There are a handful of places that I have wandered that have left me speechless. It feels as though they have taken a part of my heart and I return to them whenever I can. These places never seem to lose their magic. The Seven Sisters hike and Beachy Head is one of those places. I can almost feel being there when I close my eyes.
Seven Sisters is a series of chalk cliffs along the southern coast of England on the English Channel. Beachy Head is the highest chalk cliff in Britain and is found just after the Seven Sisters. There are several paths for the Seven Sisters hike that you can take on top of the cliffs between Seaford and Eastbourne.
The Seven Sisters hike with Beachy Head is a once in a lifetime experience and easily reached from Brighton or London which makes it a perfect day trip when visiting.
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About the Seven Sisters Cliffs
Seven Sisters can be found in the Seven Sisters Country Park (Exceat, BN25 4AD) that is part of the South Downs National Park. They are a series of 7 chalk cliffs. Each of the cliffs has a name (Haven Brow, Short Brow, Rough Brow, Brass Point, Flat Hill, Bailey’s Hill, and Went Hill).
Birling Gap
Birling Gap is a break between the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head cliffs. Here you can find a pebble beach with incredible views of the cliffs. While there is plenty of parking and convenient bus stops at Birling Gap, the beach is only accessible via stairs. There are also refreshments available at this location.
Belle Tout Lighthouse
Belle Tout Lighthouse was built in 1831 to help ships see the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head but unfortunately, due to its location, it was not very successful. It eventually went out of commission in 1902 when Beachy Head Lighthouse was built. Now Belle Tour is a decommission but beloved lighthouse as it appears in some television shows and movies.
About Beachy Head
Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in England at 162 meters (531 ft). Formed over 66 million years ago and were exposed during the Ice Age when the English Channel and coastline were formed. This cliff, along with the Seven Sisters, is being slowly eroded away by the English Channel.
Beachy Head Lighthouse
Beachy Head Lighthouse was built in 1902 to help ships navigating the area during foggy times. Because this lighthouse was built out in the water away from the coast they had to build a temporary cable car to reach the location.
Seven Sisters Hikes
The Seven Sisters hikes start near Seaford at Exceat. There are bus stops and parking lots (car parks) just after the Cuckmere Inn as I noted on the map at the end of this article. Here you will find all of the parking lots, bus stops, and some starting points for the hikes.
Hike to Seaford Head (photo opportunity)
There are a few paths you can take, the first is to Seaford Head with a famous photo spot to capture all Seven Sisters. This path will take you about 1 hour and 30 minutes and is a circular path. It isn’t a difficult path but it can be muddy so wear appropriate shoes. (See the path)
You also have the ability to just visit the beach at the start of the Seven Sisters cliffs. As many times as I visited this beach I never saw anyone swimming. The water is very cold, the wind can be brutal, and the weather doesn’t typically get incredibly hot in England.
Seven Sisters to Birling Gap (Circular route)
There is a circular path that takes you across the cliffs to Birling Gap. From there you go inland to the Friston Forest and back to where you began (see map) This walk is just under 13km (8 miles) in length and takes about 6 hours. The cliffs can be incredibly steep and challenging depending on the weather. Be very mindful to wear proper footwear and stay away from the edge of the cliffs.