Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 35

This scenic train journey across the High Weald to the historic seaside resort of Hastings is a great day out for all the family. While the destination has much to offer, the railway journey is equally interesting, calling at historic towns and villages as it winds through forested valleys and burrows under the hard red sandstone hills via no less than seven tunnels. Trains leave Tunbridge Wells station in a southerly direction and immediately start the climb through Grove Tunnel and Strawberry Hill Tunnel before emerging into the lush High Wealden landscape. The railway follows the contours to reach the small town of Wadhurst and the summit of the line.

Leaving Wadhurst through the long Wadhurst Tunnel, the railway then weaves its way down into the valley of the River Rother, calling at Stonegate and Etchingham, before arriving at the picturesque village of Robertsbridge. From here, in the not too distant future, it will be possible to travel by steam train eastwards along the Rother Valley to Bodiam and Tenterden. From Robertsbridge, the railway climbs up through Mountfield Tunnel to reach the second summit of the line at Battle – this small town is so named after the Battle of Hastings, which took place here in 1066. From Battle, the railway meanders down through wooded hills to Crowhurst before joining the East Coastway Line at Bopeep Junction. Our journey’s end is nigh but not before plunging through the long Bopeep Tunnel, calling at St Leonards Warrrior Square station and emerging from Hastings Tunnel into the ultra-modern Hastings station.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

beach; harbour; sea fishing trips; 1930s double-decker promenade; old town; Hastings Castle; West Hill Cliff Railway; East Hill Cliff Railway; St Clements Caves; Fishermen’s Museum

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

2 per hour

28¼ MILES 38-51 MINUTES

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 0

Fishing boats high and dry on the beach at Hastings. In the background is the Victorian cliff railway.