The Seven Sisters and Friston Forest

 

Summary

We'd never visited the South Downs and this walk was a good introduction, taking in several different landscapes: the chalky coastal cliffs of the Seven Sisters, the wide estuary of the Cuckmere River and the woodlands of Friston Forest. The coastal section is very popular and was quite busy on our visit. This was quite a contrast to the relative seclusion of the forest on the journey back to Birling Gap.

Statistics

Start: Birling Gap, Eastbourne BN20 0AB

Map: OS Explorer OL25 Eastbourne & Beachy Head

Parking: Pay & Display at Birling Gap

Distance: 14.4km (about 8.9 miles)

Refreshments: Birling Gap 

The Walk

Birling Gap is owned by the National Trust and there is ample car parking, toilet facilities and refreshments available. When ready, you take the track to the west with the buildings to your left, gradually going uphill. The track bears right but you need the path in the hedgerow on your left. Before long you will be in the open with wonderful views all around. The walk continues along the clifftops on well trodden paths for around 3.5km but don't be fooled; it's like a roller coaster as you walk the up, down, up, down of the Seven Sisters! 

You will eventually reach the estuary of the Cuckmere River where you turn right and descend gradually, walking along good paths with the river on your left and the Seven Sisters Country Park on your right. Cross the road (the A259) and take the path that bears right up the hill and into the trees. After a bit of descent you'll emerge into the open and onto a tarmacked road. Turn right here (ignore the "South Downs Way" sign) and bear left with the road. Pass some cottages to your left and continue walking into Friston Forest. It's pretty much a straight track now for the next 2.5 km. You'll emerge from the forest at a crossroad where you need to take a left turn. 

After about 150 metres take the path to the right. There's a footpath sign on the right after another 250 metres but be careful; it's easily missed!  This footpath takes you diagonally across the field with Friston Place to your right. Go through the tree line and across another field, emerging at a crossroad. Cross the A259 into Crowlink Lane and head down here for roughly 500 metres, passing some houses on the right. At the cattle grid take the path to the left and cross the field, through a gap in the hedgerow and through another field. Pass a stone barn on your left and continue downhill. Soon, you'll get to the track where you bore left near the start of the walk. Head back down the track, observing the Beachy Head cliffs in the distance, to return to Birling Gap.

Notes and Musings

The Seven Sisters are a series of chalk cliffs, remnants of dry valleys that are part of the South Downs National Park. Each peak and trough is individually named (eg Rough Brow and Rough Bottom) and an eighth peak is gradually being formed through sea erosion. Quite why they are called the Seven Sisters is a mystery, although it's possible returning sailors, who loved to give things female names, first came up with it as a reference to the Seven Sisters stars of the Pleiades cluster. Interestingly, the Seven Sisters often "double" as the White Cliffs of Dover in films as the latter are considered not white enough.