Between the South Downs and the sea walk
Discover stunning views of the Seven Sisters, where the flower-embroidered downs plunge into the sea in a dazzling wall of white. Then turn inland through the peaceful hamlet of Crowlink to reach Friston Church and back across the downs to Birling Gap.
Map
Start:
Crowlink car park grid ref TV549978
1
Go carefully through Crowlink car park and continue along the lane towards the main road, before turning right through the gate into Friston Churchyard.
2
Go through the churchyard, through the far gate, and continue down through the meadow.
A field full of flowers
This lovely hay meadow is known as Hobb's Eares. In Sussex dialect 'eares' means arable land and Hobbs would have been the name of the owner. In spring, the meadow is a sea of yellow buttercups and white daisies. In summer, a wave of deep purple and gold washes over as knapweeds appear through the drying grass.
3
Near the bottom of the meadow veer right to pick up a path up and go through the trees (or continue straight ahead through the gate to find the Tiger Inn at East Dean). At the top of the path turn right and climb the hill, keeping close to the wall on your left.
4
Follow the flint wall until you reach a stone step on your left, using the step climb over the flint wall and continue to follow the path across the field.
5
Go through the gate and skirt around the left of the field. Turn left through the kissing gate, aiming across the field to the red barn.
6
In front of the barn, pick up the sunken track over the brow of the hill and follow it through one gate and then a second, to join the track down towards Birling Gap.
7
For the Birling Gap cafe follow the South Downs Way along the track as it bears left down the hill and behind the toilet block. To continue without stopping turn right at the yellow waymark sign through the pedestrian gate and up onto the downs.
Wildlife to spot
Cucumber-scented salad burnet, a nationally rare plant, thrives in the turf here. On warm days the air is sweet with the coconut aroma of gorse. Listen for skylarks rising from the grass to fill the air with melodious song. In the coombes, watch for the dashing eye stripes and bobbing white rumps of wheatears. In summer, clouds of butterflies rise from the grass.
8
Follow the coastline, but count each hill as you're only crossing three 'sisters' plus their 'little brother', Flat Brow. After descending the fourth hill - Flagstaff Brow, with its stone memorial on top - turn right along the coombe bottom, away from the sea.
Aeroplanes and dragonflies
During the Second World War, the tranquillity here was often shattered by fighter planes zooming in from the sea to land at a nearby airfield. The unusual stone building on the hillside opposite housed the pilots. For airborne drama these days visit the dew pond beside the path, where colourful dragonflies and damselflies stage spectacular summer flying shows.
9
Pass the pond and then bear right along the path and straight on through a bridle gate.
End:
Crowlink car park grid ref TV549978
