Sea, Sun and … the Seven Sisters walk of course! When the weather is nice and the temperatures are rising, lace up your hiking boots (or trail runners, it’s summer after all), apply the sunscreen and get the brim out of the closet. It is time to enjoy a walk by the South coast, and who knows, maybe even take a dip in the bright blue English Channel.
After a first failed attempt at the Seven Sisters during Storm Sebastian (well obviously not the best day to attempt a coastal walk), I had to do it again, but this time made sure the weather was appropriate for the walk.
This walk is a MUST DO on a bright sunny day to enjoy it the most and get the best shots. So if you did not know what to do this weekend, here is the perfect summertime coastal walk.
Logistics for the Seven Sisters Walk
Distance: 12.3 miles (19.8 km)
Total Ascent: 1539 feet (469 m)
Highest Point: 531 ft (162 m)
Lowest Point: -9.8 ft (-3 m)
Walking Estimate: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate / Challenging
How to get there:
- Trains from London Victoria to Lewes and change at Lewes for a train to Seaford.
- The total journey takes around 1 hour and a half depending on how long you need to wait when changing trains.
For the return
- Take a direct train from Eastbourne to London Victoria.
- The journey takes 1 hour and 30 minutes
- You won’t be able to book a day return on this walk as the train back from Eastbourne is not on the same line as Seaford. You, therefore, need to book two separate journeys.
What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. You will be going up and down some steep hills so hiking shoes/ boots are highly recommended
- Backpack with water, a packed lunch & snacks
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day as the terrain is exposed
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a bright day for the same reason as above
- Hiking poles are advisable
Additional Information
- Public toilets are available at Seaford Beach and Birling Gap
- This is a dog-friendly walk
- This is a stile-free walk
Where to eat and drink:
- The Cuckmere Inn, Cuckmere Haven
- Burling Gap Cafe, Eastbourne
- The Beachy Head, Eastbourne
Related Content: 10 Tips for Hiking in Summer
Highlights of the Seven Sisters Walk
- Seaford
- Seaford Beach
- Martello Tower
- Cuckmere Haven
- The Seven Sisters
- William Charles Campell Monument
- National Trust Birling Gap
- Belle Tout Lighthouse
- Beachy Head Lighthouse
- Eastbourne
Seven Sisters Walk
What are the Seven Sisters?
The Seven Sisters are a series of 8 chalk cliffs by the English Channel stretching from Seaford to Eastbourne, Sussex.
Sailors gave the name of Seven Sisters as they could see seven white cliffs when approaching the coast. However, an additional cliff was covered by the grass all the way down to the beach and could not be seen. With the erosion, this eighth cliff is now visible from the sea.
Located in the South Downs National Park, the South Downs Way runs along the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the English Channel coastline. The chalk gives the water a turquoise Caribbean-like colour which enhances the beauty of the site. The site is left to erode naturally and walkers are being warned to be careful and not go too close to the edge.
The iconic Seven Sisters cliffs have been featured in several movies and TV programs, including Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood movie in 1991.
Do the Seven Sisters Cliffs have names?
Yes, they have! And here is the dist of the Eight peaks’ names :
- Haven Brow
- Short Brow
- Rough Brow
- Brass Point
- Flagstaff Point
- Flat Hill
- Baily’s Hill
- Went Hill Brow
So now you know everything about the Seven Sisters cliffs, let’s get to the walk.
Seaford
Our walk starts in Seaford, a seaside town in East Sussex. It was a prosperous town in medieval times thanks to its port. However, it fell into decline as the harbour became obstructed by silt and the town suffered many invasions from the French. During the dark times of the town, its inhabitants were known for scavenging wrecked ships. There is folklore saying that the people of Seaford would place fake lighthouses on the cliffs for the ships to run aground.
The town got a second youth in the nineteenth century thanks to the development of the railway and became a seaside resort. Nowadays, Seaford is a commuter town for professionals working in the nearby Brighton and Eastbourne towns.
Getting out of Seaford onto the Hills
Welcome to Seaford!
When you come out of the train station, take Church Street on the right side of the Station. You pass in front of St Leonard’s Church, built in the twelfth century with the tower added in the fifteenth century. When you arrive at Steyne Road, cross over and take St John’s Road.
And here you are, on the Esplanade in front of the beach!
Walk across the Esplanade onto the beach. You notice the bright blue of the water, looking more like the Caribbean ocean than the English Channel. The colour comes from the chalk in the water.
Walk alongside the beach until you arrive at the Martello Tower. This tower is the number 74 of a series of 103 defensive forts built during the French Revolutionary Wars.
At the end of the beach is Seaford Head which does not form part of the Seven Sisters, but you need to walk up that hill to get to the trailhead.
So, to summarise, it is called Seven Sisters but in fact, they are eight sisters, plus you need to add Seaford Head. So in fact you have a total of nine hills to get through!
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Cuckmere Haven
On the other side of Seaford Head, you can see the Seven Sisters Cliffs facing the sea.
Go down the hill and you arrive at Cuckmere Haven Beach. The beach is a bottomland, an area adjacent to a river which experiences flooding when the tide is high or during intense rainfalls. This is where the River Cuckmere meets the English Channel.
From the Tudor to the Georgian eras, Cuckmere Haven was mainly used for smuggling. During WWII, defences were built along the beach to prevent German planes from landing. Some of the counter-landing defence still can be seen on the hillsides surrounding the beach.
When going at low tide, you can cross the beach to get to the Seven Sisters trailhead. However, during high tide, you need to take a detour through the marshlands on the river banks. Enjoy this easy flat walk following the river as it is the last bit of flat terrain before the climb starts.
Climbing the First Three Cliffs
And there we are, the long-awaited moment of the climb.
The first couple of hills are steep, and you will find that they are holes in the ground, perfect to stick your foot into and push forward.
The views from the top of the cliffs are breathtaking and don’t forget to turn around from time to time to see the beauty of the South Downs farmlands on your left and the town of Seaford behind you.
I leave it to the pictures to describe the beauty of the scenery because pictures speak louder than words
Flagstaff Point
The fourth peak is Flagstaff Point, easily recognizable by the stone monument at the top. No, it is not a trig point but the William Charles Campbell monument.
But who was William Charles Campbell?
Born in 1889 in Bordeaux, France, to an English father and a French mother, he joined the British Royal Flying Corps in 1916. During WWI, he destroyed 5 German observatory ballons and was credited with 23 victories. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross decorations. The monument named after him on Flagstaff Point is to celebrate his generous donation to the Seven Sisters Preservation Fund.
Birling Gap
Three more hills and you arrive at Birling Gap. This National Trust site offers several facilities from public toilets to a coffee shop serving a range of hot or cold drinks and snacks as well as a souvenir shop. If you did not bring any food with you on this walk, then this is your chance.
Birling Gap is also a perfect spot for pictures. You also find stairs leading down to the beach where you can hunt for fossils at low tide.
If you counted right, you have now walked the eight cliffs of Seven Sisters. You could stop here and follow the path leading to East Den village. From there, you can take a bus to Eastbourne.
But if you want to continue walking to Eastbourne, continue reading.
Tip: Stay away from the crowded Birling Gap coffee shop for lunch and take your lunch with you up to Beach Head Hill. You would enjoy a quieter lunch and get a much better view. See the picture below
Related Content: Hiking Summer Lunch Recipes
The Light Houses
After lunch, continue on the coastal path and you arrive at the first lighthouse, Belle Tout. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the coast has been the scene of numerous shipwrecks. The need for a lighthouse felt necessary, but it is not until the Thames ship ran aground on the rocks that the project of a lighthouse became a reality. The first version, made of wood, was operational in October 1828, and the final granite version in 1934. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1902 and went through different owners over the years.
Belle Tout is known as “Britain’s most famous inhabited lighthouse” as it figures in numerous films and TV programs, including the James Bond movie The Living Daylights.
To replace Belle Tout which did not meet the expected hopes, another lighthouse was built, but this time at the bottom of the cliffs, 165 m into the sea. Constructed in 1902, Beachy Head Lighthouse was first inhabited and then became fully automated in 1983. It is easily recognisable by its red and white stripes.
Almost There
Continue walking on Beachy Head Hill and you start seeing the coastal town of Eastbourne from afar. As you arrive at the end of the path there is a Pub, but no time to stop here for a drink, we still have some walking to do before arriving in Eastbourne. At the end of the road, divert onto the footpath ahead of you. Take a look back and admire the South Downs countryside and what you have achieved.
At the bottom of the hill, you can see the turquoise water with luxurious vegetation: hard to believe you are in England!
At the end of the path are some really steep steps: as you must be thinking you were done doing anything difficult, sometimes the descent can be as hard as the ascent…
Eastbourne
And, just like that, you are in Eastbourne!
This seaside resort located at the bottom of Beachy Head is a commuter town for London and Brighton professionals. It is also a tourist destination, with an attractive seafront offering activities such as a children’s adventure park, a pier with restaurants and a gift shop, a mini-golf and a Ferris wheel.
Walk alongside the beach on the Eastbourne promenade until you reach a set of stairs leading up to the streets. Walk up the stairs and continue straight on Devonshire Place until you reach the Memorial roundabout. Take Cornfield Road on the opposite side of the roundabout and walk towards Ashford Road. The train station is on your left.
Have a safe trip back to London!
Map of the Seven Sisters Walk
Are you ready for the challenge? Download the GPS map of the Seven Sisters walk by clicking on the button below. To learn how to upload it on your navigation app, follow my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Seven Sisters Walk
I hope you will enjoy this walk like no other. And, if you are looking for more coastal walks near London, why not check these posts?
Lulworth Cove To Durdle Door Walk With Map
South Coast Path From Newhaven To Brighton
And you, what is your favourite coastal walk? Let me know in the comments below.
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