rock-a-Nore – Fishing boats, net huts, and one of the most distinctive coastal scenes in Sussex
Final Thoughts
The Hermit’s Cave is one of those places that you could easily walk past without ever knowing it’s there.
But once you find it, it adds another layer to the landscape — not just geology and woodland, but a real human story tied into it.
It’s a reminder that these glens aren’t just natural features. People have lived, hidden, and survived in them, often in ways that feel completely removed from modern life.
The Sandstone Ridges of the High Weald
Introduction
Across Tunbridge Wells and the Kent–East Sussex border lies a hidden geological landscape — a chain of sandstone ridges formed over 100 million years ago.
From the open commons above the town to woodland reserves and climbing crags, these formations are all part of the same system: the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation. What appears as separate locations — Wellington Rocks, Toad Rock, Eridge Rocks, High Rocks and Harrison’s Rocks — are in fact different expressions of one ancient landscape.
This post brings them together as a single journey through geology, history and place.
Watch the Film
Short film exploring the sandstone ridges of the High Weald:
Explore all locations on the map:
[View all mapped locations]
Wellington Rocks
Tunbridge Wells Common
Wellington Rocks sit on Tunbridge Wells Common, right on the edge of the historic spa town. These sandstone outcrops are among the most accessible in the area, rising directly from open heathland and woodland.
The name “Wellington Rocks” is linked to the nearby Wellington Hotel, reflecting the Victorian period when Tunbridge Wells was a fashionable destination and the Common was part of everyday leisure life.
Here, geology is woven into the town itself. Visitors have walked these rocks for centuries, long before they were understood scientifically. Today they remain a quiet introduction to the wider sandstone landscape beneath the High Weald.
Toad Rock & Rusthall Common
Rusthall Common
A short walk west from Tunbridge Wells Common leads to Rusthall Common and the distinctive Toad Rock.
Shaped by differential erosion, the rock’s perched form gives it its name. By the early 19th century it had already become a local curiosity, appearing in guidebooks and attracting visitors who tried to interpret its unusual shape.
Rusthall Common contains far more than a single landmark. Nearby features such as Bull’s Hollow reveal sheer sandstone faces and remnants of past quarrying activity. It is a landscape where geology, folklore and human use overlap.
Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve
Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve
Just across the county border into East Sussex, Eridge Rocks reveals a more atmospheric side of the sandstone landscape.
Here the formations rise as towers, cliffs and narrow passages through woodland and heath. The setting feels quieter and more enclosed, with the rock emerging unexpectedly from the trees.
Now protected as a National Nature Reserve, the site is valued not only for its geology but also for its habitats. Mosses, lichens and ferns thrive on the sandstone surfaces, while the surrounding woodland supports a diverse ecosystem.
Eridge Rocks shows how this ancient geology has become part of a living natural environment.
High Rocks
High Rocks
High Rocks is the most dramatic expression of the sandstone ridge system.
Here the rock forms towering cliffs, narrow gullies and enclosed passages that can be walked through. The scale and structure of the formations make it one of the most visually striking sites in the region.
High Rocks also carries a strong human history. In the Georgian and Victorian periods it became a major attraction for visitors from Tunbridge Wells. Some left behind carved inscriptions — poems and moral reflections — offering a glimpse into how people once interpreted these natural formations before modern geology.
Today, High Rocks is a managed site, used for events and open to visitors at set times. It remains a place where natural history and human history are closely intertwined.
Harrison’s Rocks
Harrison’s Rocks
South of Eridge, near Groombridge, Harrison’s Rocks forms a long sandstone ridge running through woodland.
Unlike the more sculpted formations elsewhere, this site reveals the sandstone as a continuous wall of rock, stretching through the landscape. It is one of the most important sandstone climbing areas in southern England.
Because the rock is soft and easily damaged, climbing here follows strict traditional practices designed to preserve the stone. This ongoing use makes Harrison’s Rocks a living landscape, where ancient geology continues to shape modern activity.
A Connected Landscape
Although each location feels distinct, they are all part of the same geological system.
Laid down in the Early Cretaceous period as river sediments, the sandstone was later exposed and shaped by millions of years of erosion. What we see today — cliffs, ridges, towers and fissures — are different outcomes of the same underlying processes.
Each site tells a different part of the story:
- Wellington Rocks — geology within the town
- Toad Rock — shape and folklore
- Eridge Rocks — geology within nature
- High Rocks — spectacle and interpretation
- Harrison’s Rocks — ongoing human use
Together, they reveal a hidden sandstone world beneath the High Weald.
Crowhurst Yew Tree, East Sussex – Ancient Yew Beside St George’s Church
Introduction
The Crowhurst Yew Tree, located in the churchyard of St George’s Church in East Sussex, is one of the oldest living things in the county.
Estimated to be over 1,300 years old, it predates the Norman Conquest and may even mark a site of spiritual importance stretching back into pre-Christian Britain.
Continue reading Crowhurst Yew Tree, East Sussex – Ancient Yew Beside St George’s Church
St Helen’s Well, Hastings
Introduction
Hidden in St Helen’s Wood above Ore in Hastings is a small spring known as St Helen’s Well. Tucked away in the woodland valley below the ridge where Old St Helen’s Church stands, it’s an easy place to walk past without ever realising it’s there.
The well itself isn’t marked on modern OS maps, but the clue lies in the spring symbol in the valley. By heading towards the nearest spring relative to St Helen’s Wood, it’s possible to track down the location where the water emerges from the hillside.
Continue reading St Helen’s Well, Hastings
Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve, East Sussex
Introduction
Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve contains some of the most impressive sandstone formations in the High Weald. Located just inside the East Sussex border near Tunbridge Wells, the reserve reveals a maze of weathered sandstone towers rising through woodland and heathland.
The rock formations are part of a wider sandstone belt that runs through this landscape, linking Eridge Rocks with nearby sites such as High Rocks, Harrison’s Rocks and the formations on Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons.
Continue reading Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve, East Sussex
Harrison’s Rocks, Groombridge
Introduction
Harrison’s Rocks is one of the most impressive sandstone ridges in the High Weald. Located near Groombridge on the Kent–East Sussex border, the site reveals a long line of weathered sandstone cliffs rising through woodland.
Unlike some of the more sculpted formations nearby, Harrison’s Rocks stretches as a continuous ridge, giving a clear sense of the scale of the sandstone layers beneath the landscape. It is also one of southern England’s best-known sandstone climbing locations.
Continue reading Harrison’s Rocks, Groombridge