Hacking - Kent/East Sussex - Specific areas - advice please!

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cyearsley

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Hi, my hubby and I are considering moving to enable me to possibly have my horse at home and where we currently live is much too pricey. We have quite a few different areas in mind but would like opinions on all you Kent and East Sussex people as to what the haching is like in these areas, if you are familiar with them - thanks in advance for all your help, hacking is quite important to me and though happy to trailer to get some longer, fast rides, its nice to know you have a bit on your doorstep.
Area 1 - East Sussex - Beckley, Northiam, Ivychurch
Area 2 - East Sussex - Robertsbridge, Uckfield, Brede
Area 3 - Kent - Horsmonden, Yalding or maybe Tenterden area
Area 4 - Kent - Sandwich area Shatterling, Nash, Staple,
Area 5 - Kent - Manston, Broadstairs
Area 5 - Kent - Canterbury, Molash, Chilham (in my dreams)
 
I live near ish to Uckfield and no most areas in East Sussex. Uckfield is ok central to lost of places but not the best for hacking as a big town try Buxted, framfield or villages around, they are near by and nice. Brede is nice too
What about kent sussex borders (around tunbridge wells) , nice around there too??
 
I'm also in Kent and, like you ,would love to keep the horse at home but from what i can tell there are no cheap parts of Kent or Sussex, if you find somewhere let me know cos at the moment im moving to France instead!!!
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As this is 'my' area, Sandwich, not much decent hacking, good beach but you have to pay to get on it + pay for box, Manston forget it! Canterbury - some very good areas but may be costly.
 
Well firstly, good luck in finding somewhere 'cheap' in Kent or Sussex...but then I guess if you live in London then maybe
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Some of your areas are to be quite blunt, vast
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Robertsbridge, Uckfield, Brede would cover a few hundred square miles I would think
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The problem you have with hacking is finding something within a few hundred yards or perhaps a mile of your house / yard. These type of places tend to be quite localised and also quite pricey as they are 'nice' places to live.

Some places that spring to mind are :-

Rotherfield / Eridge with access to a few thousand acres of Rotherfield Woods.

Crowborough / Hartfield - Access to hundreds of acres of Ashdown Forest.

Polegate / Seaford / Firle / Brighton - With access to the South Downs.

Battle is good for 900 acres of The Forestry Commission woodland.

Wadhurst / Ticehurst - Bewl reservoir for hacking.

Probably best to look at the Forestry Commission website or TROT (Toll Rides Trust) website and see where the is to ride, then look for property nearby.

I personally don't like East Kent...I think West Kent and East Sussex is nicer, but that is just a personal opinion. Obviously prices are a bit cheaper in the East though
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Come to east sussex, trust me its better than all the rest!

We have all off road hacking for miles and miles, direct access onto the south downs, tempted??

Pm me if you want any help around east sussex
 
Hi ,definatly East Sussex. Northiam and Beckley have some nice forestry comission rides and easy trailer drive to Battle Woods and others. Iden / peasmarsh have some miles of lovely permissive rights of way and you can ride from northiam to Iden along the river . Camber Sands is nice and close for a lovely beach ride. Battle is ok but only really the woods for riding and same for Robertsbridge. Uckfield has the cuckoo trail which is lovely . I live in Iden nr Rye and sold my house and uprooted to be here just for the fantastic hacking. Good luck with the search equestrian properties dont come cheap!
 
Thanks for all your comments and keep it coming ! I never said anywhere in Kent was "cheap" just someparts are more reasonable than others or you get more for your money. East Sussex seems slightly better value but not much and I like East Sussex very much, esp round Beckley etc. Would be interested if anyone has any more comments esp about Horsemonden as I seem to remember someone telling me the hacking there was non-existant. Don't expect the luxury of 100s acres on my doorstep but would be nice to go out for a leg stretch without always getting in a trailer or riding down a busy road. Just doing research at the moment so any comments appreciated.
 
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Uckfield has the cuckoo trail which is lovely.

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The Cuckoo Trail doesn't go anywhere near Uckfield
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It runs from Polegate via Hailsham to Heathfield
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