Hastings Holiday 2026

Bank Holiday Monday, also Star Wars day (May the 4th) and I arrived at London Bridge Station early and met up with Louise and Jinan, who had both booked the same train, which was good as it’s one of South East trains finest!

We arrived at St Leonards Warrior Square Station (great name) and together with Marian, who was on the same train, got a cab to the camp-site where Madeleine, Frances and Parviz had just arrived. We had 4 caravans in total, for the 10 of us, dotted across the site. After checking in, some of us headed to the supermarket to buy the provisions which were split between the caravans. In the evening, we met in the Mash and Barrel, the camp’s traditional pub style restaurant, and afterwards sampled the delights of the live entertainment and amusement arcade.

On Tuesday we went for a group walk around Hastings Country Park, a few miles away, and Cathy and Richard came down to join us for the day. After some classic Efog faffing about sorting out cars, we set off to the Park’s visitor centre where Cathy & Richard were already waiting. From the centre, we headed eastwards along the cliff-top towards Fairlight, with views over the countryside and the channel. Just as I was thinking we might be lost, we found a convenient footpath through a pretty wood and luckily found a couple of tables and benches, perfect for our lunch.

After lunch, we returned back along the cliffs to the visitor centre, where some departed to visit Hastings Pier (which was unfortunately shut) whilst others explored a bit more of the park, seeing a group of Exmoor ponies and Sussex cattle, before returning to the campsite, for the evening meal at the restaurant, after which Cathy and Richard departed for home.

On Wednesday morning, some of us went swimming at the site’s indoor pool, after which we headed off to explore Hastings for the day. On arrival we headed to a nice fish and chip restaurant for lunch, before splitting up and exploring the Old Town, with it’s narrow streets and passages, and seemingly a million antique shops.

I bumped into Jinan and Jill and we enjoyed an ice-cream before meeting up with the others on the sea-front for a game of crazy golf, which was won by some distance by Frances (well done). Returning to the camp-site, most people didn’t need an evening meal so they pretty much did their own thing in the evening, I headed to the sports bar to watch the football, although sadly for me, it was a poor match.

On Thursday, which was Jill’s birthday, Jinan had to return home early, so the rest of us went to Rye to look around this historic and picturesque town. Jill, Louise, Madeleine and I soon found a tea shop, before exploring the town and visiting the old church, a wonderful scented candle shop and the Rye Castle Museum Ypres Tower, part of the town’s old defences.

After lunch, we visited Rye Nature Reserve and walked along the beach and through the reserve, spotting lots of different birds including terns and avocets. Back at the camp-site we went for a last meal at the Mash and Barrel, after which everyone returned to our caravan, which we had lavishly decorated (10 balloons and a banner!) for the birthday girl, and the odd glass of wine or fruit cider.

On Friday, people departed for their homes. Louise, Madeleine and I had a walk along the river at the bottom of the camp-site but couldn’t find the nature reserve shown on the site map, although we did hear a cuckoo very clearly. On returning we got a cab to the station and departed on our train home.

It had been a good holiday, the caravans were clean and comfortable and I’d like to thank everyone for coming and helping to make it the good break that it was. Where will we go next year?

Trev Eley, May 2026