Coastal Classic: Seven Sisters

Seven Sisters: Guide to the Seaford → Eastbourne Classic Walk

Our Journey Unfolds: Seaside Camp to Chalk Cliffs

Walk to the bus stop ~ 3km – 1.8 miles | Ascent: 154m – 505ft | Bus journey: ~35 min

We’d wild‑camped at Dungeness the night before, tucked into the shingle with the kind of warm, quiet night you only get by the sea. Morning arrived in full sunshine – soft, bright, and ridiculously inviting – so we packed up, brewed a quick Aeropress, ate my speciality wild‑camp porridge for brekkie, and rolled into Eastbourne just after 10am, ready for a day on the chalk cliffs.

Parking luck was on our side: we tucked into a free on‑street spot on Upper Duke’s Drive, right on the edge of the South Downs National Park. From there we decided on the classic coast‑to‑car approach – hop on a Coaster bus to Seaford and walk the whole thing back. The only catch is that the bus doesn’t bother with the southwest corner of town, so we had a short, punchy 3 km uphill warm‑up to reach the stop. Not a problem though; we’d already planned to finish at The Pilot Inn afterwards, so the location worked perfectly.

The bus trundles along the coast for just over half an hour, dropping you a short stroll from the seafront. With the sun out and the chalk cliffs glowing, we made the only sensible choice: lunch first. Frankie’s Beach Café had deck chairs in full sunshine, and we parked ourselves there with cold drinks and seaside views. If you’re keen to get straight onto the hills, there’s another café right on the promenade so you don’t need to double back – but honestly, on a day like this, delaying the start by half an hour felt like part of the adventure.

Seaford to Cuckmere Haven: First Climb and New Perspectives

Distance: 4.5km – 2.8 miles | Ascent: 140m – 460ft | Moving time ~ 1h

After a short wander along the seafront promenade – past the martello tower with its handy coffee stop and loos, and a row of picture‑perfect beach huts – you’re already lining up your first proper climb. The exposed chalk was glittering in the sun, so of course we stopped to grab a few photos of all that ridiculous white‑and‑blue contrast.

From there we pushed up to the top of the hill for the first spectacular reveal of the Seven Sisters. Funny thing: I run on Seven Sisters at least once a year as part of my ultra‑training routine, but I never cross to the other side of the river to actually admire the view. Standing there, looking back at the full sweep of cliffs, it felt like seeing a familiar friend from a completely new angle.

As we descended towards the estuary, we realised the tide was out and we could simply cross the river rather than taking the inland detour to the bridge. Water shoes on, we marched straight across – exactly the kind of shortcut that feels both rebellious and entirely sensible. We’d planned a sea dip here anyway, so it all lined up perfectly. The water was cool, clear, and framed by those spectacular chalk cliffs; honestly, one of the best dips I’ve had.

Cuckmere Haven to Eastbourne: River Crossings to Beachy Head’s Edge

Distance: 10km – 6.2 miles | Ascent: 450m – 1476ft | Moving time ~ 2.5h

Once we’d dried off and dressed, we headed up to tackle the Seven Sisters proper. It was a busy Saturday, full of people from every walk of life and every possible interpretation of “appropriate hiking gear.” The rolling hills were as glorious as ever, and we cruised along until we reached Birling Gap, where we stopped for a well‑deserved coffee and cake.

Then we tackled the famous Beachy Head, at 160m the highest point of the route, with its iconic lighthouse standing proud below the cliffs. The wind had picked up by this point, and you could see chalk flakes drifting through the air – tiny white sparks catching the sun as they blew past. Soon after, Eastbourne appeared on the horizon and the steep descent began. We took a bearing straight for The Pilot Inn, where a well‑deserved pint and dinner wrapped up the day exactly the way a chalk‑cliff adventure should.

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