Seven Sisters & Friston Forest from Exceat

South Downs Walk

Coastal Walk + Woodland Walk

Walk Route Description

Click image to see photo description.

The white cliffs of the Seven Sisters west of Eastbourne are a dramatic feature of the East Sussex Coast. This walk starts from Exceat and heads inland through the Friston Forest before continuing to the Birling Gap where the walk joins the South Downs Way for the remainder of the walk following an undulating path across the cliff tops and through the Seven Sisters Country Park back to the start at Exceat.

The walk starts from the Seven Sisters car park at Exceat on the north side of the A259 (grid ref. TV518996). After parking walk to the Information centre and the A259. Turn left along the main road and bear left beside the bike hire centre and continue up through a kissing gate at the end of the parking area. Follow the grassy path uphill following the South Downs Way and Vanguard Way. Reaching the top, it is worth looking back to enjoy the view including the Cuckmere River meanders and Cuckmere Haven. Pass through another kissing gate in a stone wall and turn right and then left to descend a long flight of steps and continue ahead to a road in West Dean. Keep straight ahead soon passing a flint faced cottage on the left. Turn right at the next junction and follow road with a stone wall on your right. Pass All Saints Church on the left. At the next junction (grid ref. TV525996), turn left uphill and continue into Friston Forest.

Follow gravel track to a house on the left and fork right. Follow this roller-coaster track for just under two kilometres keeping ahead at all junctions to reach a T-junction with Friston Place opposite (grid ref. TV547989). Turn left along access road and after 150 metres at a waymark post, turn right up steps, and through a gate in the wall to continue along path across grass to another gate. Descend steps, bear left to access road and then turn right over a stile (grid ref. TV550989) to head half-left uphill. Cross another stile and follow enclosed path up to a road. Cross an area of grass to the A259. Cross with great care to the lane signed to Crowlink. Pass between pond and Friston church. Just before reaching Crowlink NT car park, turn left through a gate and head half-right across the field and through another gate. Turn left along fence and pass through a gate and then swing right along a wooded escarpment. Walk south past barn to reach a fingerpost in the hedge where the South Downs Way turns right (grid ref. 552963) above Birling Gap.

Turn right along the South Downs Way initially between hedges to emerge on the clifftop. Cross Seven Sisters using the recently introduced King Charles III England Coast Path. After three kilometres of walking your reach Cliff End at Haven Brow (grid ref. TV524974). Bear right at a fingerpost and descend into the Cuckmere Valley. Turn right along the valley floor and join concrete track back to the A259. Cross with care to the visitor centre and car park at Exceat.

Walk GradingMore South Downs Walks

Other walks nearby

Walk 1357	The Seven Sisters from Exceat	moderate	14.0 miles
Walk 3575	High and Over White Horse Circular	easy	2.0 miles
Walk 3120	Alfriston to Rodmell by the South Downs Way	moderate	9.0 miles
Walk 3574	Firle Beacon & Cuckmere Valley from Alfriston	moderate	10.4 miles
Walk 2227	East Dean Circular	moderate	11.0 miles