Dogging in East Sussex: area guide

The lie of the land in East Sussex

East Sussex has Lewes as its county town, while Brighton and Hove, a city, is a separate unitary authority on the coast. Eastbourne, Hastings, Bexhill, Newhaven, Seaford, Rye, Battle, Uckfield, Crowborough and Heathfield fill in the map. The coast is built up for much of its length, with towns running into each other along the A259.

The South Downs National Park covers the southern half, with chalk hills, steep slopes and the Cuckmere valley meeting the sea beside tall chalk cliffs west of Eastbourne. The High Weald National Landscape covers the north, a land of sandstone ridges, small woods and deep lanes. Pevensey Levels and Rye Bay are low, wet and flat.

People come from Brighton, London, Kent and across the border in West Sussex. The county is long and narrow, so a journey from one end to the other takes longer than the map suggests. Where the coast is crowded, the Downs and Weald are empty, and quiet places can still fill up for no clear reason.

Getting about safely

The A27 runs along the south from Brighton past Lewes to Polegate and Eastbourne, then the A259 follows the coast on to Hastings and Rye. The A26 climbs north from Newhaven through Lewes to Uckfield and Crowborough, and the A22 and A21 serve the north. The A23 and M23 link Brighton to London. The A27 jams at Lewes and Polegate at busy times.

The Brighton Main Line connects Brighton to London Victoria and London Bridge. Coastway trains run east to Lewes, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings, and the Hastings line also runs north to Tunbridge Wells and London via Battle. The Marshlink line links Hastings to Ashford via Rye, and services thin out late. The Uckfield branch ends at Uckfield. Last trains leave around midnight, earlier on branches. Newhaven has ferry links to Dieppe.

Chalk cliffs crumble, and the edges give way without warning, so keep well back. Tides come in quickly on shingle beaches and rock platforms, so check tide times. Steep downland roads can be icy in winter and misty with sea fret in spring. Deer cross the Weald lanes at dusk. Signal fades in the valleys. Share your location with a friend.