Seven Sisters Tour

Devil's Dyke is a 100-metre (330 ft) deep V-shaped dry valley . We stop here and go walking around the top of Devils Dyke and talk about the history Devil's Dyke when it was a huge attraction for the Victorians in mid 1800s.

How was it formed?
The Devil's Dyke V-shaped dry valley is the result of solifluction and river erosion. More than 14,000 years ago[unreliable source?], the area experienced an intensely cold climate (but not glacial conditions). Snowfields capped the South Downs. Permafrost conditions meant that the chalk was permanently frozen. In summer, the snowfields melted and saturated the top layer of soil, because the water could not permeate the frozen chalk underneath. Waterlogged material situated above the permafrost slid down the gradient, removing material by friction, exposing deeper layers of frozen chalk. When the Ice Age ended, the snowfields covering the South Downs melted, and rivers formed across Sussex. The Devil's Dyke valley was completed by one such river

Seaford Beach in East Sussex has a long history of coastal challenges, particularly due to the natural movement of shingle along the shoreline. This constant shifting has necessitated ongoing human intervention to maintain the beach's integrity and protect the town from erosion and flooding.
In modern times, heavy machinery such as bulldozers and dumper trucks have been employed to manage the beach's shingle. These vehicles are used to redistribute the pebbles, especially around structures like the Terminal Groyne, to counteract the effects of longshore drift and ensure the beach remains a viable sea defense

Seven Sisters best view point is a short 10 mins walk away from where we park. The walk is completely optional.
View the scenic Seven Sisters Cliffs from Seaford Head Nature park - It stands on one side of one of the last remaining undeveloped river mouths on the South Coast, Cuckmere Estuary. It is home to many nationally rare and significant species of plant, birds and insect, providing visitors with a great conservation experience, together with peaceful walks with the world-renowned view of the Coastguard Cottages, Seven Sisters Cliffs and the Cuckmere River Valley.

Cable House 14 Hidden alongside the newly named route, ' The King Charles III England Coastal Path', is Cable House 14. This intriguing hut is the birthplace of a network of undersea cable stations that connect the world. Built in 1900 as a relay station to carry telegraph messages under the sea to France, the hut was converted to a gun emplacement in WWII to fend off a landing invasion at Cuckmere Haven.

We drive the the coast road down to Birling gap.
I recommend that you walk from the lighthouse down along the cliffs to Birling Gap (20mins) this is optional if you feel like it.
The Belle Tout Lighthouse came into operation on the 11th October 1834 and was manned around the clock by two lighthouse keepers.

The location of the lighthouse was carefully planned so that the light was visible for 20 miles out to sea and that the light would be obscured by the edge of the cliff if sailors were too close to the shore. However being on top of the cliffs was prone to be in the cloud, so ceased in 1900 and Beachy Head lighthouse took over.

There is a option here to have lunch at the Tiger Inn East in East Dean Village. This is a pub where the Smugglers used to meet.
East Dean Village is centred around the Village Green with its war memorial, mediaeval church and long-established inn, “The Tiger”.
Tiger Inn: (Optional)has been serving fine ales, wines and food to surrounding residents, farmers, soldiers, walkers, smugglers, lovers and brewers since the 15th century. We stop here if you would like to have a hearty country pub lunch or just a quick drink.

Local Beer Brewery and cafe (Optional)

View the Seven Sister Cliffs from Sea Level, walk the beach and get some great pictures.

Stop for a snack or drink at the visitors centre.

Yew tree, estimated to be 1600 years old
Wilmington is a Downland village of Saxon origin, the present church was first built around 1200 as a chapel to the adjacent Priory and a feature of the churchyard is the ancient Yew tree, estimated to be 1600 years old, the trunk having a girth of 23ft. Dont eat the red berries as they are poison!!! You can eat the berry but not he pip.

Charming church in a peaceful rural setting, with a history dating back to the 13th century. A larger church once stood on the site, but was replaced by the current building after being destroyed by fire. This tiny church is one of the smallest in England, and the smallest in Sussex. The churchyard enjoys lovely views of the surrounding countryside, and the church is open daily. There's no on-site parking but the walk from Alfriston takes about 15-20 minutes.

This is an option to stop here for complimentary Tasting in the cellar door shop if this is something you would like then we do it.
Dedicated to producing some of the world’s finest English sparkling wines from a single-site Sussex Vineyard. Located on a wonderful south-facing slope in England’s South Downs, the climate, chalk soil and aspect make it the perfect UK Vineyard for producing Sussex Sparkling wine

About The Long Man of Wilmington
The Long Man of Wilmington – or the Wilmington Giant as he’s sometimes known – stands on the steep slopes of Windover Hill above the village of Wilmington.

The origins and meaning of the figure have long since baffled archaeologists and historians for hundreds of years. Is the figure a fertility symbol, ancient warrior or an 18th century folly? We may never know for sure.

It’s difficult to date this giant
There are a number of theories about the date of the figure.

Some are convinced that he’s prehistoric. Roman coins with a similar figure lead others to think he dates from the 4th or 5th centuries.

An Anglo-Saxon origin has also been suggested, as there are parallels with a helmeted figure found on ornaments from that period.

Or perhaps the Long Man is the work of an artistic monk from the nearby Wilmington Priory sometime between the 11th – 15th centuries.

Founded in the 1360s, St Andrew’s is a fine example of a 14th century parish church, located close to the winding Cuckmere River, and beside the Old Clergy House (the first National Trust property). Built with all the loving care of the craftsmen of that age, it is unlike many other churches, because it was built all at one time with no major later additions. Its size and soaring arches (together with few memorials in the interior, creating a spacious and open feel), make it stand out from many local churches, and it has become known as the “Cathedral of the South Downs”.

Six bells are placed below the spire, and for this reason the church is one of less than twenty in the country where bell ringers regularly (and dramatically) ring from the centre of the church.

Stop for Sightseeing around the village

Set in the charming Medieval village of Alfriston, East Sussex, our two-floor shop features new books alongside vintage, antiquarian and secondhand volumes.

Formerly a builders' yard, the compound boasts a book-filled shepherd's hut and a bower bursting with bargain paperbacks.

First licensed in 1397, the foundations of this splendid flint stone and half-timbered building date back to 1250, and there is a network of smugglers' tunnels leading from its cellars. The bar, the oldest part of the inn, has an impressive inglenook fireplace with a huge copper hood, oak floors and Sussex hop bines decorating the walls. To the rear is the large garden and a heated terrace for those cooler evenings. Good quality food is served here.