Ultimate Seven Sisters Walk Guide: Seaford to Eastbourne

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The Seven Sisters cliffs walk, from Seaford to Eastbourne, is probably one of the most well known hikes that you can do as a day trip from London, and it’s not hard to see why.

I have done this walk countless times, and the magnificent white chalk cliff views get me every time.

Also, the fact that you can get to the Seven Sisters cliffs from London in about 1.5 hours, makes it a perfect outdoorsy day trip hike. It’s also extremely easy to navigate. In fact, it’s impossible to get lost, and I challenge anyone to do so.

Read more: What to pack on a day hike

Why is it called the Seven Sisters?

Each sister represents a hill, although technically there is an eighth one. Plus, on either side of the Sisters Sisters cliffs, you will hike over a few extra hills.

Basically, it’s very hilly. Although, the scenery is so draw dropping, that you hardly notice all the hills. Actually, you definitely notice, but somehow the beauty takes the edge off.

How long is the Seven Sisters walk?

The full walk itself, is about 11-13 miles station to station (Seaford and Eastbourne). However, there are a few options to shorten it which I will tell you about later in the guide.

Where are the Seven Sisters?

The Seven Sisters cliffs are within the South Downs National park, and forms a part of two walking trails. The England Coast Path, and the South Downs Way.

They are specifically located in the south east corner of the South Downs. If coming from London, you basically head south until you hit the sea.

How hard is the Seven Sisters walk?

I’m going to say moderate. Some may dispute that and say it’s challenging. There are a bunch of hills, that really get your heart rate up, but they don’t go on for that long. I would say that it’s the length of the walk that makes it harder as opposed to the hills.

Which direction should you walk the Seven Sisters cliffs?

The most popular way to walk the cliffs, is from Seaford to Eastbourne. The views are just a little bit better that way (in my opinion).

That’s not to say the other direction is bad, it’s just a slightly lower level of amazing.

Also, if you start the walk from Seaford, you get to the cliffs pretty quickly, however, from Eastbourne, you have a bit of a walk….actually, a very long walk.

I’m now going to talk you through the route itself. All distances I mention will be based on my walk along the Seven Sisters Cliffs on this day. You will find full logistical info for the Seven Sisters cliffs walk, ie how to get there, timings, an interactive map, as well as tips and safety information after. So if you aren’t interested in the description, just scroll past it 🙂

Why I wanted to go and hike the Seven Sisters cliffs again…

I have hiked the Seven Sisters cliffs more times than I can count….all before I started this website. I have been wanting to write a guide about the Seven Sisters cliffs walk for a while, however, I didn’t have many photos to show you its beauty.

So, a couple of weeks ago I went and walked it again, just for photography purposes….but also, any excuse to see the cliffs again.

The day I returned to the beautiful coastline was to be the hottest August bank holiday Monday EVER. I was strategic for this walk (maybe for the wrong reasons)….

I planned it so that for half the walk, the sun would be in front of me, half the walk behind. You know, so I could even out sun exposure (cough, tanning).

However, I failed to think about the fact that this would also be the worst photography conditions, the middle of the day and harsh sunlight, the main reason I was actually doing this walk.

Although, I wasn’t too sad. The walk is good enough that I can forgive that. But man I had some real hard work when it came to the photos…They were almost unusable. The only way around it was to take some creative liberties with some of the colours in editing.

Anyway, let’s get into the good stuff.

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The Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk: Seaford to Eastbourne

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Once out of Seaford train station, take a right and head to the sea. It’s only a 5min walk. You will pass a supermarket, giving you a chance to get any supplies you may have forgotten. Once you reach the shingle beach take a left, and you will get your first grand white cliffs view. Seaford Head.

Now head towards these cliffs. From here on out you will be walking with the sea to your right for the whole way. I started my tracker once I reached the beach. All distances mentioned from now will reflect that.

Seaford Head will be your first uphill and as you reach the top you get great views back over Seaford. 

Next, you will walk past a golf course (walking past golf courses seems to be the standard for any great walk in England), before getting your first glimpse of the magnificent Seven Sisters cliffs. 

Fun fact: The Sisters Sisters cliffs are often used as filming locations as a stand in for the famous white cliffs of Dover as they are free of any modern development. 

Cuckmere Haven – 2.7 miles

Cuckmere Haven is a valley where the South Downs meets the sea. This is where the Seven Sisters cliffs start.

But first off, you need to navigate the Cuckmere River. At low tide, it is possible to walk straight to the cliffs start. If you catch it right, you won’t get wet. Otherwise, you can walk through the low river.

When the tide is in, unless you want to get mega wet, you must walk inland along the river, through the Cuckmere valley, to reach a bridge crossing. Then walk back along the river on the other side.

It does make for an interesting change in scenery. You will pass fields with grazing cattle and sheep. Even some canoeists in the river.

It does, however, add quite a bit to your walking distance (about 2 miles). If you don’t fancy the extra walk, then try and time it so you get here for low tide…..or be prepared to get very wet.

Check the tide times here

I didn’t check the tide times, so was prepared to have to walk through the river. I had no time for walking inland. Turns out the tide was way out.

The only downside to the tide being out, is you have to walk across the shingle of death to reach the Seven Sisters cliffs.

A few fun facts….

Fun fact: Cuckmere Haven has been used as a filming location for a number of shows and movies inducing Robin Hood and Atonement. 

Even more fun fact: At low tight you can see part of a German sailing ship wreck.

Extra fun fact: This area was very popular for smugglers between the 16th and 18th centuries.

You have the option to start or stop your walk from here, via the local village of Exceat where there are bus links. It’s slightly inland, and you can reach it by following that river I talked about.

You can read more about the area on the National Trust website.

Begin the hike up the Seven Sisters

As you head up the first sister, it is quite steep and could be slippy if your shoes don’t have good grip. At the top, take a look back for a great view back over the beach and the Cuckmere Valley.

This is also where the trail becomes part of the South Downs Way. 

Just a note, the best views of the cliffs are actually either side of them. When you are walking on the Seven Sisters cliffs, you can’t see them because, well, you are on them.

The views are still pretty cool though. A vast green undulating landscape, almost velvet like, with people ahead, so small they look like ants and their silhouettes on the horizon.

Birling Gap – 5.5 miles in

(or 7.5miles if you took the detour at Cuckmere Haven)

Birling Gap is a coastal hamlet marking the end of the sisters. The area is owned by the National Trust and offers a tourist centre, cafe, beach access, toilets, a car park, and transport links.

As such this is the most busy section of the Seven Sisters walk.

If you want to escape the crowds, just continue walking past, along the cliffs. Most people arriving at Birling Gap will hang around in the area or the cliffs either side. 

This is actually a good spot if you would like to have a break and eat or drink at the cafe, or even head to the beach.

There are bus stops here, so you have the option to stop/start the Seven Sisters hike at this point. If you choose to start the walk here, then you could tie in the Seven Sisters cliffs with a hike through Friston Forest.

Read more: Birling Gap Friston Forest circular walk

This might be the end of the Seven Sisters, but its not the end of the walk…..

Belle Tout lighthouse

The Belle Tout lighthouse has had an interesting life. It was built in the early 1800’s, however, its location meant that it was frequently covered by the clifftop fog.

So it wasn’t very good at doing its job of warning passing ships. As such, it was decommissioned in the early 1900’s.

It then became a family home and tea house, was almost destroyed during WWII, then got bought by the BBC as a filming location. 

Due to the cliff erosion it was in danger of falling into the sea and in 1999 was moved back 17 meters from the cliff edge.

It now has new owners who have converted it into a bed and breakfast.

How perfect would that be? Spending the night in a lighthouse. Waking up overlooking the sea and grand white cliffs in morning mistiness. Going for a little sunrise walk along the Seven Sisters before coming back for breakfast. This place is officially on my wishlist.

Note: I have been trying to stay there but it’s always booked out.

Beachy Head – 8 miles

(10 miles with the detour at Cuckmere Haven)

Beachy Head is the stuff of poetry…I mean that literally. Poems have been written about it. The area has also featured in film and television including Harry Potter, James Bond and Black Mirror.

Fun fact: At 162m above sea level, it is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain. 

In the early 1900’s, Eastbourne bought the surrounding land to save it from development….this makes me very happy.

Here you have the cute candy cane coloured Beachy Head lighthouse. Seems rather tiny in comparison to the looming white cliffs. 

It was built in the early 1900’s to take over lighthouse duties of the Belle Tout lighthouse.

Fun Fact: It wasn’t always red and white stripes. Originally, it was granite colour, then a black stripe was added, then finally the red stripes to make it more visible in daylight to passing ships. 

Beachy Head marks the eastern gateway to the South Downs National Park, but also the end of the cliffs walk (or beginning, depending on which way you go). But you still have a little way to go…

Reaching Eastbourne town

The landscape will now change, featuring a lot more flora and fauna. During summer, the flowers were on show in all their purple and pink glory.

From now on, it’s pretty much downhill until you exit the National Park, into Eastbourne town.

I must warn you, from here it is about 3 miles walk to actually reach the station, and can feel never ending. However, if you stick to the coast, you get some wonderful views back towards the cliffs. 

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Logistics for the walk from Seaford to Eastbourne along the Seven Sisters Cliffs

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How to get to the Seven Sisters Cliffs

By train

• Seaford and Eastbourne (the beginning and end of the walk) are both on the Southern train line.
• If coming from London, there are trains from London Victoria and London Bridge to Seaford. You will have to do one change (usually at Lewes), then from Eastbourne, you can get a direct train back to London Victoria or London Bridge.
• What ticket to get: You should buy a return ticket to Eastbourne, and a single* from Lewes to Seaford. This will cover your return journey from Eastbourne, and your outward journey as far as Lewes, then the single ticket will cover you from Lewes fro Seaford.

*I’ve always wondered whether a return ticket to Eastbourne alone will suffice. You are allowed to break up your journey anywhere along the route of travel. However, Lewes to Seaford isn’t along the London to Eastbourne route. But then again, they are on the same train line. One day I will ask a train person and let your know.

By car

• The Seven Sisters hike is the perfect route to do using the train, because it starts and finishes at a station. However, if you must come by car, this is what I suggest:
• Whether you start the walk in Seaford or Eastbourne, you will either need to get the bus to take you back, or make this a serious hike along the Seven Sisters, and walk back. Walking back isn’t unheard of though. In fact, it has a name…the 14 Sisters. For this, you don’t want to walk the full station to station distance though.
• If starting from Seaford, walk as far as Beachy head, then turn back.
• If starting from Eastbourne, walk as far as Cuckmere Haven then turn back. I would actually recommend continuing a little past Cuckmere Haven and up the hill. The views are really good from there.
• If getting the bus back, the number 12X runs between the two Monday-Saturday. 13X on Sunday (limited service).

Map for the Seven Sisters cliffs walk

Map 1: The Seven Sisters walk route without the detour at Cuckmere Haven

Map two: The Seven Sisters cliffs walk route with the detour at Cuckmere Haven

Click on the little box in the corner to follow the trail (note, I stopped the tracker before getting into Eastbourne centre in the second map. You can just follow the signs when there).

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Tips for the Seven Sisters cliffs walk

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• I advise not walking next to the cliff edge (see next section).
• Take plenty of water and snacks.
• WEAR SUNSCREEN, and reapply.  The worst burns I ever got were on this walk, a few times back. It wasn’t particularly sunny, in fact, it was an overcast day. And I WAS wearing sunscreen. Reluctantly though, it was only because the people I was with insisted on it. My mistake was that I didn’t use a high factor (I refused) and I didn’t reapply. 
• Hiking boots are not essential, but I do recommend at least wearing shoes with good grip. The first of the Seven Sisters you hike up is quite steep, and slippage could happen if you aren’t careful. 

Disclaimer: If you chose not to wear hiking boots, then I will not be held responsible if injury occurs. There. Just need to cover myself. You never know these days.

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Safety when hiking along the Seven Sisters cliffs

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So, I’m going to be honest, when I first visited the cliffs I didn’t realise how dangerous it was to go close to the edge. I’m talking specifically about cliff erosion. I definitely got way to close thinking the only danger was me losing my footing, not the fact that the cliffs could crumble under me. There are lots of signs warning you not to go too close to the edge but I figured that was more to prevent user error. 

The cliffs are very unstable. Someone pointed out to me, if you look ahead at the cliffs, you can even see cracks in them where they are at risk of crumbling. 

Here is video footage of that happening. There have been a number of fatalities, of people falling over the edge.

Also, be careful If you chose to go down to beach level and walk under the cliffs, as you will be at risk of falling rocks.

Don’t be scared though, it’s absolutely fine to walk along the Seven Sisters cliffs…Just keep away from the edge.

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Swimming along the Seven Sisters cliffs walk

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There are a few options if you would like to take a dip in the sea. 

1. First off you have the shingle beach at Seaford. 
2. Your second option is at Cuckmere Haven, also a shingle beach. 
3. Next, you can get in at Birling Gap. More shingle.
4. Finally, at Eastbourne, you have a long stretch of, you guessed it, shingle beach.

Yes. A lot of the south coast of England is made up of shingle beach….my least favourite walking terrain.

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Other cliff walks I recommend along the South East Coast

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If you want more white cliff goodness, then I recommend heading east towards Dover. You could walk from Folkestone to Dover, or from Dover to Deal, both featuring white cliffs and hill walking. 

If you want to see the Seven Sisters Cliffs without the massive hike, you could try the Birling Gap to Friston Forest circular.

If you want some white cliffs without the hills, then you could walk the section just west of Seaford from Newhaven to Brighton. Or head to North Kent to do Margate to Ramsgate. Both of these walks have under cliff paths. The white cliffs are slightly less mighty though.

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Other walks in the South Downs

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You could try out some more sections along the South Downs Way. The one before the Seven Sisters hike is Southease to Seaford. If you are feeling energetic you could tie it together with the Seven Sisters for one mega hike.

Or a bit further back you could try Hassocks to Lewes, and Lewes to Southease. Both featuring the gorgeous rolling hills of the South Downs, village views down below, and lots of cows and sheep.

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