HIDDEN TREASURE
Sheltered by Fairlight Cliffs, Pett Level Beach in Sussex is a favourite spot for quiet family adventures, says Tanya Jackson
The strip of coastline that stretches from Hastings to Dungeness has a simple and desolate beauty, composed of shifting shingle beaches battered by strong winds. But at its southern tip, just east of Fairlight Cove, lies one of Sussex’s most prized treasures: Pett Level Beach, a spot shielded by cliffs and filled with natural wonders.
As the tide moves out, pebbles give way to sand, rocks and a petrified sunken forest that emerges through the clay and dates back to 5200 BCE. In contrast to the noisy, busy Camber Sands and the featureless Winchelsea Beach, Pett Level is a quiet heaven.
COLOURS OF THE COAST
Park in the lay-by opposite the Smuggler’s Inn (currently closed) or continue along
Pett Level Road to the little car park near the toilet block (the nearest facilities). Walk along the waterfront to access the beach, giving the unstable cliffs a wide berth.
The colours on the beach are everything an artist could dream of – emerald, mustard and mocha. The clay is very sticky, however, and many a shoe has been lost to it. But it’s worth the risk for the riches in the rock pools. In fact, the clay is so malleable you can create your own sculptures from it – responsibly, of course.
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS
Venture across the rocks towards Hastings to find a spot to enjoy the scenery and any refreshments you have brought along. There are fossils to be found here and the eagle-eyed may find the Iguanodon footprint among the boulders (be patient – it took me four years to find it).
For those looking to cover more ground, there’s a nine-mile circular walk from the car park that takes you up Chick Hill, across Hastings Country Park and over Fairlight Cliffs (also known as the ‘Fire Hills’ when the yellow gorse flowers set them alight). The views out to sea as you descend back down to the coastal road are breathtaking. Veer south-west if you fancy joining the naturists, or head east to the beach for another go at finding that footprint.