.png)
Image: Emily Summer-Mileman courtesy of SDNPA
When complete in 2024, the England Coast Path will be 2,700 miles long - the longest coastal trail in the world.
Our local stretch – Section 23 – is already complete and runs from Shoreham by Sea in the west, all the way to Eastbourne. At 33 miles long, the route takes in the colourful promenades of Brighton & Hove, the busy port and industrial heritage of Newhaven, and the majestic beauty of Seaford Head, Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters.
Image: Nigel French
More information about the local and national routes can be found on the National Trails website.
In 2022, Visit Lewes received an exciting commission from Natural England: to produce a flagship celebration of the soon-to-be-completed King Charles III England Coast Path. Visit Lewes invited local production company LYT Productions to join in the fun, and together with National Lottery Heritage Fund and South Downs National Park, we created Walk the Chalk – a five-day festival in September 2023 centred on Seaford’s South Hill, Cuckmere Haven, Seven Sisters and the surrounding area. The project explored local heritage, chalk, fossils, flora, fauna, history and folklore through art and creativity. But most of all, Walk the Chalk celebrated the joys of being in nature and our iconic coastal landscape.
Six local artists were commissioned to create large installations responding to the landscape, which sat along the path during our Celebration Week, surprising visitors and inspiring wonder and debate.
Click here to learn more and see the artworks
Around 7,500 people joined us over the week to explore the landscape, taking guided walks led by knowledgeable members of the team, and enjoying the artwork and programme of music, talks and debates at South Hill Barn.
Hundreds of volunteers got involved, leading walks and bringing the past to life by representing characters from the area’s fascinating history.
The Walk the Chalk area is the site of some of the most breathtaking and iconic coastal scenery in England. The unique meanders of the Cuckmere River define this beautiful landscape, while the view of the majestic Seven Sisters from the Coastguard Cottages is an internationally recognised image. Both feature in artworks, films, adverts, music videos and and screensavers around the world.
Coastguard Cottages from Cuckmere Haven by Nigel French
The best way to explore the area and experience the amazing benefits of being in these green and blue spaces is by walking. Three of our favourite circular walks, which featured at Walk the Chalk, are detailed in the links below. Please remember that all walks cover a Site of Special Scientfic Interest (SSSI) and fragile chalk grassland. Please respect the flora & fauna, stick to the paths, keep away from cliff edges, and dispose of your litter responsibly in bins at the start and finish points. Please keep dogs on leads and pick up any mess. A dog bin is located halfway up the track between Coastguard Cottages and South Hill Barn.
Click for South Hill Barn Loop
Click for the Seven Sisters Visitor Centre Circular Walk
The walks detailed in the links include stiles, but the Seven Sisters walk in particular could be adapted to be fully accessible - instead of turning into the field to Harry's Bush, you could continue on the England Coast Path all the way to the Coastgurad Cottages, and up the track to South Hill Barn.
The Seven Sisters Visitor Centre has two fantastic all terrain mobility scooters ('trampers') which can be booked an hired out for a donation. Much of the coastal area can be explored on the trampers and there are excellent accessibillity guides and resources on the Seven Sisters website.
The area of land around South Hill Barn and Seaford Head to the west of the River Cuckmere was gifted to Seaford Urban District Council in 1933 by Hugh Hamilton Stafford Northcote, effectively becoming one of the first national parks. It's now managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust on behalf of Seaford Town Council.
This is a very protected and special area. Its part of the South Downs National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Sussex Heritage Coast, a Marine Conservation Zone and a Site of Special Scientific Interest
It's exceptional for many reasons - not just for the breathtaking views, but also the many rare species that can be found here, the incredible chalk geology, and the many strands of history which converge on the site. Click on the links below to learn more...
Fossils and Where to Find Them
And finally, we were so happy to hear from local poet John White, who was inspired by his visit to Walk the Chalk and his conversation with representatives from Natural England to write this wonderful poem
© Visit Lewes 2024. All Rights Reserved
.png){kind=icon}
