Classic, Scenic and Energetic: The Seven Sisters and More

Certainly high up among England's 100 best walks, this much-loved route from Seaford to Eastbourne was once a fixture of the OutdoorLads walk schedules. It scarcely needs a leader. Unless someone gets too near the cliff edge, it can't really go wrong. You start at Seaford and follow the coastline to Eastbourne. As you go, you ascend all the cliff peaks (Seaford Head, the Seven Sisters, then Beachy Head). You also descend all the dips (mostly swales), chief among them the mouth of the River Cuckmere and the Birling Gap where refreshment and fortification for the final ascent can be taken. A bus will return us to Seaford, but that shouldn't put you off; the ride's so scenic, it's part of the fun.

The sights:

Seaford: In the Middle Ages, one of the main ports of S England, but declined due the silting up of its harbour. Revived in the C19 with the arrival of the railway and became a small resort town. Now rather a forlorn place: some flint pebble cottagey cosiness, many retirement flats and a seafront devoid of shelters, amusements, funfair, a pier or life in general. The Martello Tower (a small defensive fort that was built across the British Empire during the early C19 against Napoleon I) is now a local history museum.

Cuckmere Haven: The River Cuckmere meanders perfectly toward the sea between Seaford Head and the Seven Sisters. The wreck of the Polynesia, a German sailing ship that ran aground in April 1890 is exposed at low tide, and the beach was commonly used by smugglers in the C17 and C18. The site was identified by the Luftwaffe as a landing site for the invasion of the UK, and so a series of counter-landing devices (pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles, ditches and tank traps) were set up and survive still.

The Seven Sisters: Often seen in the media either as themselves (Atonement, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Mr Holmes, Hope Gap, Summerland), or standing in for the White Cliffs of Dover because constant erosion keeps them white, whereas the real white cliffs of Dover are too developed, vegetated and grey in colour. The seven cliff brows are Haven Brow, Short Brow, Rough Brow, Brass Point, Flagstaff Point, Flat Hill and Baily's Hill. There is also an eighth 'sister' being formed by coastal erosion: Went Hill Brow. The swales or bottoms are Short Bottom, Limekiln Bottom, Rough Bottom, Gap Bottom, Flagstaff Bottom and Flathill Bottom. (The new sister is separated by a valley called Michel Dean.)

Birling Gap: Between the last of the Sisters and Beachy Head. Owned by the National Trust. Coastal erosion has removed some of the row of coastguard cottages built in 1878, but those that remain are still inhabited although their value does not justify coastal protection works. There are a café, shop and visitor centre run by National Trust, and a metal staircase leading down to the pebble beach.

Beachy Head: The terminus of the South Downs escarpment. On a clear day, Dungeness to the east can be seen, and the Isle of Wight to the west. The name is from the French 'Beauchef' (first recorded 1274) meaning 'beautiful headland'. A landmark to sailors but the rocks below a danger to shipping. Belle Tout lighthouse (1831), superseded by Beachy Head Lighthouse (1902), built at the base of the cliff to avoid being hidden by fog and the cliff edge as Belle Tout was. Belle Tout was moved back from the cliff edge in one piece in 1999.

Eastbourne: A largely C19 town which grew as a fashionable tourist resort due William Cavendish, later to become the Duke of Devonshire who appointed architect Henry Currey to design a street plan for the town. The resort was billed as being 'for gentlemen by gentlemen'. The resulting  architecture is typically Victorian with art deco and 1960s design added, but the town still luxuriates in Belle Époque charm. The seafront consists mostly of Victorian hotels (chief being the Grand Hotel of 1875, with a 120m frontage), pier (300m long, opened 1870), theatre, contemporary art gallery, bandstand and colonnade (1935 and covered in beige, blue and green faience tiles) and Martello Tower (1802).

The route (please click the link in red):

This is a linear walk requiring a bus or train back to Seaford. We'll head southeast down Church Street and The Causeway to reach the seafront and walk along it. The England Coast Path, Wealdway and South Downs Way will take us all the way to Eastbourne where we'll walk along Duke's Drive and Holywell Drive to the Promenade. The only deviation inland will be at Cuckmere Haven where we'll cross the river at Exceat Bridge. At almost Eastbourne Pier we'll turn inland up Devonshire Place, and along South Street to catch the bus at Gildredge Road or trains from the station.

Transport back:

• By bus: The 12/12A Coaster bus service to Seaford is frequent with services approximately every 15 minutes and takes 30 minutes. Buses leave from stop G1 in Gildredge Road. (You could make it an even more scenic journey and go all the way back to Brighton via Newhaven, Peacehaven and Saltdean along the cliff top coast road.)  
• By train: The service from Eastbourne to Seaford requires a change at Lewes and takes about 45 minutes. It leaves every 5 and 33 minutes past. Folk going back to London should take this option.

Dogs:

You are very welcome to bring your dog on this walk but bear in mind that the distance, terrain and weather may be exhausting for them. There could be a number of stiles, and fields with livestock and hazards such as roads and cliff tops that necessitate the dog being put on a lead. 

IMPORTANT! – Participation Statement:

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

(Picture credits: Seven Sisters: Photo © Ian Capper (cc-by-sa/2.0); Beach at Short Cliff: Photo © Simon Carey (cc-by-sa/2.0) Seaford esplanade: Photo © Paul Gillett (cc-by-sa/2.0); Field of sheep, South Hill: Photo © Robin Stott (cc-by-sa/2.0); Sisters: Photo © Kurseong Carl (cc-by-sa/2.0); Sheep grazing: Photo © Ian Capper (cc-by-sa/2.0); Coastguard Cottages: Photo © Oast House Archive (cc-by-sa/2.0); Beachy Head Lighthouse: Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0); Looking over Eastbourne: Photo © Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0). The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne: Photo © Steve Fareham (cc-by-sa/2.0). These images are copyrighted but are here credited to their copyright holders and are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA/2.0.)