Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From South Hill Barn the walk goes west along the track and down to the cliff edge on Seaford Head, then turns back east along the cliff path. It follows the cliff top above Hope Gap, a dip in the chalk where a dry valley meets the sea, and comes round to the slope above the old coastguard cottages at Cuckmere Haven. This is the well-known view: the cottages in front, the river mouth below, and the Seven Sisters running away to the east. The way back is up the track from the cottages to South Hill Barn.
It is 4.2 km with 74 m of ascent; allow about 1 hour. The grade is Easy: short and gentle, on grass paths and a firm track.
The chalk cliffs are unstable and unfenced, and falls are common: keep to the paths and well back from the edge. The steps to the shore at Hope Gap have been closed since 2023, and the path past the cottages down to the beach is closed by erosion, so this walk stays on the top. Sheep or cattle may be grazing; keep dogs under close control.
South Hill Barn car park charges £2 for an hour, £4 for two and £8 all day, by card only. The nearest station is Seaford, about 2.5 km away. Sussex Wildlife Trust manages the reserve.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Out over Seaford Head and along the cliff path to Hope Gap
- On to the famous view of the Seven Sisters over the coastguard cottages at Cuckmere Haven
- A local nature reserve managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust; the chalk cliffs lose about 30 to 40 cm a year
- Keep well back from the edge: the cliffs are unfenced and unstable
Summits on the way
- South Hill 65 m · passed close by
Getting there
Start: South Hill Barn car park · Pay and display. 50.76270, 0.13156
By train: Seaford station is 2.5 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Seaford: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
