BELLE TOUT centre and café. The wild SOUTH DOWNS WALKS SOUTH DOWNS forces of the sea create LIGHTHOUSE unusual chalk platforms NATIONAL PARK Petitions for a lighthouse and huge heaps of were first made around gleaming white chalk as HERITAGE From rolling hills to bustling market towns, the 1691 due to the number the cliffs erode at up to South Downs National Park’s landscapes cover of shipwrecks and one metre a year. With 1,600km² of breathtaking views, hidden gems sailors losing lives on over 500 acres of open COAST and quintessentially English scenery. A rich this dangerous stretch chalk grassland the area tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity of coastline. The current is rich with butterflies and and visitor attractions, weave together lighthouse, Belle Tout, downland flowers. a story of people and place in harmony. was built in 1832 and decommissioned in 1902 For your guide to everything there is STAY SAFE when the new lighthouse Please take notice of to see and do in the National Park visit was built at the base of southdowns.gov.uk/discovery-map warning signs. Rock the cliffs. In 1999, with falls can happen at erosion threatening its any time and there are Keep up to date with the future, it was moved latest news and events from overhangs and faults 17 metres (56 feet) back that you can’t see from the South Downs National Park. from the edge of the cliff southdowns.gov.uk/newsletter the cliff tops. Use your – an impressive feat of common sense and keep engineering work – and a safe distance from cliff by 2010 it had been edges and the cliff face lovingly restored to when on the beach. its former glory. If you see anyone BIRLING GAP in danger or witness someone who has Part of the world famous fallen do not to Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, attempt to rescue Birling Gap offers ancient them. Dial 999 and downland, a marine ask for the Coastguard. nature reserve, a visitor YOUR COUNTRYSIDE CODE: RESPECT. PROTECT. ENJOY. Respect other people • Leave gates and property as you find them • Keep to the paths unless on Open Access Land Protect the natural environment • Take your litter home • Keep dogs under effective control Enjoy the outdoors • Plan ahead and be prepared Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters • Follow advice and local signs © John Dunn SDNPA GODALMING TUNBRIDGE WELLS National Park Area
WINCHESTER Railway PETERSFIELD Station MIDHURST PULBOROUGH SOUTHAMPTON LEWES CHICHESTER HERITAGE BRIGHTON COAST & HOVE PORTSMOUTH BOGNOR EASTBOURNE REGIS
FIND YOUR WAY Follow the arrows on waymarkers.
Footpath Bridleway
The River Cuckmere Beachy Head Lighthouse Restricted byway © Sam Moore © Robert Maynard SDNPA Byway WHAT TO SEE AND DO Open access land National Trail Acorn SEVEN SISTERS rooms in Sussex created 150 years Martello towers and cliffs on the ago; Litlington Church, originally coast. Following these wars, the TAKE THE LEAD COUNTRY PARK built in 1150 AD and the Long Man village turned to smuggling, and the For a safe and fun visit with your dog please remember This Park comprises 280 hectares of Brewery (not open to the public) Alfriston gang, well known for their to keep them on a lead around livestock and wildlife. chalk cliffs, a meandering river valley based at Church Farm – a site violence, used the Cuckmere river to Always bag and bin your dog poo – any public bin will do! and open chalk grassland. Named where brewing can be traced bring illegal goods in to the village. after the famous Seven Sisters that back to 1538! GETTING HERE CONTACT form part of the chalk cliffs on WHITE HORSE the Sussex Heritage Coast, one of ALFRISTON By bus: There are regular South Downs National Britain’s finest unspoilt coastlines, it is OF LITLINGTON services between Seaford Park Authority: This pretty historic village in the a great place to explore. The Visitor This chalk figure on High and and Eastbourne, visit 01730 814810 heart of the Cuckmere Valley Information Centre is staffed entirely Over Hill was carved in 1924 by a traveline.info/se was named after Aelfric tun the @SDNPA /SDNPA by volunteers so please check the man called John T Ade, allegedly 'farmstead of Alfric' in Anglo Saxon By rail: Nearest stations are opening hours on the website – overnight by the light of a full moon southdownsnp times. The village was recorded in Seaford and Eastbourne. sevensisters.org.uk so as to startle the locals with the the Domesday Book and the area sudden appearance of the horse in Visit nationalrail.co.uk is thought to have been occupied LITLINGTON the morning! Camouflaged during since Neolithic times as a number WWII it was restored in the early This picturesque village lies about of long barrows can be found in the 1980s and since then has been kept a mile from Alfriston and is surrounding Downs. clear of vegetation (and occasionally surrounded by the chalk hills of the SOUTHDOWNS.GOV.UK topped up with chalk to keep it South Downs. Here you will find the During the Napoleonic Wars, white) with the help of volunteer All uncredited photos Mischa Haller © SDNPA. Details correct at time of going Plough and Harrow, a 17th century Alfriston was home to a large to print. Please be aware that routes are shared with other users (vehicles, work parties organised by the pedestrians, dogs, horses etc) and users of this route do so at their own risk. We pub with a lovely garden; Litlington number of troops stationed to repel do not accept any responsibility for loss, damage or injury, however caused, National Trust. arising directly or indirectly from use of this leaflet. Contains Ordnance Survey Please Tea Gardens, one of the oldest tea any invaders who got past the data © Crown copyright and database right 2013. recycle me after use SDNPA/The Way Design/April 2018. © SDNPA Crown copyright KEY: Railway station ALFRISTON AND THE Bridge BEACHY HEAD Point of interest Walking trail RIVER CUCKMERE Pub TO BIRLING GAP Road DISTANCE: PATH: Refreshments DISTANCE: GR ADIENT: A mix of quiet roads, Long Distance Path 5 miles (8.1km) (optional 6.4 miles (10.3km) Toilets Several gradual climbs. forest tracks and Bridleway 2.1 mile (3.4km) return Parking route to start point). ALLOW: 4.5 hours uneven footpaths Footpath PATH: Mainly undulating with several stiles. Bus stop Open access land downland paths with GR ADIENT: Golf course (in shaded area) ALLOW: some uneven tracks and 3.5 hours (approximately public road crossings. Several short Woodland Shop 50 mins for optional steep climbs. Trail point Buildings return section.)
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D 11 O 13 W N NS WAY 1 10 1km FRISTON TO BRIGHTON 12 9 2 MAP REF: 10 Tumulus EAST DEAN ROAD Find these areas 8 9 on OS Explorer DUKES GREEN OL25 (was 123) 11 WARREN HILL LITLINGTON EAST DEAN CRAPHAM DOWN 3 12 TEA GARDENS 8 7 Tumulus
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R G D B P N O H A T A T V G WHITE U HORSE 6 O G S N E 15 I R L E R I 4 M 5 6 B K Y C A U W C 5 D R L E A V E I W R FRISTON FOREST BIRLING GAP SEVEN SISTERS VISITOR Tumulus WEST BROW VISITOR CENTRE 4 CENTRE 2 BEACHY HEAD WESTDEAN COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE SOU TH DOW STBOURNE NS WAY EA ROAD 16 1 3 BELLE TOUT BEACHY LIGHTHOUSE HEAD ALFRISTON AND THE RIVER CUCKMERE BEACHY HEAD TO BIRLING GAP Explore Friston Forest, the banks of the River Cuckmere Discover stunning sea views and the historic downland village of Alfriston. and rolling clifftop downland.
From the bus stop at Seven on the left side of the road. After Bridge.) Continue for 1.1miles Opposite Eastbourne the village, through a gate into 1Sisters Country Park Centre, 200m branch left over a stile into (1.8km) passing through a series 1Downland golf course, on the the field and then a gate onto the carefully cross the A259 and turn a field and follow the field edge of kissing gates until you reach seaward side, take the sunken access road for the houses. right. With the cycle hire barn on footpath. Litlington. track towards the trig point, which your left, follow the South Downs comes into view as you walk Go across the village green, Way (SDW) signs through the Cross the stile and follow the At the SDW path junction along the path. 9by the Tiger Inn, and turn kissing gate and up the hill. 9footpath diagonally left. Cross 12 continue straight ahead right down through the car park. a second stile near Lullington Road along the tarmac path to Litlington At the pond bear right of Turn left onto the road out of the At the top of the hill, cross over and bear left. Bridge. Carry straight on with the 2the trig point and keeping on village and return to the bus stop 2the wall into Friston Forest and River Cuckmere on your right to a the Downs follow the road on the main road. down a series of steps to Westdean. Go through the kissing gate kissing gate. to your right. and keeping the fence on 10 OPTIONAL RETURN ROUTE With Westdean pond on your your right, follow the footpath to Go through the kissing gate Cross the road at the turning 3left, follow the SDW signs the corner of the field. Cross the 13 and follow the riverbank 3for Birling Gap, Beachy Cross the main road using straight on, past some houses and stile and after 60m turn left onto footpath for 635m. Head and the Countryside 10 the pedestrian crossing uphill back into Friston Forest. the SDW bridleway to the White Centre. Keep on the seaward and turn right following the Bridge at Alfriston. At the path junction carry side and follow the Downs over pavement uphill. Turn left at the path junction 14 straight on and follow the the brow of the hill. 4and follow the SDW signs (To visit nearby Lullington Church, riverbank footpath. Look up to your Turn left into Downs through the forest until you reach a reputed to be the smallest church right to see the High and Over hill With the sea on your left 11 View Lane and follow set of steps. in Sussex (1.1km return trip), and Litlington White Horse. 4continue to Birling Gap, the tarmac road ahead. instead of turning left onto the via Beachy Head and Belle At the end of the road take Go down the steps and follow SDW, turn right to reach Lullington After 0.6mile (1km) continue Tout lighthouse. the SDW round to the left. straight on at the path 12 the grassy track to the right 5 Road. At the road edge, turn right 15 of the metal farm gate. Passing a then almost immediately (10m) left junction, following the meandering Immediately past the entrance Turn right at the path junction, metal vehicle barrier follow and follow the public footpath up riverside path for a further to the car park at Birling Gap, cross the stile and follow the 5 the path for around 0.9 miles 6 behind Plonk Barn. Keep straight 1.04miles (1.7km) over a series of take the chalk track up towards SDW/Vanguard Way uphill, (1.5km) through the dry valley ahead at the path junction and stiles to the A259 at Exceat bridge. the houses on your left. over the brow and down into of Ringwood Bottom. follow the footpath through the Litlington village. Cross the A259 and either At the top of the track, go trees. At the back of the house turn turn left, following the through the gap beside the After passing flint walled left up a narrow surfaced path to 16 6 Turn left at the kissing gate pavement to return to Seven Sisters gate and follow the blue bridleway 13 fields on your left, bear reach the church. Return via the 7behind the village hall and Country Park Visitor Centre, or sign up the hill in the direction you right at Ringwood Farm to follow same route, enjoying views of then right into Litlington. Walk finish at the bus stop at Exceat have just been walking. a concrete track uphill towards the White Horse/Frog Firle and through the village passing the Bridge by The Cuckmere Inn. Eastbourne Downs Golf Club. Plough and Harrow pub, Litlington Rathfinny Wine Estate, with lower Follow the path to the right of Tea Gardens, Litlington Church lying Alfriston and St Andrews the red tin roofed barn. Keep At the end of the concrete 7 track, turn right and follow and Church Farm where the Long Church below.) Open Access Land the scrub on your right, and keep 14 Man Brewery is based (not open on the level. the South Downs Way blue Before the bridge turn left Wherever you see this symbol to the public). bridleway signs to return to the 11through a kissing gate, you are free to leave the footpath Take the first path that drops A259 East Dean road and your At a property called ‘The Ham’, following the SDW/Vanguard Way to walk and picnic within the 8down the side of the hill, on starting point. 8take the raised public footpath with the river on your right. (To visit mapped area. Please be aware the right and head straight on into Alfriston village cross the White of livestock and wildlife.