Car free walk, catch the bus from Eastbourne
Distance:
<10 miles. 7-8 miles
Location:
East Sussex
Type:
Moderate. South Downs Way
Duration:
3-4 hours
Blow away the cobwebs on this bracing coastal hike. With plenty of ups and downs you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the meandering Cuckmere River and the
iconic Seven Sisters. Stop for a well-earned cuppa at Birling Gap Tea Rooms.
Look out for rabbits and sheep nibbling the chalk grassland, Belle Tout and Beachy Head lighthouses, the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters, blooming yellow gorse and the meandering river at Cuckmere Haven with its water birds on the river.
Print or download the guide for full details of the route.
Getting there
The journey out: Catch the no. 12 or 12X bus to Seven Sisters Country Park Visitor Centre. Buses leave from Eastbourne Gildredge Road, opposite the railway station every 10–15 minutes and the journey takes about 17 minutes.
The journey back: Take the no.3 or 3A bus to the town centre and railway station. These buses run every 30 mins during the week (until about 6pm) and hourly on Sundays. Alternatively, it is 1½ miles walk along the prom to the pier.
Useful information
Refreshments: Seven Sisters Country Park Visitor Centre and Saltmarsh Cafe at the start, Birling Gap Tea Room and Beachy Head pub.
Toilets: Seven Sisters Visitor Centre (including Changing Places toilet), Beachy Head and Eastbourne.
Maps: OS Explorer OL25, or South Downs Way Guide (available from nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way).
Directions
Start: The South Downs Way goes right from the bus stop – follow the path uphill towards the coast.
Finish: The walk ends at the refreshment kiosk in Eastbourne. The bus stop is straight ahead on the left side of Dukes Drive.
For more information about the South Downs Way and inspiration on future routes please visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way