The open grassland on East Hill stretches 3-4 miles east into Hastings Country Park at Fairlight. This Country Park covers about 660 acres consisting of ancient woodland, heath and grassland together with 3-4 miles of dramatic cliffs and coast.

This funicular railway is the steepest in the country and runs from Rock-a-Nore Road to the summit of East Hill. It is currently, in 2008, undergoing maintenance and was not working when we were there and is not expected to re-open before 2009.

Off to the left (west) out of the picture there are steps which will also take you to the top of the hill. See the next picture

These steps start, in a street called Tackleway, by the white house on the left and behind the fence and will take you to the top of the hill by the Funicular terminus.

These cliffs, shown here at the eastern end of Hastings, run the 3-4 miles east to Fairlight Cove.

The cliff at Rock-A-Nore comprises mostly of Ashdown Sandstone with the Wadhurst Clay above it but towards Fairlight Cove there is a fault which causes a sudden change where the Wadhurst Clay is dropped to the level of the Ashdown beds. There are fossils to be found along these cliffs but you do need to watch the tide to avoid the possibility of being cut off.

This area by the shore is where the main fishing activities used to be and, to a lesser extent, still are.

This part of Rock-a-Nore is the heart of The Stade. The name dates back to before 1066 and means 'landing place'. During the medieval period Hastings was one of the Cinque Ports and provided England with naval craft before the Royal Navy existed. In return. Hastings fishermen were given the use of the Stade, and it is now home to the largest beach-based fishing fleet in Europe.