Hi, are you leading this walk on January 6th? Can anyone join? Thanks

Just to clarify that I'm up for this walk and wondered if anybody else intends to go?

@Nesreen, our walks don't have leaders, everyone is welcome, just come along! The number who turn up varies with the weather, usually between 5 and 20, see trip reports

Intend going

3 of us on this good day out cloudy with sunny intervals .

Details will come on Friday afternoon....train time remains the same....suggest picnic at Birling Gap..... the lovely bar on Seaford station is always a pleasure....

My first walk! Thank you all for making me so welcome. I had a terrific day and am thrilled to have made it the whole way, it was much more doable than I thought it was going to be.

A perfect warm sunny day for a coastal swimming bonanza! An even dozen met at Eastbourne station, including one new comer and set off along the seafront. Three could not resist a first swim in the inviting waters before tacking beach head. Two of these reconnected with some of the main group at Birling Gap, including one alternate starter. Two late starters then also found us on the beach, making for 15 in total. I believe 7 went swimming at Birling Gap at the crest of high tide in near perfect conditions. The trailing three also enjoyed a lengthy swim at Cuckmere Haven….followed by a brief stop in the Cuckmere Inn……We arrived in Seaford with just enough time to collect some provisions and have a swift half at the charming platform pub before hopping the 19:59…..a very full day!

Intend going.

Why the late start?

If I do this walk, I will look for a train at 09.24.

Austen

Intend starting from Polegate at 9:48 and joining you for lunch. Rich

Think this is how to submit a walk report...

Two walkers met at Lewes (after arriving on an earlier train than the one posted) and then got the designated train to Bishopstone. Another SWC walker appeared later on Seaford Head, having walked from Polegate, making a total of3. All then made their way along the River Cuckmere to the inn for a pleasant lunch stop.

Then on to walking the Sisters next to a calm blue-grey-turquoise-indigo sea on a cloudy but still day. Saw a kestrel (maybe two) and skylarks. Midway, stopped at Birling Gap cafe for a welcomed cream tea. Due to recent rockfall/coastal erosion, the cafe had been relocated to what was the visitor centre (this was proposed a year ago by the Trust -). The beach had also been closed off. Fortified with cream tea, we continued on to Eastbourne, descending from the hills at dusk (on a path between lots of Exmoor/Shetland type ponies) to a peaceful seafront. Nice day. Thanks D & R - E.

Plus 2 early starters, so 5 (as told today)

Six serious swimmers assembled at Eastbourne Station, most piling off of an extraordinarily busy train from London Bridge....We quickly dispensed with formalities and headed for the seaside where we could not resist the lure of the sparkling blue sea....so ALL SIX started right off with a glorious swim setting the tempo for the day....We connected with 2 early starters who had waited for us at the cafe at the bottom of Beachy Head near Belle Tout and arrived at Birling Gap just at the apex of high tide where all (except one of the early starters) enjoyed a lengthy swim before our picnic lunches...After lunch, all but one set off across the Seven Sisters. Reaching Cuckmere Haven, one of the early starters departed to reconnect with the other relaxing back at Birling Gap...the original six then met another SWCer, making for a total of 9 doing at least a portion of the walk and we all had a grand swim with views of the Seven Sisters....The river was too high to wade, so we made the trek up the river to the bridge hoping for a bevie at the pub, only to find it closed for renovations! Will reopen on the 22nd....Two opted for a bus here; while the remaining 5 headed on to Seaford....where, you guessed it, we had another fantastic evening swim.....so for those counting that was 4 swims for 4 of the original 6 walkers! Not bad and all but one person had at least one swim! Although it was hot and sunny one hardly felt the heat between the sea breeze and the regular swimming interludes....A cracking day!

According to the Brighton & Hove Buses website, there is no 13X service on Saturdays - only Sundays and public holidays. However, it's only a further 1.4 miles from Birling Gap inland to East Dean, with buses every 10-20 minutes to either Seaford or Eastbourne.

...it's only a further 1.4 miles from Birling Gap inland to East Dean, with buses every 10-20 minutes to either Seaford or Eastbourne.

Thanks for the update.

Intend going.

Well, that makes two of us.

So, just 2 of us it was. We walked out of Seaford in wet-wild-and-windy weather which, if anything, got worse before it got better. Ascending Seaford Head we came across the first of many very muddy, slippery stretches. One of us coped with these conditions with the aid of a trekking pole to keep upright, the other preferred to rely on the time-honoured method of falling on his arse, rising gracefully, wiping the excess mud off and carrying on, repeating the manoeuver at irregular intervals. On reaching Cuckmere Haven one of us chose to lunch at the Cuckmere Inn (vegetable lasagna and a pint of Harvey's, both pronounced satisfactory) while the other walked on a few hundred yards to a bus shelter, close to which was a (National Trust?) warm, dry and extremely clean toilet with soap, paper towels and hot water.

We climbed up and down the Seven Sisters, the weather becoming wetter, with occasional refreshing bursts of sleet, and the wind stronger, a very strong south-south-westerly wind occasionally threatening to blow us off our feet, but with magnificent views of the angry sea and views back to the Coastguard cottages just visible through the mist. We met very few other walkers. Approaching Birling Gap a coastguard helicopter roared past, just out to sea, but below clifftop level, heading towards Seaford. We learned later that three people had been cut off by the incoming tide between Seaford and Birling Gap and were rescued by helicopter.

At Birling Gap the National Trust tea room was open which allowed us to rest and dry off a little before we went our separate ways. One opted to plough on towards Eastbourne, the other took the bridleway up across the hill and down towards East Dean, arriving in owl light. There was just time for a quick look round St Simon's and St Jude's beautiful flint church before catching the bus back to Seaford.

11 walkers managed to assemble at Seaford station notwithstanding the competing sporting events taking place on Sunday...We had one front runner and one back marker with the remaining 9 staying more or less together until Birling Gap on a relaxed Sunday by the sea alternating some walking efforts with refreshing dips in the sea, both at Cuckmere Haven and Birling Gap. In total, 7 swam at least once, with most swimming twice and one three times...Most picnicked at Cuckmere Haven and enjoyed a tea break at Birling Gap after which 3 of the 9 opted for the bus to return to London for the football final. The remaining six soldiered on to Eastbourne and enjoyed a nice Thai meal at the brasserie next to the station before catching the 20:00....A great day out under partly sunny skies with developing cloud .

Any particular reason to do this walk in reverse direction ?

Probably in this case to get to Cuckmere Haven for a late afternoon swim at high tide when the declining sun shines golden on the cliffs. But there are oodles of other reasons. The stretch along the Eastbourne seafront is much more cheerful in the morning than it is in the early evening (when it is in shade). You get the biggest climb - Beachy Head - out of the way early in the walk and then have a (largely, not entirely) downhill walk to Birling Gap. The Seven Sisters increase in magnificence as you walk over them. The descent from there to Exceat by the South Downs Way (if you don’t go for a swim, which some of us will) is glorious, with a grand view in front of you. The Cuckmere Inn, if open, makes a nice drinks stop, and if tired you can get the bus from there. And the ending over Seaford Head is fairly gentle and beautiful in the evening light, with a short and dramatic descent to Seaford at the end.

Also: because we say so!!! Do as you are told!

A perfect trifecta of swimming for some and an enjoyable day by the seaside (I hope) for others...in fine bright conditions with cooling sea breeze . Ten alighted from the specified train and split into two groups -- swimmers and non-swimmers...the latter set off ahead and were only very briefly encountered once on the sea wall....I am told they picked up one more regular at beachy head with 2 dogs, had a picnic on the cliffs before Birling Gap and enjoyed the offerings at the NT Cafe....They did the full walk up to Exceat and just missed the 16:59 -- so some enjoyed drinks in the pub and others chips before catching the 17:59.....Somewhat further behind, the swimming party also picked-up another while preparing for their first refreshing dip in Eastbourne...we then carried along the route with a picnic on the cliffs before Belle Tout...The Birling Gap area was a bit busy -- but most beachgoers were appropriately spaced and we enjoyed another swim in perfect conditions with the dramatic cliffs making a stunning background....a couple visited the cafe for take out before we headed along the seven sisters....which were not too crowed with plenty of wide open space on the downs...On the precarious decent down to the east beach of Cuckmere Haven we noted that the shingle seemed to have blocked the channel and after a lusciously long swim at high tide enjoying the panorama of the seven sisters from the sea....we experimented with a channel crossing....easy peasy even just past high tide...we arrived in Seaford just in time for the 18:59...but 3 opted for some fish and chips and a bottle wine before catching the 19:59....a full and fine day out....for 12

small misunderstanding: the walker picked up at Beachy Head was w/o her dogs

what is the sea temp like?

and

can you walk/paddle across the cuckmere haven river even near high tide?

Andrew,

I thought the sea temp was very pleasant....a bit chilly on initial entry -- but then really very comfortable....

The head of the channel into the sea is currently almost completed blocked by shingle -- even at high tide -- it is really just a small step over/across a mere trickle....

Trawlers was closed for a revamp a few weeks ago, but may for all I know be reopened now. If not, the Plough Inn does respectable food.

On a bright and breezy day , a group of 11 gathered for late elevensies on Beachy Head for this iconic seaside walk to welcome back British Summer Time. The views were far and wide and the day was long and leisurely punctuated with a few refreshment and hydration stops. Three opted for a bus at Exceat; while the rest carried on towards Seaford and the setting sun....A memorable day in great company....

6 off the train headed to the sea front in Eastbourne (loosing one en route who was later found at Birling Gap and lost again just before the precipitous drop to the swimming spot at Cuckmere Haven East) and bumped into 2 others midway through an East Dean circular at the café just before starting along the downs with a late starter joining the group in Birling Gap, making for a total of 9 in hot and sunny with cooling sea breeze conditions. This was a perfect sunny summer Sunday seaside outing. The constant gentle headwind kept temperatures more or less pleasant with two lengthy swims -- one at Birling Gap and a second at Cuckmere Haven East -- providing a refreshing break from the exertions of the South Downs.....In addition to a lengthy swim at Cuckmere 4 added a little excitement to the end of the day by wading across the river in knee deep water....arriving in Seaford with just enough time to gather provisions for the 18:59 back to London.....

Has someone taken off the cheap train offers to seaside?!!!

There has been a suspected chemical leak in the area with people complaining of sore throats and eyes. Probably best to avoid until further notice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-41069085

If, on arrival at Eastbourne, local advice is still to avoid the coast, it may be worth having an alternative inland walk in reserve - e.g. Berwick to Eastbourne in reverse, or Eastbourne to Southease along the SDW, or a walk sround Friston Forest.

Oh, what a day this was. 7 got the specified train, one (me) the train an hour earlier: so 8 in all. Both trains were busy but not tragically so. The mysterious chemical cloud that afflicted Birling Gap on Sunday afternoon had this huge silver lining - that the vast hordes that would doubtless have otherwise descended on this part of the coast did not materialise. Beachy Head, Birling Gap, The Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven were all well populated but not at all heaving. It was almost miraculous.

It was blazing hot , somewhat hazy, making the white cliffs look rather ethereal at times. Hardly ever have I known such a windless day on the coast. This made it sticky at times but that made the swims all the more delicious.

Catching the earlier train I started with a sparkling low tide swim at Eastbourne. One walker on the specified train disappeared almost at once, apparently: we do not know why. The rest caught up with me on the climb to Beachy Head.

We avoided the pub and instead headed straight to Birling Gap for a dip. All of us swam, some far out into the bay. The water was unusually clear, lacking its usual milky chalk sediment. Jokingly I suggested the acid chemical cloud had dissolved it all.

Afterwards in the cafe we found that the previous day's events had left them short-staffed. So the five who had not brought a picnic had to make do with cakes for lunch. On over the Seven Sisters, which seemed huge in the heat. Down to Cuckmere Haven which at 4pm was only lightly scattered with people. Again we all swam, a glorious swim in golden sun, again some of us going far out into the bay to get the best cliff views. You haven't lived if you have not seen the Seven Sisters from 200 metres out from the shore at Cuckmere Haven.

We walked up the river to the Cuckmere Inn, had a drink, walked back down the other side. It was now nearly 7pm and the light was mouthwatering, the Seven Sisters bathed in soft gold. A dreamy walk over Seaford Head got us to Seaford beach in time to see the sun on its last descent. Only one way to enjoy this - in the water: a golden ball declining, turning the glassy/smooth ripples on the sea pink and gold. One of the loveliest swims I have ever had.

Three took the train home after this. Since Trawlers fish and chip shop had closed at 8pm, the four of us remaining ate in the pub, where the food would certainly not win any prizes. Wearily to the 9.20 train, which was empty, and a reasonably quiet connection to London. I got back to Victoria 14 hours after I had set out, having done the grand slam of swims - Eastbourne, Birling Gap, Cuckmere Haven, Seaford. Now that is what I call a day out.

A very comprehensive report. The cliffs were grand and the sea still. I have never walked on this coastline with so little wind. I had deliberately delayed repeating this walk for several years in order to appreciate it more and was not disappointed. The dusky walk along the Cuckmere river was a particular delight, lovely, mellow and a little misty by that time. It is a wonderful place to listen to the water birds (not the cackle of seagulls but the unpredictable whistles of various estuary and wading birds, including, apparently, a whimbrel) We also enjoyed watching the fishing antics of a little egret. No regrets!

Excellent idea to reverse this walk; in my opinion the views are much better doing the 7 sisters this way. Seaford has improved over the years and is now a better place to end a walk. As an "oldie" I often catch the bus to Brighton from just beyond Seaford station where there are loads of "refreshment" opportunities and more trains back to London.

This could also be your last chance to take a train from Seaford for a while as Southern seem to be scrapping Seaford trains and replacing them with buses as part of their emergency timetable to cope with the effects of the "sickie strike", a timetable which takes effect on Monday next.

Amendment to last comment. There will be (almost ) no trains to Seaford Monday to Friday: weekend trains will presumably run as normal

OK, just to be on a safe side: do Seaford station staff accept Eastbourne tickets?

I have never had a problem with this. There are never any barriers at Seaford anyway. Any station staff there are will be so relieved that trains are actually running on the line that they won't have time to be picky about tickets. Plus Southern seem relaxed about this kind of thing anyway. If you get any grief, launch into a prolonged rant about all the delayed journeys you have had due to the "sickie strike", how you were late to work eight times in the last two weeks, how you didn't get home till midnight, etc etc etc. Or discourse on the fact that Southern have essentially scrapped rail service to Seaford Monday to Friday in their emergency timetable. They are in no position to be high and mighty with the travelling public on any topic.

A big thanks to Stargazer for posting this classic and to Walker introducing us all to an alternative way to Beachy Head!

I hope the swimmers found a good spot for a dip and everyone enjoyed the fine views.

The Belle Tout Lighthouse reminded me of the Beebs adaptation of "The Life and Loves of a She-Devil" set at this lovely location with a very young Dennis Waterman and Patricia Hodge back in 1983.

I was tempted to loiter in Seaford but the 5:25 train was on the platform and it was going in five minutes ...

A nice lady guard asked to see my ticket on this train. I told her I'd walked from Eastbourne and was travelling back via Lewes

"Good enough" she said. (I wasn't sure if she was commenting on the ticket or the walk though.)

18 on this walk, two of them late starters who caught us at lunch. No problem with the trains either out or back. (The guard on our return journey to London said he was feeling "very well"). The weather was windy but reasonably fine . Sometimes it was sunny-ish and sometimes it was grey-ish and in the early part of the walk one sometimes had to shout to make oneself heard against the gale but at other times it was not windy. Average summer weather, in other words.

We split early into two factions, one going on to lunch at Birling Gap, the other stopping at the Beachy Head pub. The latter has dropped its tedious insistence on making one order at the table and consequently food service was quick (though perhaps arriving early helped too). On the walk down to Birling Gap it looked as if a flash mob of European and Japanese youth had formed in response to some trending tweet - certainly I have never seen it so busy. Many were sat nonchalantly right on the cliff edge and one Italian guy, who I am guessing is not long for this world, had his legs dangling over the edge. Well, I suppose it is nice to see the young out enjoying our lovely scenery.

Four of us swam at Birling Gap where the water was a decent 16 degrees and the sun sort-of shone for part of the time we were in. Metre high waves made things a little exciting. The Seven Sisters were their usual lovely self and not busy until Haven Brow, which was like Glastonbury. Six of us spent some time on the beach at Cuckmere Haven where three of us had another long swim. I understand four of the advance group also swam here. We six then had drinks at the Cuckmere Inn and a lovely sunset walk on to Seaford, arriving in time for the inevitable bettered cod and fried potatoes from the Trawlers which we ate on the 21.28, washed down by two bottles of wine.

.....battered cod.... (perhaps bettered too, but that is a matter of culinary opinion, I suppose)

Buses from Birling Gap to Eastbourne (last two services on Sunday will be at 17.46 and 18.46). Takes 20 minutes.

2 of us commenced the walk 1 hour earlier to get maximum benefit of a gloriously sunny, warm day at a leisurely pace, enjoying a drink with a sandwich and the pub's crisps (30 mins) at The Cuckmere inn with fabulous views, tea and sponge cake/ice cream etc at Birling Gap (45 mins) and fish & chips with beer at Harry Ramsden's in Eastbourne and the 1859 home. Despite lingering on the pier and watching vintage cars with masses of people everywhere, we only encountered one of the main party who reckoned on 15 starters so that makes 17 hot=and=sunny No mud! No rain! Perfick!

25 sun-cold-breeze. I reckon they were at least 25 on this walk. Five left the station before introductions due to crowding on the platform. An attempt was made to have lunch at the Saltmarsh cafe before it crashed out of catering on the bank holiday weekend. Having ordered food they then took 20 minutes to tell us that some of our choices were not available and having reselected they then returned sometime later to tell us that was no food at all. They then said that there were some preprepared sandwiches. They were disgusting. Catering at Birling Gap coped well. At least one person crossed the creek at Cuckemere Haven. Having waited at the Beachy head pub for a bus we gave up and walked into Eastbourne. It would seem that at least one 13X bus did not run on the timetable. Long day of small frustrations on a glorious walk in perfect weather.

Others describe this as a day of frustrations, but for me it was about as ideal a day of walking as I can remember, largely because of the exceptional combination of brilliant sunshine without excessive heat .

The number I saw was closer to 15 than 25. The group spread out pretty quickly. About eight crossed the water at Cuckmere Haven together with the intention of going to the farmhouse. I'll be interested to know how they got on.

I thought better of it and went alone to the Cuckmere Inn at Exceat, which wasn't crowded and produced a respectable roast reasonably quickly. Roast potatoes three out of five.

That Harry Ramsden's in Eastbourne was a mistake was plain to see when the waitress carrying it had five more metres of her approach still to go.

Hi, about 7 of us crossed the cuckmere - wet feet for sure - but cut out the long detour - was fine! - finished early - great walk - I make it 16 plus extra two you mention below - so thats 18!

hayley

Agree this is a lovely walk. As I was pushed for time on 1st May I did the short walk from Eastbourne to East Dean on my own. Not surprised that some walkers gave up on the 12X bus at Birling Gap. I waited nearly 45 minutes for an Eastbourne bus at East Dean until eventually a bus appeared. The bus got into Eastbourne seconds before the next London train was due to leave and really thought I'd miss it and have an hour wait for the next train - but fortunately we were rescued by the driver who stopped and opened the doors outside the entrance to the station (not the bus stop) - a dozen or so passengers ran and caught the train by seconds. Also, wanted to point out that the Belle Tout lighthouse between Beachy Head and Birling Gap now has a cafe serving tea, coffee, ice creams, cold drinks and hot snacks.

8

so I hear from people on the wednesday walk. some regular walkers and bloggers, yet no walk number blog comment, as 'it is all too complicated these days'.

Well there were 6 of us on this somewhat strenuous Bank HOLIDAY

walk. we were fortunate that the rain held off but it was very muddy in the cuckmere valley.Several people had lunch at the Cuckmere Inn but the food was somewhat indifferent.

One was certainly aware that one had had some exercise at the end of the day.jfk