Fairlight Glen — Covehurst Bay naturist beach

Directions & Parking

Getting there

Fairlight Glen beach is Covehurst Bay, east of Hastings Old Town. For the woodland walking approach, head to Hastings Country Park Car Park on Fairlight Road, opposite Barley Lane, TN35 5DT. This is the Fairlight Road picnic-site car park, rather than the Visitor Centre car park farther east.

Parking

Park at Hastings Country Park Car Park, on the north side of Fairlight Road opposite Barley Lane. It is a council pay-and-display car park; RingGo location code 17158 covers the Country Park car parks. The council lists charging hours as 08:00–15:59, with no charge from 16:00–07:59. Check the on-site tariff before leaving the car, then cross Fairlight Road to begin the walk.

Finding the naturist area

Walk down through Fairlight Glen to Covehurst Bay using the landmarks below. Return by the same route, allowing extra time for the uphill walk back to the car park.

1. Cross Fairlight Road and enter Barley Lane opposite the car park. Continue south on foot past the vehicle barrier.
2. Where Barley Lane bends right, continue ahead towards Fairlight Place on public footpath Hastings 426. Follow the lane past Fairlight Place to the grassy area by Place Farm Cottages.
3. Follow the western edge of the grass to the cottages’ gravel track. Cross the track and, just before the field gate, turn right onto the narrow path. After about 30 metres, the route turns downhill into the rocky gully.
4. Follow the gully down to the path junction at the head of Fairlight Glen. Take the downhill track towards the Dripping Well; the streamside path passes the foot of the waterfall and continues through the woodland towards the sea.
5. Continue downhill beside the stream to the coast-path crossing at the bottom of the glen. The beach-access path ahead descends to Covehurst Bay. The final section is steep and unmaintained; read the access note below before continuing.

Where naturism applies

Both clothed and nude visitors use Covehurst Bay. Naturist use generally increases as you walk east from the beach-access path; there is no fixed nude-only boundary.

• Hastings Borough Council advises against the final unmaintained beach descent. The confirmed public footpath into the glen is separate from this last section; follow current access and closure signs.
• Wear walking shoes for the woodland approach and bring water. The paths can be muddy after rain, and there is less beach at high tide.

Access guidance checked 2026-11-11. Follow current signs and any instructions from the venue or land manager.