Beckley Woods sits on the High Weald near the East Sussex–Kent border and is a place that only really reveals itself in the right conditions. After weeks of cold, overcast and windy weather, December brought sustained rainfall — the kind of weather that keeps most people indoors, but transforms woodland streams and gullies. When wider landscapes feel flat, waterfalls become the natural focus.
Continue reading Beckley Woods Waterfalls After Heavy RainCategory Archives: East Sussex
East Sussex Landscape Photography
East Sussex Hiking Walking
November 2025 Photography Review – Sussex Walks, Coastlines and Autumn Light
Introduction
November brought a mix of short weather windows, local walks, and a few longer trips around the High Weald and South Downs. Most of the month was dominated by grey skies and fast-moving fronts, so every break in the weather turned into an opportunity to get out with the camera. From minimalist coastal scenes at Broomhill Sands, to long-exposure evenings on the Romney Marsh, to a series of drive-by shoots across the High Weald, the month produced a varied set of images and a lot of useful scouting for future locations. The final days brought clearer conditions on the cliffs at Birling Gap, rounding off the month with a couple of clean views across the Seven Sisters.
Continue reading November 2025 Photography Review – Sussex Walks, Coastlines and Autumn Light
October 2025 Landscape Photography in East Sussex – Monthly Review
Introduction
October is always one of the most rewarding months for landscape photography in East Sussex. The air turns crisp, the light softens, and the colours across the Downs and High Weald reach their peak. This month’s walks took me from the misty escarpments of Firle Beacon to the beech woods of Ashdown Forest and beyond—each location offering its own mix of atmosphere, light, and stillness. Below is a look back at my October 2025 photo walks, the best images from each, and a few notes from along the way.
Continue reading October 2025 Landscape Photography in East Sussex – Monthly Review
Battle Abbey – 1066 From Above
Introduction
Early one September morning, I filmed Battle Abbey from the town square as golden light hit the stone gatehouse. From there I launched the drone to get a full view of the site — the gatehouse, the surviving ranges, the ruins of the abbey church, and the fields where King Harold was said to have fallen in 1066.
Watch the 4k video below:
📍View on Google Maps
🗺️ All Map Locations Collection
The Abbey and Its Origins
Battle Abbey was founded by William the Conqueror as an act of penance following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. According to tradition, the high altar of the abbey church was placed on the very spot where King Harold was killed, marking the turning point in English history.
The abbey grew into one of Sussex’s most important monastic houses. Much of what stands today is the 14th-century gatehouse, built over an earlier Norman core, controlling access to the precinct.
The Gatehouse and Precinct
The gatehouse dominates the town square and remains one of the most complete medieval monastic gatehouses in England. It was both a symbol of authority and a checkpoint controlling access to the abbey’s lands and storehouses.
Behind it lies the west range, which survived largely intact because it was reused after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It became a private residence and later Battle Abbey School, which still occupies the buildings today.
The Ruins and the Battlefield
Little remains of the abbey church and cloister, but from the air the plan is still visible — the cloister to the south, chapter house and dormitory to the east, and refectory on the south range.
Beyond the walls stretch the fields traditionally known as the 1066 battlefield, where Harold’s army faced William’s Norman forces. Alternative theories place the battle at Caldbec Hill or Crowhurst, but Battle remains the most widely accepted site.
A Site of Survival
Battle Abbey’s condition today owes much to reuse and repair. Unlike the weathered civic gates of Rye and Winchelsea, this monastic gatehouse was adapted, maintained, and lived in. English Heritage now manages the site, preserving both the ruins and the memory of England’s defining battle.
Practical Info
Location: Battle, East Sussex
Access: Public entrance via the town square; English Heritage admission applies
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for light on the stonework
Nearby:
- Hastings Castle – Norman stronghold overlooking the coast
- Rye Town Gate – A surviving medieval gate from the Cinque Ports
- Winchelsea Gates – Civic fortifications from the same period
Bayham Abbey – Ruins on the Sussex–Kent Border
Introduction
Tucked away in the valley of the River Teise, Bayham Abbey is one of the most atmospheric ruins on the Sussex–Kent border. Founded in 1208 for the Premonstratensian order, it was once a thriving monastery of white-robed canons devoted to prayer and labour. Today the site is cared for by English Heritage and remains a hauntingly beautiful reminder of medieval devotion and Tudor upheaval.
Watch the short below for a glimpse of the ruins and autumn colours around the site.
A landscape steeped in history, Bayham Abbey straddles the boundary between East Sussex and Kent — the River Teise running through the grounds marks the official county line. Most of the abbey ruins lie just inside East Sussex, while the old entrance and later estate houses fall within Kent.
View on Google Maps ›
All Map Locations ›
History of Bayham Abbey
Bayham Abbey was established in 1208 when two smaller Premonstratensian houses — Otham in Sussex and Brockley in Kent — were merged into a new foundation on the River Teise. The order followed the rule of St Augustine, living communally with a focus on simplicity and self-sufficiency.
For more than three centuries, Bayham flourished. Its sandstone church, cloisters and chapter house formed a compact but impressive complex, surrounded by farmland and woodland owned by the abbey. Like so many monastic houses, it met its end in the 1530s during the Dissolution under Henry VIII. The property was seized by the Crown and the buildings quickly fell into ruin.
By the 18th century, the romantic decay of the abbey became part of a landscaped estate. A smaller house was built beside the ruins to frame the arches as a garden feature. In the early 19th century, architect Decimus Burton designed Bayham Old Abbey House on the hill above — a grand mansion overlooking both valley and ruins.
Visiting Today
Today, the abbey remains are managed by English Heritage and open to visitors. The ruins stand within a peaceful riverside meadow, surrounded by trees and gentle slopes. You can still trace the outlines of the church, cloisters and chapter house, with the tall west front and crossing arches rising above the grass.
It’s a quiet site, ideal for photography in early morning or late afternoon light. Autumn brings rich colour to the surrounding woodland, while spring reveals carpets of wildflowers along the banks of the Teise.
Practical Info
Location: Bayham Abbey, Furnace Lane, Little Bayham, Tunbridge Wells TN3 8LP
Access: Small English Heritage car park on site (free for members).
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for soft light; autumn and spring for colour.
Nearby:
- Scotney Castle – a romantic moated house and gardens nearby in Lamberhurst.
- Bewl Water – large reservoir offering walks and cycling routes.
- Batemans – the former home of Rudyard Kipling near Burwash.
Ashburnham Place – Autumn Reflections on a Lost Sussex Estate
Introduction
Ashburnham Place lies deep in the High Weald near Battle, once home to one of Sussex’s oldest landed families. By mid-October the trees here turn gold and amber, and walking the lakeside paths offers a glimpse of both natural beauty and a long English lineage.
Watch the short video below:
A calm autumn morning among Capability Brown’s sweeping parkland and St Peter’s Church.
View on Google Maps
All Map Locations Collection
The Ashburnham Legacy
The Ashburnham family took their name from the nearby village and rose to prominence through loyalty to the Crown and ownership of vast Sussex lands. John Ashburnham (1603–1671) served King Charles I during the Civil War and was later rewarded by Charles II, cementing the family’s wealth and influence.
Their estates extended across Sussex and into London, where the name still survives in Ashburnham Road and the Ashburnham Mansion Block in Chelsea.
The Lost House
The grand mansion at Ashburnham Place once stood as one of the county’s finest houses. Most of it was demolished in the 1950s, leaving only the west wing—now called the Coachman’s House.
The surrounding park was landscaped in the 18th century by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, with the Broad Water lake as its centrepiece.
Church and Landscape
Beside the lake stands St Peter’s Church, resting place of generations of the Ashburnham family. Inside are marble memorials and heraldic tablets that trace the family’s reach from medieval times to the 19th century. The church and lake remain the quiet heart of the estate, framed by autumn colours and Brown’s designed vistas.
A Landed Family in Decline
Like many great estates, Ashburnham’s fortunes faded as agricultural income fell. Heavy maintenance costs and post-war taxes forced the sale and demolition of much of the house. The remaining property became a Christian retreat centre, preserving part of the grounds for public enjoyment.
Practical Info
Location: Near Battle, East Sussex, on the High Weald. There is free parking and the Orangey café. No dog walking.
Access: Public footpaths lead around Broad Water and St Peter’s Church.
Best Time to Visit: Mid- to late autumn for colour, or spring for reflections on the lake.
Nearby: Battle Abbey – site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings; Penhurst Church – quiet Wealden village with medieval features; Bateman’s – Rudyard Kipling’s former home at Burwash.
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.
📍 View Lewes Castle on Google Maps
🗺️ See All My Map Locations
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
Mad Jack Fuller’s Follies Walk, Brightling
Introduction
Brightling, a quiet village in the High Weald, hides a collection of follies built by John “Mad Jack” Fuller (1757–1834). Fuller was an MP, philanthropist, and notorious eccentric whose wealth and imagination left behind a unique landscape of monuments.
This walk follows a loop around Brightling, taking in all six follies: the Pyramid, Tower, Temple, Sugarloaf, Observatory, and Needle.
Here’s a short flyover reel showing the route in OS Maps 3D, with photos of each folly along the way.
See all my mapped Sussex locations
The Pyramid
Standing in Brightling churchyard, the 25-foot Pyramid is Fuller’s own tomb. Legend has it he is buried upright inside, so he could rise facing east on Judgement Day.
Built in 1811, it dominates the churchyard and is the most famous of his follies.
View Brightling Pyramid on Google Maps
The Tower
Brightling Tower rises on a ridge above the High Weald. Built in 1813, it’s said Fuller wanted to watch ships coming into the English Channel — though at nearly 10 miles inland, it seems unlikely.
Today the Tower is a striking landmark on the walk.
View Brightling Tower on Google Maps
The Temple
Tucked away in the fields is the Grecian-style Temple. Used for Fuller’s gatherings and amusements, it shows his taste for classical design.
Now surrounded by farmland, it adds a surprising touch of ancient Greece to the Sussex countryside.
View Brightling Tower on Google Maps
The Sugarloaf
The Sugarloaf is perhaps the most curious — a conical stone monument with no clear purpose. Local tales suggest it was built to hide the brickwork of a smuggler’s kiln.
Others think it was simply another of Fuller’s eccentric whims.
View Brightling Sugarloaf on Google Maps
The Observatory
Fuller was a supporter of science, and in 1810 he funded the building of an Observatory on the edge of Brightling.
Though it is no longer in use, the building is a reminder of his patronage of astronomy.
View Brightling Observatory on Google Maps
The Needle
The final folly is the Needle, a tall obelisk standing stark on the hill. Its purpose remains uncertain — perhaps to mark an estate boundary, or perhaps simply to bewilder posterity.
Whatever the reason, it completes the set of follies around Brightling.
View Brightling Temple on Google Maps
Practical Info
- Location: Brightling, East Sussex, in the heart of the High Weald.
- Access: The follies are scattered around the village; OS Maps or a GPS route is recommended. Parking is possible in Brightling village.
- Best Time to Visit: Spring through autumn for clear paths and views across the High Weald.
- Nearby:
Bodiam Castle – The Storybook Fortress of Sussex
Introduction
Bodiam Castle looks like it has stepped straight out of a fairytale — a 14th-century fortress perfectly mirrored in its surrounding moat. Built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, it was intended both as a defensive stronghold against French raids and as a statement of wealth and power. Today, it stands as one of the best-loved castles in Sussex, drawing visitors from across the world.
Here’s a short reel from my visit to Bodiam Castle:
The castle’s location can be found on Google Maps and you can also explore it alongside my other places on All Map Locations.
A Castle of Defence and Display
Construction began in 1385 after Dalyngrigge received permission, or “license to crenellate,” from Richard II. The design — a near-perfect quadrangle surrounded by water — was as much about prestige as practicality. Its wide moat and single entrance drawbridge offered real defence, but the elegant symmetry and impressive towers were built to impress as much as protect.
The castle later passed through the Lewknor family and then, during the English Civil War, was partially dismantled to prevent military use. By the 19th century, it was a romantic ruin attracting artists and travellers. In 1829, the eccentric local squire John “Mad Jack” Fuller purchased the castle to prevent its destruction, ensuring its survival. Its fortunes changed again when Lord Curzon undertook major restoration in the early 20th century, before entrusting Bodiam to the National Trust in 1925.
Visiting Bodiam Castle
Wandering around the site today, you can cross the moat on the bridge, climb the towers for sweeping views of the Rother Valley, and look down into the ruined interiors where the great hall, kitchens, and chapel once stood. The moat itself teems with wildlife, while the surrounding landscape makes it a favourite spot for walks and photography.
Practical Info
Location: Near Robertsbridge, East Sussex, in the Rother Valley
Access: Managed by the National Trust, with paid entry and parking onsite
Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn for reflections in the moat, but summer offers longer opening hours
Nearby:
- Bateman’s – The former home of Rudyard Kipling, also a National Trust property
- Great Dixter House & Gardens – A short drive away, famous for its historic gardens
- Robertsbridge Abbey – Remains of a medieval abbey not far from the castle
Storm Waves at Newhaven Lighthouse
Introduction
At the edge of Newhaven Harbour, where the River Ouse meets the sea, the white tower of Newhaven Lighthouse has stood since 1885. Built to guide ships safely into port, it rises at the end of the long breakwater, facing the full force of the English Channel. On stormy days the waves hammer the seawall and crash against the lighthouse itself, turning this working harbour into one of the most dramatic sights on the Sussex coast.
Watch the short video here:
Filmed during storm conditions, the footage captures the lighthouse from several vantage points — down on West Beach, up on the cliffs by Newhaven Fort, and across from Seaford Beach.
- View location on Google Maps
- See all map locations
A Beacon Since 1885
Newhaven Lighthouse was built at the end of the 19th century, when the harbour was expanding to handle cross-channel trade. The breakwater provided protection for ships entering the River Ouse, while the lighthouse itself ensured vessels could find safe passage in poor weather.
Storm Watching on the Sussex Coast
The harbour wall and West Beach are particularly dramatic in stormy conditions, when waves break over the seawall in bursts of spray.
Photographers and sightseers often gather along Seaford seafront or up by the fort to capture the power of the sea. Although public access along the “Long Arm” pier to the lighthouse has been closed since 2008, the surrounding viewpoints still offer some of the most striking storm scenes in Sussex.
Practical Info
- Location: Newhaven, East Sussex, at the mouth of the River Ouse.
- Access: Best viewed from Seaford Beach, West Beach, or the cliffs near Newhaven Fort. The Long Arm and sandy West Beach area remain closed to the public.
- Best Time to Visit: During stormy or windy weather, especially when the tide is high — though always from a safe distance.
- Nearby:
- Seaford Head & Seven Sisters – iconic chalk cliffs with sweeping views.
- Newhaven Fort – Victorian coastal defence overlooking the harbour.
- Seaford Bay – a long shingle beach stretching east towards Splash Point.
- Hope Gap – Small bay nestled between Cuckmere Haven and Seaford Head
- Cuckmere Haven – Small bay nestled between Seaford Head and the Seven Sisters
Mary Stanford Lifeboat House – A Silent Memorial on Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Introduction
On the edge of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, surrounded by birdsong and open sky, stands a weather-beaten wooden building. It looks quiet and forgotten, but this is one of the most poignant memorials on the Sussex coast — the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House, site of the worst disaster in RNLI history.
Here’s a short video capturing the calm beauty of the location and the story behind it:
This peaceful spot now forms part of the thriving Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, filled with birds, wildflowers, and wide skies.
Yet in 1928, this stretch of coastline saw unimaginable loss.
🌍 View on Google Maps
📍 All Map Locations
The Tragedy of the Mary Stanford
In the early hours of 15 November 1928, a force 10 gale pounded the Sussex coast. The lifeboat Mary Stanford, stationed at Rye Harbour, was launched to assist the Latvian ship Alice of Riga, believed to be in trouble.
What the crew didn’t know was that the Alice had already been rescued.
Despite brutal conditions, the 17 crewmen rowed — yes, rowed — into the storm. The Mary Stanford had no engine, no radio, and no shelter. It was a wooden oar-powered boat, already scheduled for replacement.
The lifeboat was later spotted upside down off Broomhill Sands, and over the next few hours, 15 bodies washed ashore. One man was found further west. The youngest crew member, 17-year-old John Head, was never recovered.
The Boathouse Today
The lifeboat house still stands — boarded up, weathered, and scarred by spray paint. You can’t go inside, but you can stand beside it and feel the weight of what it represents.
There is a small plaque on the wall naming the crew. Nearby, the pebble memorial commemorates all 17 men. And every November, a memorial service is held in the local church on Harbour Road.
Some have called for the building to be restored as a visitor centre, perhaps with a replica of the lifeboat inside. Others say it should remain as it is — haunting, weather-beaten, and watching the sea, just as it always has.
Nature and Memory
Walking here in June, the contrast is striking. The nature reserve is vibrant — birds call across the wetlands, butterflies dance in the grasses, and the sun breaks across the shingle beach.
But as you stand by the lifeboat house, it’s impossible not to imagine that final launch: the storm, the cold, the bravery.
The sea was calm the day I filmed — but the wind still remembers. And the sea never forgets.
Practical Info
- Location: Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex
- Access: Walkable path from Rye Harbour village; flat terrain, gravel/shingle
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning or golden hour for photography and peaceful light
- Nearby:
- Rye Harbour Nature Reserve – full trail guide and birdlife
- Winchelsea Beach – just along the coast
- Camber Sands – dramatic open dunes nearby