Welcome to the Polegate Ramblers!
To go directly to our Walks Programme, click here
If you already know you want to join us, click here.
Congratulations on making the first move towards joining our friendly club.
Fortnightly 2-mile leisure walks
Our fortnightly leisure walks average two and a half miles with no stiles or steep hills, walking at a leisurely pace and finishing up at a cafe for refreshments. Using our bus passes (and so lowering our carbon footprint), we travel to our starting point in Bexhill, Eastbourne, Seaford or Heathfield or a more local village in between. The Leisure Group is an ideal starting point for those whom are new to rambling or who are recovering from injury, illness or an operation. We are a very sociable group, and new members are made very welcome. For further information, telephone Sue Taylor on 01323 482441 – evenings are best.
Weekly half day and full day walks
We walk every Thursday, meeting at Polegate Rec car park by 9.30am and then car-sharing to the start point of our walk. There is usually a 5-mile and a 10-mile walk offered and you can choose whichever suits you that week.
There are usually 15-20 walkers in each group. We take our own refreshments for a coffee break, and for the all-day walks a picnic lunch too. Groups usually return to the rec car park by about 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock depending on how far away the walk has been. The long-walkers don’t go any further than Brighton in the west, or just past Hastings in the east. Most walks are within 15 minutes drive of Polegate and sometimes we just walk from Polegate.
How do I know where the walk is going?
Some members volunteer to take it in turns to submit a walk to the walks co-ordinator and then lead it which means we get a good selection of venues, views and terrain. A 4-month programme is created and posted on our website in January, May and September. All members are encouraged to take a turn at leading, and Old Hands are always willing to help with the planning, recceing and leading so it’s a gentle introduction to being a leader, although leading is not obligatory. Take a look at our current programme here:
What if I don’t have a car?
No car? No problem. We always car-share so there will always be a lift for you from Polegate rec to the start of the walk. A ‘suggested voluntary payment’ (SVP) is indicated in each walks’ details for passengers to pay to the driver to cover fuel costs.
Do we do anything else?
Three times a year we have a social gathering. In March we get together for a smart lunch at the Langham Hotel on the seafront; in the summer we have a joint short/long-walkers walk and picnic, probably at Bushey Wood; and in December we have another joint walk followed by a simple lunch cooked by our social secretaries in a village hall.
So what next?
We are a friendly, laid back bunch. If you think you would like to join us you can ‘try before you buy’ by coming on a couple of walks before you decide. Then the annual subscription is £5 which covers you from June to the following May. Just choose which walk you would like to try, contact the leader (saying you are a potential new member) and turn up at Polegate rec. When you are ready to join, click here for a membership form:
We look forward to meeting you!
To find out more about us, click here.
Quotes from members
“Joining the Polegate Ramblers is the best thing I’ve ever done. I got a job-lot of new friends and it is an incentive to go out every week to enjoy our beautiful countryside.” Lindsey
“I really look forward to Thursdays. It’s like having a little holiday.” Richard
Once you’ve been out on a couple of rambles with us we hope you will sign up and become a regular Polegate Rambler.
Revised 05/2023
