Alfriston to Eastbourne

Alfriston
1. From the bus stop in Alfriston High Street take a path between houses which then crosses a bridge to emerge on a raised bank above water meadows alongside the Cuckmere river.

Litlington
2. Across the river are good views of ancient St. Andrews church and the Clergy House (both 14th century). The path leaves the river to detour through Litlington, then steps uphill into broadleaf Friston Forest.

Westdean
3. The path goes down hill to another tiny village of West Dean.

Friston Forest
4. After another stepped section up through Friston Forest the path emerges above Cuckmere Haven and promptly descends to Exceat, an almost deserted village with just a few ancient buildings, now converted into the Seven Sisters Country Park visitors centre.

Cuckmere Haven
5. Crossing the busy main road and continuing uphill away from the Cuckmere, the rest of the walk is entirely on open grassy chalk downland all the way to Eastbourne.

Below Foxhole
A short downhill stretch goes back close to the river.

First of Seven
7. The next ascent is the first of several over the Seven Sisters. These climbs are not too strenuous, the descents relatively gentle and the turf is very soft underfoot.

Birling Gap
8. There is a tea shop here (generally open). Ahead, one of the Seven Sisters is crowned with a former lighthouse, Belle Toute, now a smart hotel. There is one more descent followed by a long slow climb to the top of Beachy Head, with beautiful views of the gleaming white crumbling chalk cliffs from here all the way back to Cuckmere Haven.

Beachy Head
9. A red and white striped working lighthouse now stands at the foot of the cliffs here. From this high point the path begins to descend to Eastbourne. Looking ahead Bexhill and Hastings are visible, as well as more distant cliffs and buildings at Dungeness.

End of the South Downs Way
10. The path descends to Dukes Drive, on the outskirts of Eastbourne and the official end/start of the path. You can get a bus to the train station from here (or walk if you still have the energy).