WEEKEND IN HASTINGS -- INCLUDING HASTINGS CLIFF RAILWAYS

A much needed weekend away, and while I regularly nip down to the south coast it's not Brighton this time around but Hastings. Can't say I've been before, and it's a pleasant change of scenery though, the journey down sees us travel from home to Waterloo and pop over to Waterloo East to catch the Southeastern service to Hastings, via Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. Have regularly travelled down to Sevenoaks and Royal Tunbridge Wells over the years on this line and although not the most scenic of views the journey is swift and very comfortable in my opinion. Arriving in Hastings in a little over an hour and half and only a short walk from the Station down to the sea front. 

Plenty of walking along the coast, could have done with some warmer weather but not out to get a suntan in any case. The is something special about getting to the seaside, the sea air does seem to help me a lot with clearing my mind. Then of course there is the scenery and in particular at couple of Funicular Railways that take visitors up from the seafront to the ruins of Hastings Castle and the Country Park and provide the visitor (on a clear day) with some excellent views out over the English Channel and over to Beachy Head too. 

East Hill Cliff Railway
The more dramatic East Hill Cliff Railway runs a shorter distance of 267 feet at a gradient of 78%, making it the steepest funicular railway in the United Kingdom. Built in 1903 by Hastings Borough Council, the line originally operated on the water balance principle, with the twin towers of the upper station containing the water tanks for this purpose. After modernisation works between 1973 and 1976, the line was converted to electric operation with new cars provided. The railway has two cars, each with a capacity of 16 passengers, and runs on a 5 foot gauge. 

West Hill Cliff Railway
The West Hill Lift retains its original wooden Victorian coaches, and also runs through a tunnel, very unusual for a funicular. The lift's charming lower station is in traffic-free George Street which is full of continental-style cafés, art shops and bookshops. The West Hill itself offers some of the town's most remarkable views, stretching round to Beachy Head in the west and out across the Channel, the busiest sea lane on the world.

The seafront is also home to the Hastings Miniature Railway Opened in 1948, The Railway operates along half a mile of Hastings Old Town seafront between Rock-a-nore and Marine Parade. The railway provides transport between local attractions and museums as well as being a historic pleasure railway. 

Rock-a-Nore station is the main headquarters of the railway, with the locomotive sheds, workshops and storage sheds for the railways rolling stock. It is situated at the east-most end of Hastings Old Town surrounded by the Fisherman and Shipwreck Museums, Aquarium, East Hill Cliff Railway and main Old Town Car Park. 

Hope to return here again sometime, it's quite a nice little place and there are other options that I didn't check out during my time. Not as big and busy as Brighton, but plenty to occupy yourself with and just for a few days away makes a nice change of pace from being stuck at home. Thank you Hastings, it's been emotional.