Cambridge Society Weekend Trip to Hastings – Friday 7th – 9th May 2004 

The annual Cambridge Society weekend trip away organised by the Berkshire Society, saw as travel to Hastings on Friday 7th March 2004.

Friday

First stop was Battle, where we arrived at the pub at 12.00 for a Ploughmans lunch and a pint. We looked around Battle Abbey with are guide Rebecca. The ceilings of the abbey were fabulous.

Second stop was the organic Winery, Sedlescombe. Not only did they make white wine, but also red wine. We admired their enthusiasm. Their house was self-built in the 1980s.

After the winery we drove to Hastings and to are hotel on the sea front. Our room was unusual, tall, with the bed in a gallery and looking out to sea.

Supper was a carvery, followed by presentations and an overview of the Cinque Port history.

Saturday

Up for breakfast by 7.30, so that we could walk to the railway station at St Leonard’s, catch a train to Hastings, change and go on to Winchelsea. The train to Winchelsea was one with slam doors. Peter Worsley said the trains were nicknamed Thumpers. The driver said this was their last week of service, and were being replaced.

We walked up from the station to Winchelsea old town. We looked around the church. The church had a fantastic stained glass windows

From Winchelsea, we walked across to a gate of the old town, then down to the marshes and along the military canal. We saw a white house, mock ’30s, which had been in the Grand Designs TV program.

Here the group split into the geologists and others. The geologists walked along the coast admiring the fossils and strata. We had to scale the cliffs a couple of times, in one place it was extremely muddy, with a rope to help us up. At the top was a notice warning of the dangerous state of the cliffs.

Final part of the walk was through Hastings Country Park to the Coast Guard café and a pre booked lunch.

After lunch, continued the walk to Hastings and back to the hotel.

Sunday

First stop on Sunday was Rye, where we split into groups for a whistle stop tour of the town

Second stop was the winery of Tenterden. Much more technological winery.

Third stop was Bodiam castle.

The fourth and final visit of the day was Sissinghurst. Unfortunately, the light was not good for photography. Somehow we managed to miss tea.