The De La Warr Pavilion is only a few steps behind us when the weather forecast is proved wrong; sunshine turns to rain and we are forced to take refreshments at the Sovereign Light Café – thankfully not for long.

Today’s low tide doesn’t materialise, therefore our walk continues along the newly landscaped promenade (much planting inspiration!), passed our family beach hut. It’s an interesting and varied walk – as Bexhill peters out the railway borders the path to Normans Bay with glimpses into the Sussex countryside.

The high tide caused by Storm Katie yesterday has left a ragged ridge perilously close to the gardens of the Pevensey Bay homes – must have been a scary night.  A giant digger, three dumper lorries and a couple of caterpillar wheeled diggers are scraping sand and shingle up the beach – a never-ending task!

We pass a fabulous converted Martello tower which has few windows but a small balcony and a glazed circular roof area – I would truly love to see inside. We are continually drawn back to the water’s edge by the sound of the waves crashing on the stones and dragging them back – it is deafening in our ears despite woolly hats.

Looking back the pier and the distant cliffs of Bexhill and Hastings are now bathed in sunshine. Looking ahead Eastbourne Marina is ever so slightly incongruous looking in front of the majestic chalk rock formation of Beachy Head.  I feel a mixture of sadness as we leave the jumble of different beachfront houses in Pevensey Bay and walk along the firm man-made promenade beside Eastbourne marina’s apartments. My feet are certainly happier but the clean modern buildings leave me feeling a little cold despite the warm sunshine.

The marina is the perfect refreshment stop in the form of a massive plate (and tummy) filling Quattro Formagi pizza – I resist the Hawaiian knowing that my friend is currently enjoying her holidays on the pacific island!

Despite achy “shingle sore” feet we continue our journey right into Eastbourne, passed The Family Fun Fortress (which I was denied as a child). We can’t resist the temptation of the Italian ice cream bar – honeycomb in a chocolate dipped wafer cone, hopefully the first of many on this adventure!

A wander down the pier takes us on a slight detour – the pier building burnt down a couple of years back and has not been replaced, so no opportunity for throwing money in a slot machine for a plastic key ring prize.

The view of Beachy Head is now no longer obscured and looks stunning in the sunshine – the next leg of our walk will have somewhat different challenges to loose shingle underfoot! Time to head inland for a train back to Bexhill.