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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Nearby

If you’re exploring Ecclesbourne Glen, these are all close by and worth combining into the same walk:

• Covehurst Bay – A quiet, remote beach below the cliffs, far less busy than Hastings seafront
• Dripping Well – 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

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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.