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: Summer
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.
Continue reading Poppy Field Below Beddingham Hill on the South Downs
Sunrise Mist from Firle Beacon on the South Downs
Sometimes an early start pays off even when the original plan fails. I had gone out before dawn looking for possible poppy fields, but from Firle Beacon the real photograph was happening in the opposite direction, as the sun rose through mist lying low across the East Sussex landscape.
Continue reading Sunrise Mist from Firle Beacon on the South Downs
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
Landscape Photography Review 2025
2025 Photography Year in Review
2025 was a year of working closer to home and learning to respond to conditions rather than chase them. From misty dawns on the South Downs to woodland waterfalls in the High Weald and long exposures on Romney Marsh, this review brings together one standout image from each month — moments that best reflect how and where I photographed across the year.
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Lewes Castle – The Norman Stronghold Above the Ouse Valley
Introduction
From the slopes of Mount Caburn that September morning, I could just see Lewes Castle rising through the mist — the twin mottes catching the first light over the town. It’s one of the earliest Norman castles in England, begun around 1069 by William de Warenne, one of William the Conqueror’s most trusted knights.
🎥 Watch the Short:
Lewes Castle | Born from Conquest after 1066
It’s hard to believe this view has changed so little in nearly a thousand years.
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The Norman Conquest Comes to Lewes
Lewes Castle was the second Norman stronghold in Sussex, built soon after Hastings Castle to secure the route inland and protect the road to London. Its position on the ridge above the River Ouse made it both a defensive lookout and a statement of dominance over the surrounding Saxon population.
The earliest castle would have been a timber motte-and-bailey, replaced in stone through the 11th and 12th centuries. The outer towers seen today were added in the 13th century under the Angevin kings — part of the continual strengthening of Norman fortifications across southern England.
Strategic Importance
Lewes controlled the key route between the south coast and the old capital at Winchester. From here, Norman lords could oversee trade and movement along the Ouse Valley and the approaches to the Downs. It formed one link in a chain of coastal strongholds, including Hastings, Pevensey, and Arundel, that secured William’s new kingdom against rebellion and invasion alike.
Visiting Today
You can still climb the steep steps up to the keep and take in the same commanding view that once overlooked the Norman road north. Inside the walls, the museum tells the story of Lewes through Saxon, Norman, and medieval times.
It’s not just a monument — it’s a reminder of how one battle reshaped an entire country.
Practical Info
Location: Lewes, East Sussex
Access: Public entrance via Castle Gate, Lewes town centre
Best Time to Visit: Clear mornings or late afternoon for best light from the Downs
Nearby: Mount Caburn, Anne of Cleves House, Lewes Priory ruins
Nearby Places to Explore
- Hastings Castle – The first Norman fortress in Sussex, built immediately after the Battle of Hastings.
- Arundel Castle – Another early Norman stronghold overlooking the River Arun.
- Pevensey Castle – The Roman fort re-used by William as his first landing base.
Landscape Photography Review September 2025
What follows is my landscape photography review of all the photo walks I have taken during September 2025. These included many dawn shoots along the east Sussex coast and on the south downs.
Continue reading Landscape Photography Review September 2025
Rock-a-Nore at Sunrise – Hastings Working Beach and Forgotten Cliffs
Introduction
Early one August morning, I filmed along the eastern edge of Hastings known as Rock-a-Nore — a name that comes from “rock against the north.” The light was perfect, spilling across the cliffs and over the shingle beach, where fishing boats still launch directly into the sea.
Below is the short film from that morning — a quiet look at one of Britain’s last working beaches.
You can view the area on Google Maps or on my own collection of All Map Locations.
The Hidden Heart of Hastings
Rock-a-Nore sits between the Old Town and the eastern cliffs, right where the land gives way to the sea. Unlike the white chalk faces of Beachy Head or Seven Sisters, these are Hastings sandstone — darker, layered, and more easily eroded. At low tide, it’s possible to walk from here all the way to Covehurst Bay and even on to Cliff End, though conditions can change quickly.
This part of the coast doesn’t get the same attention as the more famous cliffs along the Sussex coast — but in many ways, it’s far more alive.
The Stade and the Boats
The shingle beach here is called The Stade, from the old Saxon word for landing place. It’s home to the last full-time beach-launched fishing fleet in Britain.
There is no harbour. Boats are pulled out to sea using tractors and heavy winches, and returned the same way. This technique dates back centuries — adapted to the geography, and kept alive by generations of Hastings fishermen.
I was lucky enough to film a team launching one of the smaller boats into the morning tide. You can still feel the rhythm of work here — quiet but constant.
The Net Shops
Behind the boats stand the black wooden towers known as Net Shops — often called net huts, but their true name is older.
Built on tiny plots of land, each one is tall and narrow, designed to store and dry hemp fishing nets before the days of nylon. The tarred wood keeps them waterproof, and some reach three or four storeys high. You won’t find anything like them anywhere else in the world.
They’ve become an icon of Hastings — as much a part of the town as the boats and cliffs themselves.
East Hill and the View Across Town
Above Rock-a-Nore, the East Hill Lift rises up the cliff — the steepest funicular railway in England. At the top, you’re rewarded with views across the Old Town, the pier, and even Beachy Head in the distance.
From up there, you really see how the town fits together — hemmed in by the sea, the cliffs, and its own layered history.
Practical Info
- Location: Rock-a-Nore, Hastings, East Sussex
- Access: Easy via Rock-a-Nore Road, car parks nearby, and lift access to East Hill
- Best Time to Visit: Sunrise for photography; low tide if exploring east towards Covehurst
- Nearby:
- Covehurst Bay – wild, dramatic, and rarely crowded
- East Hill & Funicular – for the best views of Hastings
- Hastings Old Town – historic streets, local pubs, and galleries
Exmoor Ponies on Wilmington Hill – South Downs Views to Firle Beacon
Introduction
High on Wilmington Hill at the end of August, the weather turned blustery and dramatic. A rainbow briefly appeared before storm clouds rolled over the Downs. Against this backdrop, a herd of Exmoor ponies grazed the slopes, with Firle Beacon soft in the distance. These hardy ponies are more than just a beautiful sight — they play a vital role in conserving the chalk grassland of the South Downs.
Here’s a short reel from the day:
Exmoor ponies on the South Downs are here for a reason — conservation grazing keeps the slopes open for wildflowers, butterflies, and other wildlife.
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History & Landscape
Wilmington Hill rises steeply above the Sussex Weald, offering world-class views across the patchwork fields of the Downs. Just below lies one of the region’s most iconic landmarks — the Long Man of Wilmington, a mysterious chalk figure cut into the hillside.
The ponies here are Exmoors, one of Britain’s oldest native breeds. Their hardy build and steady grazing make them ideal for managing rough chalk grassland, preventing scrub from overwhelming the delicate ecosystem. This form of conservation grazing helps to preserve habitats for species such as the Grayling butterfly, which depends on open, sunny slopes.
Photography Notes
The light on this day was constantly shifting — clouds racing in the wind, the land below glowing one moment and darkening the next.
Photographing the ponies against this backdrop created a natural contrast: the immediacy of a living subject set against the timeless South Downs landscape.
Practical Info
- Location: Wilmington Hill, near the village of Wilmington, East Sussex
- Access: Footpaths lead up from Wilmington village and nearby car parks; the climb is steep in places but rewarded with wide views
- Best Time to Visit: Late summer and early autumn for dramatic skies and active grazing; spring for wildflowers
- Nearby:
- Long Man of Wilmington – iconic chalk figure just below the hill
- Firle Beacon – another South Downs high point with wide views
- Alfriston – historic village in the Cuckmere Valley
Closing Thoughts
The Exmoor ponies add something special to Wilmington Hill — a reminder that the South Downs are not just scenery but a living landscape, shaped by centuries of grazing, farming, and human imagination. With the Long Man at their feet and Firle Beacon on the horizon, this is Sussex at its most evocative.