Hastings Country Park and the Firehills
East Sussex
Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve runs for about four miles along the sandstone cliffs east of Hastings Old Town to the village of Fairlight, 345 hectares of gorse, heather, glens and cliff top grassland managed by Hastings Borough Council. The Firehills, the gorse and heather covered slopes above the cliffs, take their name from the blaze of yellow and purple colour they carry in late summer, and this 4.5km circular walk, good for a dog off lead, from the visitor centre on Coastguard Lane follows a surfaced path towards the coast before looping back through rougher, undulating cliff top tracks with sea views for much of the route. Fairlight Glen, a wooded valley dropping steeply to Covehurst Bay, can be added as a longer extension from the main loop.
This dog friendly walk combines proper sea views with varied underfoot conditions, from the smooth surfaced path near the visitor centre to rougher, sometimes steep tracks further round. Native Sussex cattle graze parts of the reserve as conservation grazing, managed with GPS collars that keep them off the public footpaths, so dogs on the paths themselves are unlikely to meet them, though it is still worth keeping a dog under control near the boundary of any grazed area. The cliffs are unfenced in places, so keep dogs back from the edge, and the heathland scent of gorse and heather gives plenty for a dog's nose to enjoy. There is a cafe and toilets at the visitor centre, and Hastings Old Town has dog friendly pubs a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.5 km (2.8 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 40 min
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Heathland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafe and toilets at the visitor centre on Coastguard Lane; dog friendly pubs in Hastings Old Town nearby.
- Parking
- Pay and display car park at the Hastings Country Park visitor centre, Coastguard Lane, Fairlight.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Hastings Country Park and the Firehills, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hastings Country Park and the Firehills dog friendly?
Hastings Country Park and the Firehills scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness, making it a great choice for a day out with your dog. The 4.5km circular walk gives dogs plenty of open clifftop ground to explore, and there's a cafe and toilets at the visitor centre on Coastguard Lane, with dog friendly pubs in Hastings Old Town a short drive away.
Can dogs be off lead at Hastings Country Park and the Firehills?
This walk is described as good for a dog off lead, with open heathland and clifftop tracks offering plenty of space to roam. That said, the cliffs are unfenced in places so it's worth keeping your dog back from the edges, and if you're near any areas of conservation grazing you'll want to keep them under close control — though the native Sussex cattle that graze parts of the reserve are managed with GPS collars to keep them off the public footpaths.
What should I know before visiting Hastings Country Park and the Firehills with my dog?
The route takes in a mix of surfaces, from a smooth path near the visitor centre to rougher, sometimes steep clifftop tracks further round, so it's worth having that in mind if your dog isn't used to varied terrain. The cliffs are unfenced in sections, so keep dogs away from the edge, and while the GPS-collared cattle that graze the reserve are kept off the public footpaths, it's sensible to keep your dog under control near grazed areas. On the plus side, the gorse and heather of the Firehills — especially vivid in late summer — give a dog's nose plenty to enjoy.
Visitor Reviews
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Hastings Country Park Visitor Centre, Coastguard Lane, Fairlight, Hastings TN35 4AB
50.8735, 0.6432
Get DirectionsWhat’s Nearby?
Beach0.8 mi awayFairlight Cove
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A remote and dramatic fossil beach at the base of unstable sandstone cliffs, accessible only on foot with no facilities; year-round dog access and genuinely wild character.
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Beach4.6 mi awayWinchelsea Beach
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A quiet, unhurried shingle beach with a dog-friendly cafe, year-round access outside restricted summer zones, and easy walking distance from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Attraction7.3 mi away1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
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The field where the Battle of Hastings was fought, with a mile of open battlefield to walk with your dog and an audio tour in your ear.