This route takes you from Pevensey Bay to Cooden Beach along the King Charles III England Coast Path, here is a detailed breakdown of the 5.2-mile (8.4 km) stretch. 

The path follows a relatively flat linear trajectory, primarily traversing a vast shingle ridge that serves as a vital flood defense for the low-lying Pevensey Levels. 

Start at the Pevensey Bay Sailing Club, where the trail transitions from the developed Sovereign Harbour onto the open beach.

As you head east through Beachlands, the official path intermittently diverts off the shingle onto Norman Road and The Parade. This provides a firmer walking surface for approximately 1.7 km while maintaining sea views.

The coastal path passes through a residential area on Bay Road and then Coast Road, past an Environmental Agency site and more modern residential properties out of Pevensey.

Immediately inland from the path, as you leave Pevensey, lies this Site of Special Scientific Interest (Pevensey Levels), one of Britain’s largest wetland areas. Look for rare wildfowl and wetland plants likeSea Kale and Yellow Horned-Poppy, which bloom on the vegetated shingle in spring and summer. A drainage ditch ‘Tower Ditch’ running parallel to Coast Road.

Follow the signs from Coast Road back briefly onto the shingle beach at Norman’s Bay, which takes you around the Norman’s Bay Camping and Caravan site on your left.

The coastal path then rejoins Coast Road which you follow until you reach Norman’s Bay Caravan Park and then turn right following the Road with the caravan park on your left. Follow the road until you rejoin the beach.

Before rejoining Coast Road don’t miss the opportunity to take in Martello Tower (No 55) A notable Napoleonic-era defensive fort that has been sensitively converted into a private residence, visible from the Beachlands section.

Reaching Normans Bay, the landscape becomes more remote. The route follows the beach or the quiet Herbrand Walk road.

The Smuggling Trail: Historically, this stretch was a notorious hotspot for the “Hawkhurst Gang” and other smugglers who used the desolate shingle banks to land illicit goods.

Tide Alert: At low tide, firmer sand is revealed below the shingle, which is significantly easier to walk on than the loose pebbles. At high tide, you must use the inland road or sea wall.

Follow Hebrand Walk past the Goose Kitesurfing and Paddle Boarding club, which also has a small number of fishing boats lined up on the beach.

Continue along Hebrand Walk, with the shingle beach on the right and the railway on the left, past the numerous beach huts and the back on to the beach.

The path remains on the beach until it reaches the The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel, where it joins the western end of the Bexhill promenade. 

The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel, originally built in 1928 as a private residence for the De La Warr family, began as a lavish mock-Tudor property that hosted royalty and celebrities like King George VI, Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Windsor, and Winston Churchill, later becoming a hotel known for its glamorous history and seaside location. Acquired by Grace Leo’s Relais Retreats in 2021, it underwent significant refurbishment to create a stylish coastal retreat with a spa, blending its historic charm with modern, waterside-inspired interiors. 

Practical Information

• Transport Links: The route is perfectly bookended by Pevensey Bay Station and Cooden Beach Station. Normans Bay also has a small station roughly at the midpoint if you need an early exit.
• Walking Surface: If you choose to stay on the beach, be prepared for “hard going” shingle. Sturdy, high-ankle footwear is recommended to prevent blisters and fatigue.
• Refreshments: Options are limited between the two villages. The Relais Cooden Beach at the end offers a terrace for post-walk drinks.
• Coastal Management: In 2026, you may see ongoing beach maintenance by the Environment Agency and contractor VolkerStevin, who manage the shingle to protect against 1-in-200-year storm events.