{"id":18091,"date":"2017-09-15T18:40:53","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T17:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=18091"},"modified":"2025-08-24T02:06:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T09:06:34","slug":"seven-sisters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/seven-sisters\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SEVEN SISTERS COASTAL DAY-ESCAPE FROM LONDON YOU NEED TO DO"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1944 Lord Balfour Burleigh said, \u201cLondon is a splendid place to live in for those who can get out of it.\u201d If you look just an hour or two further afield from London, you\u2019ll find an abundance of activities that\u2019ll make you love London even more like the Seven Sisters coastal walk. What a dream to get to live in London and also have easy access to all these activities and places!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

GETTING TO SEVEN SISTERS<\/h3>\n

The Seven Sisters<\/a> is one such place. It is the name given to the magnificent series of white chalk cliffs that line the coast of the Sussex South Downs, directly south of London. With grass as pristine as the green of a golf course, and endless sea views, this is a walk that must be on your to-do list (your REAL to-do list, not just your \u2018it\u2019s a nice idea\u2019 to-do list). <\/p>\n

\"Overturned<\/p>\n

Trains run 2-4 times per hour (depending on the weekday) from London (Victoria) to Lewes where you will have to change to get to Seaford. I suggest purchasing a return ticket from London to Lewes, a single from Lewes to Seaford, and a single from Eastbourne back to Lewes (to complete your round trip).<\/p>\n

\"Walking<\/p>\n

WALKING SEVEN SISTERS<\/h3>\n

The walk begins from Seaford<\/a>, a small seaside town with a long esplanade and pebbly beach. After walking the length of the esplanade, past colourful beach huts and a popular ice-cream shack, you\u2019ll steadily begin to climb the grassy mounds that make up the cliffs or \u2018sisters\u2019 as they\u2019re called. The next 22km are a steady rise and fall of soft green grass, rural views rolling out toward the left, and an endless blue ocean stretching to the right.<\/p>\n

There is no way of getting lost as you simply need to follow your nose and the well trodden path before you. The occasional section is cordoned off for safety, but for the most part the cliffs are left bare and beautiful – be careful not to get too close to the edge!<\/p>\n

\"Colored<\/p>\n

Just over a quarter of the way a river slices through the cliffs to meet the sea – to cross it you\u2019ll have to divert inland to cross the bridge (alternatively at low tide you may be able to wade across!). It\u2019s just a little detour up the river to The Cuckmere Inn<\/a> where you can rehydrate if need be!<\/p>\n

Birling Gap<\/a> marks the halfway point where a cafe and gift shop cater to walkers and bus-takers alike. Due to car\/bus access at this point, things do get a little busier from here on in. Couples with picnics dot the hills after Birling Gap, as do selfie-stick-clad tour bus takers. I suggest moving past this point as swiftly as possible. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

TAKE A DETOUR<\/h4>\n

Not wanting to get caught up with too many sightseers we briefly braved the crowds to purchase an ice-cream tub from the shop and trekked on, stopping someway away to bask in the sunshine and devour our ice creams. Perhaps we were delusional from walking but these ice-creams really were some of the best we\u2019d ever tasted! Locally made and delicious \u2018Caroline\u2019s Dairy<\/a>\u2019 ice creams from West Sussex. I\u2019m talking honey and ginger, lemon meringue, toffee and honeycomb. A serious highlight. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Walk on, soak up the sunshine and revel in the views. If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll find it hard to believe you are only an hour or so from the bustle of London. Occasionally we stopped to pick blackberries, whenever an abundant bush presented itself, otherwise we walked, feeling lucky to have a sunny, summery day and a light breeze at our backs. Sail boats bobbed on the horizon with a summery soundtrack of squawking seagulls, the song of cicadas and distant laughter of fellow walkers. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

BELLE TOUT LIGHTHOUSE<\/h4>\n

One big climb and you\u2019ll reach Beachy Head and the Belle Tout Lighthouse<\/a>. Built in 1832, this lighthouse once served as a navigational aid, however today it serves as a bed and breakfast and popular film location. You\u2019ll reach the Beachy Head Lighthouse next, a red and white striped tower out at sea. If this isn\u2019t the picture perfect lighthouse you remember from children\u2019s books, then I\u2019m not sure what is! <\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

EASTBOURNE<\/h4>\n

From here the walk steeply winds down into Eastbourne. After a long day of walking, this last section through Eastbourne feels like it takes forever. Now find a cute pub, rest your weary legs, sip a refreshing pint and bask in that warm glowing feeling of \u2018I\u2019m utterly exhausted but deeply content with my day\u2019. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

NOTES<\/h3>\n