Birling Gap to Beachy Head

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"A magnificent clifftop walk exploring a scenic stretch of the Sussex coast."

Walk directions

Facing the cottages in the car park, take the leftmost track, by a parking ticket machine near the car park entrance, and parallel to the road. Keep to the right of the next car park and follow the path between the trees.

A few paces after emerging from the trees, look for a junction with a concrete track on the other side of the road; take the next left path to meet it. Follow the bridleway signposted ‘East Dean Down’. Glance back for a view of the old Belle Tout lighthouse. Pass a fingerpost and continue ahead.

Follow the concrete track as it bends right towards Cornish Farm, avoiding the faint grass path going straight on. Just before the farm and some pens, go right through a waymarked gate and shortly afterwards another, and walk along the spine of the ridge, keeping the fence on your right-hand side. Make for another gate and continue straight ahead. Pass alongside lines of bushes before reaching the next gate. To the right you will see Bullockdown Farm, and fields and pastures enclosed by flint walls.

Pass beside a barrier to the road and turn right, following the wide grassy verge. On reaching two adjoining barriers and the end of a wall on the right, cross the road and take a path through grassland to a five-way junction, bearing half left down a broad grassy track. At the next junction, fork right at the signpost (left is the South Downs Way).

As you come to a single tree on your left 100yds (91m) later, turn sharp right on the South Downs Way (ahead is signposted to the seafront) and follow the long-distance trail as it climbs steadily between bushes and vegetation. Keep right when another path comes in from the left, and contour round the slopes, eventually reaching a tarmac path just above an RAF memorial and a viewpoint of Beachy Head lighthouse at the foot of the cliff. Cross the grass, up the slope. In front of you now are the Beachy Head Pub and Beachy Head Countryside Centre.

Return to the South Downs Way and follow it downhill, with the sea on your left. The path can be seen ahead, running over the undulating cliff top. Keep the Belle Tout lighthouse in your sights and follow the path up towards it. Keep to the right of the old lighthouse and soon the car park at Birling Gap edges into view, as do the famous Seven Sisters cliffs. Carry on down, finally dropping to the right to return to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Downland paths and tracks, clifftop grass-covered grounds

Landscape - Southern boundary of South Downs and headland

Dog friendliness - On lead by Cornish Farm and on South Downs Way

Parking - National Trust car park at Birling Gap

Toilets en route - Birling Gap and Beachy Head

Walks in East Sussex Dog-friendly walks in East Sussex

About the walk

The magnificent chalk cliffs of Beachy Head were formed from the shells of billions of minute creatures which fell to the bottom of a subtropical sea. Today, this stretch of coast is one of Britain’s most famous landmarks. The treeless South Downs reach the sea in spectacular fashion, and over...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

East Sussex is a land of stately homes, castles and the South Downs, with miles of chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel. For history buffs, there are a great many historic landmarks within Sussex, such as the battlefield where the Battle of Hastings took place, or visitors can enjoy pretty towns such as Lewes, Rye and Uckfield and the city of Brighton.