Walk in CONQUEROR COUNTRY

Almost 1,000 years ago, on these now sleepy fields, war raged. Sam Pyrah explores the idyllic 1066 Country Walk, through countryside once plundered by invading Norman troops

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I'm lying on my back, thinking of England. The England, specifically, that existed before William, Duke of Normandy, landed his troops at Pevensey and marched into the most famous English battle of all time.

In 1066, the field in which I'm sprawled - a stone's throw from that historic landing point - would have been underwater. Today, it's swaying with buttercups and the air is filled with the song of skylarks and the drowsy hum of bees. The sea has retreated by more than a mile over the past 700 years, and one of its parting gifts is the Pevensey Levels, a 3,600-hectare biodiversity-rich expanse of flatland and fen, through which the 1066 Country 1066 Country Walk meanders.

This 31-mile trail tells the story of the Norman invasion as it weaves across East Sussex from Pevensey to Rye, but it isn't just a march in William the Conqueror's footsteps. The route reveals myriad layers of Sussex history through its landscapes, settlements and monuments. Pevensey Castle is a good example. Built by the Normans within the walls of a 3rd-century Roman fort, it witnessed centuries of battles and sieges before falling into ruins, only to be resurrected as a coastal defence during the Second World War, with pill boxes added and troops residing within its walls.

The 1066 Walk isn't new, but it was relaunched last year with new signage and information boards - and the addition of 10 beautiful wooden sculptures inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and created by local artist Keith Pettit.

Even if you're no history buff, the route showcases the best of the East Sussex countryside: rolling hills and steep-sided valleys, wildflower meadows and ancient woodland. With the small town of Battle marking the halfway spot, the walk divides neatly into two days with an overnight stop.