Seven Sisters Walk: Seaford to Eastbourne (Short, Medium & Long Routes)

Hiking along the Seven Sisters cliffs is one of the best things to do in the south of England. The white, jigsaw-edged cliffs fit perfectly against the turquoise sea, and honestly? It’s one of the most phenomenal coastal walks in the world.

How long is the Seven Sisters walk? The full walk from Seaford to Eastbourne is 21.8 km and takes 5–7 hours. It took my sister and me about 7 hours with a packed-lunch stop and plenty of breaks. If that’s too much, my short route is 5.6 km (1–2 hours) and my medium route is 12.1 km (3–4 hours).

The best-known route goes from Seaford to Eastbourne and covers around 22 kilometres (21.8 km on my route). But that’s quite a distance, even if you hike a lot! So I’ve put together this guide with 3 different routes: short, medium and long.

They all start from the same place and cover some of the best bits of the Seven Sisters walk. So everyone gets to enjoy a piece of the cliffs, whatever their ability.

I walked the long route from Seaford to Eastbourne with my sister, and it was even more breathtaking than I expected. There were loads of people (and loads of dogs) on the trail, but it never once felt overcrowded. We did it in May on a really hot, sunny day (though it was really windy on top of the cliffs), and we took our time, with a packed-lunch stop and plenty of breaks. We were staying in Brighton (I live a few hours away), so we drove over in the morning. And typically, the next day in Brighton it absolutely hammered it down with rain lol.

Seven Sisters Walk Distance, Time And Parking

Start	Seaford Esplanade (parking: BN25 1JT)
Finish	Eastbourne (long route)
Distance	21.8 km for the full walk (shorter options below)
Elevation gain	519 m
Time	5-7 hours for the full walk
Difficulty	Moderate, with a few hard climbs near the end
Train stations	Seaford and Eastbourne (book on Trainline)
Buses	Coaster 12, 12A, 12X and (for Birling Gap and Beachy Head) 13X
Toilets	Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre, Birling Gap and Eastbourne
Car hire	Compare Rentalcars and Discovercars

What Are The Seven Sisters Cliffs?

The Seven Sisters are a row of seven cliffs along the English coastline, each one with its own hilltop.

The cliffs are SO rugged from sea erosion, and they’re made of white chalk, so they really stand out against the English Channel. And honestly, my photos do not do it justice. I was so impressed in real life by how stunning this coastline is!

Where Are They?

The cliffs are located in the South Downs National Park in East Sussex, on a protected stretch of coastline called the Sussex Heritage Coast. They’re about half an hour from Brighton.

Which Seven Sisters Walk Should You Do?

There’s more than one way to walk the Seven Sisters. My three routes all start in Seaford. But there are three other popular options from Seven Sisters Country Park at Exceat if you want something flatter or shorter.

Route	Distance, time and difficulty
Cuckmere Haven valley walk	~4 km return, 1-1.5 hrs. Easy and flat, good for families, pushchairs and wheelchairs
Exceat to Birling Gap	~7 km, 2.5-3.5 hrs. Moderate, the classic clifftop walk
Seven Sisters and Friston Forest circular	~11 km, 2.5-3.5 hrs. Moderate, clifftops then woodland, back to your car
My short route	5.6 km, 1-2 hrs. Easy, with Seaford Head and the Coastguard Cottages view
My medium route	12.1 km, 3-4 hrs. Moderate, half a day on the cliffs
My long route	21.8 km, 5-7 hrs. Challenging, the full Seaford to Eastbourne walk

I’ve walked the long route, and the short and medium routes follow parts of it anyway. If you’re a beginner, I’d go for the short route and save the other two for when you’re used to hiking. Throughout this guide, each section is labelled with the routes it applies to (short, medium or long).

Other Option: The Cuckmere Haven Valley Walk

This is the easiest way to see the Seven Sisters. Start opposite the Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre at Exceat (BN25 4AD) and follow the firm, flat path along the Cuckmere River down to the shingle beach, then come back the same way. It’s about 4 km there and back, and it’s suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Other Option: Exceat To Birling Gap

This is the walk a lot of people mean when they say “the Seven Sisters walk”. From Seven Sisters Country Park, head down to Cuckmere Haven, climb onto the cliffs and walk east over all seven of the Sisters to Birling Gap, where there’s a National Trust cafe. It’s about 7 km, and the 13X bus stops at Birling Gap so you don’t have to walk back.

Other Option: Seven Sisters And Friston Forest Circular

This one’s handy if you’ve driven, because it brings you back to your car without needing a bus. From the Seven Sisters Country Park car park at Exceat, head down to Cuckmere Haven and east along the clifftops, then turn inland at Flagstaff Point (look out for the sarsen stone memorial) and come back through Friston Forest and the little village of Westdean.

It’s about 11 km with plenty of ups and downs, and takes around 2.5–3.5 hours. I haven’t done this one myself yet, so check the route on the day.

Seven Sisters Hike Details

Distance

The short route is 5.6 km, the medium route is 12.1 km and the long route is 21.8 km, which is just over a half marathon.

Elevation

The short route climbs 94 metres, almost all of it in the first couple of kilometres. The medium route is 293 metres of ups and downs, and the long route is 519 metres with some serious leg-burning hills (trust me, you’ll sleep well that night).

Duration

Short | Most walkers complete this route in 1-2 hours.

It’s a great option if you want a relaxed stroll along the coast while still seeing some of the best bits of the longer routes.

Medium | Most walkers complete this route in 3 -4 hours.

It’s a fantastic middle-distance walk, with plenty of time in the fresh sea air and a mix of coast and countryside views.

Long | Most walkers complete this route in 5-7 hours.

People who finish in 5 hours are usually pushing on to get it done, rather than stopping for breaks here and there.

It’s a full day out for most people. For reference, it took my sister and me about 7 hours, with plenty of stops along the way. And if you’re newer to walking, give yourself even more time if you’re planning to stop for lunch.

Difficulty

Short | The short route is very easy for the majority of the walkers.

The only part that could be called tough is the first climb, but it’s fairly short.

The rest of the walk is downhill or flat.

Medium | The moderate route undulates throughout and certainly presents a few challenges along the way.

If you want coastal views for most of the way, you can’t really avoid the hills.

But it’s a great balance if you don’t want to commit to a full day of walking but still want to push yourself a bit.

Long | The long route is considered moderate overall, however, there are sections of this walk towards the end of the trail that are hard.

Finishing this trail means a long time on your feet, and most of the time you’ll be walking either up or down.

Whether you’re new to hiking or experienced, you’ll feel SO accomplished when you cross the finish line! I’ll be honest, it was tougher than I thought. But it’s very do-able, and we passed families with kids on the trail too. My legs ached the next day, but that’s probably because I hadn’t hiked in a while!

Note: The cliffs are unfenced in many places, and conditions can change quickly. Always stay well back from the edge, especially in windy or wet weather.

Seven Sisters Walk Route Maps

I’ve made a route map for each of these walks on my favourite platform for planning hikes: AllTrails.

Tap any pin on the map for a quick tip about that stop. For each full route, use my AllTrails maps below.

I’d create an AllTrails account and save the map to your favourites, so you can check it on the day.

• Short walk | route map
• Medium walk | route map
• Long walk | route map

Here’s the full long route from Seaford to Eastbourne. The short and medium routes follow the same path at the start, so you can see exactly where each one turns off.

What To Expect From The Walk

Seaford Esplanade To The First Ascent

Short | medium | long

Whichever route you choose, the coastal hike along the Seven Sisters Cliffs starts in the seaside town of Seaford.

From the car park, you walk along Seaford Esplanade, past colourful beach huts, striped deckchairs and loads of rowing boats.

The concrete esplanade ends pretty quickly as you head up your first hill.

It’s a gentle climb and a good warm-up for what’s coming. Be prepared for the ups and downs: they’re what caught us out most, and they keep going all the way to Eastbourne.

The First White Seven Sisters Cliff

Short | medium | long

Once the path starts to flatten out, it takes you away from the cliff edge.

Ahead of you it’s not much more than fields. But look behind you and you’ll get some fantastic views of Seaford Beach and beyond.

Just as you’ve caught your breath from that first climb, there’s a short descent. Then you reach the first of several amazing cliff edges.

In my opinion, this is one of the best and most dramatic edges of the whole walk. So make the most of it! This was my favourite bit of the whole walk. I got a really cool perspective shot here, with the cliff looking massive and me looking really tiny.

Downhill To The Beach

Short | medium | long

As you carry on along the trail, you’ll be heading steadily downhill.

Once you get to the bottom of the hill, you’ll reach Hope Gap, where steps lead down to a cobbled beach.

If the tide is out, you can wander around the little beach with the massive white cliffs towering above you.

It’s a great chance to see things from a different angle, and it REALLY shows off the scale of what you’re conquering.

Hope Gap And The Coastguard Cottages View

Short | medium | long

Just past Hope Gap, the path brings you out above Cuckmere Haven. And this is where you’ll find the most famous view of the whole walk: the row of old coastguard cottages at the edge of Seaford Head, with all of the Seven Sisters lined up behind them.

My sister and I stopped here just after lunch, and it was one of my favourite moments of the day.

This part of the cliff is eroding, so take your photo from the grass and stay well back from the edge. If you’re walking with kids, keep them well away from the edge along the whole route, as most of the clifftops aren’t fenced.

Hiking To Cuckmere Haven

Short | medium | long

Then it’s a quick climb, followed by a descent to Cuckmere Haven.

This is a stunning part of the walk, with the rest of the Seven Sisters cliffs in all their glory. The scale of the cliffs is what stuck with me most. At one point my sister stood on top of one of them, and seeing how tiny she looked really showed how huge they are.

But there’s an estuary between you and the next climb.

Whether the tide is in or out, you’ll need to walk at least a kilometre away from the seafront to find a bridge.

Loads of first-time walkers assume they’ll be able to cross the estuary at low tide. But in reality, the only reliable crossing is the bridge inland. We learned that the hard way, lol. I didn’t realise the tide was even a thing, and it was in when we got there, so we had to walk all the way round the estuary.

If you’re doing one of the short Seven Sisters walks, this is where the trail heads back to Seaford, either on foot or by bus.

If you’re walking, you’ll go through a few fields that bring you back to Seaford Esplanade.

If you’d rather get the bus, carry on to Exceat and catch a 12, 12A or 12X bus back to Seaford from the stop by the Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre.

The walking details I mentioned earlier in the guide assume you’re getting the bus.

Onwards And Upwards To The William Charles Campbell Monument

medium | long

If you’re carrying on, keep following the trail to your next climb. From here to Eastbourne, you’re on the South Downs Way.

This is one of the longest climbs of the walk. But once you’re at the top, you’re rewarded with loads of rugged white cliffs and amazing sea views.

After a quick rest, the route goes up and down a few times before you reach the William Charles Campbell monument.

If you’re doing the medium route, this is where you turn left and head away from the sea towards the tiny village of Friston.

It’s a peaceful bit of the walk, through fields and past lots of grazing wildlife.

Once you reach the main road in Friston, the bus stop is right there, and you can catch a 12, 12A or 12X bus back to Seaford.

To The Belle Tout Lighthouse

Long

If you want to challenge yourself on distance, keep hugging the coastline for a bit longer.

The route keeps going up and down until you reach Birling Gap. And from here, the route gets a LOT harder.

As you leave Birling Gap, you head up a steep hill. It’s not that different from the others you’ve done, but it probably feels much worse because you’ve already covered around 13 kilometres of hilly ground.

By this point, I found it best to slow down and take shorter, steadier steps rather than pushing hard up the hill, especially in warm weather.

At the top, you’re met by Belle Tout Lighthouse, a quirky bed and breakfast in a prime spot.

A Challenging Ascent And The Final Stretch To Eastbourne

Long

As you head down from Belle Tout Lighthouse, you’ll quickly reach the bottom of the hardest climb yet.

Not only is it the longest climb at roughly 1 kilometre, it’s also the steepest, with the gradient hitting 18%.

This bit is unforgiving, to say the least! But the views and the sense of achievement at the top quickly wash the pain away.

Once you’re at the top, you’ll see the red and white striped Beachy Head Lighthouse poking out of the clear water below.

After a welcome kilometre of flat, it’s time to head down into Eastbourne.

The descent is harsh, and arguably harder than the climb, with a -31% gradient at times.

If you’ve brought poles, now’s the time to use them.

After one more small hill, the route finishes with a 2-kilometre gentle descent into Eastbourne.

From Eastbourne, you can catch the train or a Coaster bus back to Seaford.

Best Photo Spots On The Seven Sisters Walk

Seaford Head And The Coastguard Cottages

This is the classic shot: the old coastguard cottages with all of the Seven Sisters lined up behind them. Take it from the grass above the cottages rather than near the edge. We were there just after lunch, and the cliffs tend to look their brightest from the afternoon onwards, when the sun is in the west.

The Beach At Hope Gap

Head down the steps at low tide and shoot up at the cliffs from the shingle. It’s the best way to show just how big they are, but keep away from the base of the cliffs.

Above Cuckmere Haven

Before you drop down to the river, look inland for the view of the Cuckmere meandering through the valley to the sea.

Birling Gap Beach

If you’re on the long route, the steps down to the beach at Birling Gap give you a view back along the Sisters from sea level.

Beachy Head Lighthouse

At the top of the final big climb, you’ll see the red and white lighthouse below you. Get the shot from the path, not the edge.

How To Get To The Trailhead

Short | medium | long

By Car

The quickest and easiest way to reach the trailhead of this walk is by car.

Regardless of whether you’re choosing the short, medium or long route, the closest car park to the trailhead is Seaford Esplanade Car Park.

On busy summer weekends, Seaford Esplanade Car Park fills up quickly by mid-morning. So I found that arriving before 9 am gives you the best chance of getting a space without adding extra distance to your walk!

📌 Where to park: BN25 1JT

When my sister and I did the long route, we parked at West Street Car Park (BN25 1EE), a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. And it only cost us a couple of pounds for the day. If that’s full too, try Sutton Road (BN25 1SU) or Richmond Road (BN25 1DB).

If you’d rather start at Cuckmere Haven, Seven Sisters Country Park at Exceat (BN25 4AD) has two pay and display car parks, plus toilets (including a Changing Places toilet), a visitor centre and somewhere to grab a coffee.

If you need to hire a car, I always check Rentalcars.com and Discovercars.com.

These two sites compare what’s out there, and in my experience they usually have the lowest prices.

By Bus

If you’re heading to the trailhead of this walk by bus, then you’ll need to head to Seaford town centre. From here, it is a 10-minute walk to the trailhead.

The Coaster buses run along the coast road between Brighton and Eastbourne. The 12 and 12A run about every 15 minutes every day, the faster 12X runs Monday to Saturday, and the 13X (daily in summer, Sundays in winter) is the only one that also stops at Birling Gap and Beachy Head. For the start of the walk, get off at Seaford Library.

By Train

For those visiting by train, you’ll need to head to Seaford Station and from here, it is a 10-minute stroll to the beginning of the walk.

More often than not, you’ll need to catch the train from your starting location to Lewes train station, before getting another train to Seaford.

If you’re doing the Seven Sisters hike from London, then you’ll need to head to London Victoria Station.

Again, I’d recommend using Rome2Rio to figure this out, as this makes getting from A to B really straightforward.

You’ll then want to book train tickets through Trainline.com as this is the major platform here in the UK.

Note: If you’re coming from London, weekend engineering works can add delays. So check the route the night before, rather than relying on the schedule on the day!

Best Time To Do The Walk

The best time to hike the Seven Sisters is between late April and early September, as that’s usually when the weather is dry and sunny in the UK.

You can do this walk at other times of the year, but it’s only really enjoyable if it isn’t wet and cold.

The earliest I’ve done this hike is late April. It looked cloudy, but there was no wind and it got really hot on the climbs.

Tips For Walking Along The Seven Sisters Cliffs

Pick Up Some Hiking Fuel

With all the climbing on this hike, you’ll need snacks and plenty to drink to get you to the end.

The best place to pick stuff up is Morrisons.

If you’re walking from the bus stop or train station to the start of the walk, it’s on the way.

Eat lunch along the route

We packed our own food, but honestly we probably shouldn’t have bothered. There are a few good places to stop along the way, and sitting down for lunch would have been nice.

• The Cuckmere Inn – Short | medium | long
  
  Regardless of which route you choose to take, you’ll pass The Cuckmere Inn – a lovely country pub.
  
  It’s located at the end of the estuary, which will be the finishing point if you’re taking the short route combined with the bus back to Seaford.
  
  If you’re taking the medium route, this will be about the halfway point, and if you’re taking the long route, then you’ll probably want to push on to one of the following options.
  
  
• National Trust – Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters cafe – long
  
  If you’re committed to taking the long route, then you’ll arrive here after around 13 kilometres.
  
  This is conveniently located just after the halfway mark and is situated on the cliff edge overlooking the sea.
  
  You’ll need to bear in mind this is a cafe rather than a pub, so you’ll have a limited menu here compared to the other two.
  
  
• The Beachy Head – long
  
  The Beachy Head is an excellent country pub which despite being set back from the cliff edge, still captures sea views.
  
  You’ll need to venture off the trail for a few minutes to dine here, however, it couldn’t come at a better time.
  
  You’ll have just climbed the steepest hill of the walk and be deserving of a well-earned meal before finishing off the last 4 kilometres of the walk.

Toilets And Coffee Stops

There are no toilets on the clifftops themselves, so it’s worth planning your stops. These are the main ones on or near the route:

Seven Sisters Country Park (Exceat)	Free toilets by the visitor centre, open 7am–6pm (Nov–Mar) and 7am–9pm (Apr–Oct). Saltmarsh Farmhouse next to the car park does coffee and lunch
The Cuckmere Inn	Pub at the end of the estuary, on every route
Birling Gap (long route)	National Trust cafe and toilets, about 13 km in
Eastbourne	Plenty of cafes and toilets at the finish

Check opening times before you go, especially out of season.

Staying Safe On The Cliffs

The chalk cliffs are eroding all the time, and falls happen without warning. The official advice from Seven Sisters Country Park is to stay at least 5 metres from the cliff edge and the base.

Most of the clifftops aren’t fenced, so keep kids close and dogs on leads near the edge. If you go down to the beach at Hope Gap, Cuckmere Haven or Birling Gap, check the tide times first, and never try to wade across the Cuckmere, as the river gets deep with a strong current at high tide. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

What To Wear And Pack

The Seven Sisters are VERY hilly, and I got surprisingly hot.

So, fair warning: this is going to be a sweaty hike.

I’m usually the type of hiker who overdoes it with layers. But you don’t need to bother too much on this one. It was a hot day in May and I wore leggings, but I could have done with shorts. My trail shoes were perfect, though. It was windy on the cliffs, so I was glad of a light jacket, and it was sunny too, so I wore a hat (and wear suncream, because the sea reflects the sun).

It was sunny but really windy when we went, so if you’re planning a picnic by the coast, throw in a light layer for the wind chill. And pack lots of suncream, as there’s hardly any shade on the whole route.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

⛰️ Be ready for the ups and downs. They caught us out more than anything else, especially after Birling Gap.

💡 Don’t plan to cross the estuary at low tide. I learned the hard way that the only reliable crossing at Cuckmere Haven is the bridge inland.

👕 Wear shorts if it’s warm. I wore leggings and could have done with shorts.

🥪 Don’t bother packing lunch. There are places to stop along the way, and a proper sit-down would have been nice.

📱 Screenshot the bus timetable before you set off. Signal can be patchy along the cliffs.

⏰ Give yourself more time than you think. The constant ups and downs make the long route feel harder than its distance.

Where To Stay

Seaford

Seaford is the smallest of the three places to base yourself.

It’s a small seaside town with loads of independent coffee shops, plus a big grocery store for your essentials.

There’s a stone beach with plenty of beach huts and deckchairs to relax on. But the main advantage of staying here is that it’s where the trail starts.

Seaford doesn’t have many places to stay, though. So I’d recommend basing yourself in Brighton or Eastbourne and getting the train or bus in for an early start.

Brighton

Brighton is the biggest of the three, and it’s full of atmosphere and things to do. This is where we stayed, because there’s a bit more happening there than in Seaford or Eastbourne.

It’s roughly 30 minutes from the start of the walk, so it’s a great option if you want to combine a seaside city break with a dose of nature.

There are loads of things to do in Brighton. But an afternoon at the beach followed by a trip to the arcades is something I highly recommend!

The best places to stay are:

Eastbourne

Eastbourne is smaller than Brighton but bigger than Seaford. It’s a nice in-between size, with a good atmosphere, and it’s friendly on the budget.

If you’re doing the long walk along the Seven Sisters Cliffs, you can start from Eastbourne instead of Seaford.

But tbh, the views are arguably not as good that way.

Or you could catch the bus to the start of the trail and walk back.

The best places to stay are:

Seven Sisters Walk FAQs

How long is the Seven Sisters walk?

The full walk from Seaford to Eastbourne is around 21.8 km and takes most people 5-7 hours with breaks. It took my sister and me most of the day. If that’s too much, the short route is 5.6 km (1-2 hours) and the medium route is 12.1 km (3-4 hours).

How hard is the Seven Sisters walk?

It’s moderate. The path is easy to follow, but it’s constantly up and down over the cliffs, and the climb after Belle Tout up towards Beachy Head is the toughest part of the day.

Can you do the Seven Sisters walk without a car?

Yes. Seaford has a train station (change at Lewes if you’re coming from London Victoria), and the Coaster buses run along the coast road, so you can walk one way and get the bus or train back.

Which direction is best for the Seven Sisters walk?

My sister and I walked from Seaford to Eastbourne and it worked really well. You get the classic views early on, and you finish in a town with plenty of food, trains and buses home.

Are dogs allowed on the Seven Sisters walk?

Yes, and you’ll see plenty of them on the trail. Keep them on a lead near the cliff edges and around the grazing cattle.

Is the Seven Sisters walk free?

Yes, the walk itself is free. You’ll just need to pay for parking or your train or bus.

Can you cross Cuckmere Haven at low tide?

Don’t rely on it. The only reliable crossing is the bridge inland at Exceat, which means walking about a kilometre away from the sea and back.

Where are the toilets on the Seven Sisters walk?

There are toilets at the Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre at Exceat (including a Changing Places toilet), at Beachy Head and in Eastbourne.

Explore Beyond The Seven Sisters

Whichever Seven Sisters walk you choose, you’re guaranteed to see at least a few dramatic chalk cliffs standing tall beside the sea.

If you love coastal walks, the clifftop trails on my favourite North Devon walks are just as dramatic. For something greener, the best Cotswolds walks and the Winnats Pass walk in the Peak District make a great weekend away.

Here are more of my UK walking guides:

• North Devon walks/ dramatic coastlines, waterfalls and cobbled streets
• Best Cotswolds walks / honey-stone cottages, rolling hills and historical landmarks
• Best walks in the Brecon Beacons / scenic views, hundreds of waterfalls and lots of wild swimming
• Winnats Pass walk / the Peak District’s most dramatic viewpoint
• Chee Dale circular walk / stepping stones through a limestone gorge

Millie / Stay Wild Travels.