Bounding up to Belle Tout at Birling Gap

Sussex

Discover the historic Belle Tout lighthouse on this scenic circular route, where sweeping vistas of the coast and South Downs combine with colourful wildflowers to create a truly memorable walk.

Near to

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

Start point

Birling Gap car park by the coastguard station, grid ref: TV554960

Address
Birling Gap bus stop (westbound), East Dean, near Eastbourne, BN20 0AB
Directions via Google Maps
By bus
For Birling Gap: 13X bus, runs hourly from Eastbourne Terminus Road to Brighton via Birling Gap; Sundays and bank holidays all year, weekends from Easter to September, daily from June to September. For Crowlink: 12A and 12B bus or 13X, Brighton to Eastbourne (via Seaford).
By train
Eastbourne station 5.5 miles (9km); Seaford station 6.5 miles (10.5km).
On foot
On South Downs Way between Exceat and Eastbourne. Birling Gap is accessible by foot and forms part of the Seven Sisters route. Footpaths from East Dean across Crowlink down to Birling Gap Walk on grass verge or path along Gilberts Drive/Birling Gap Road – follow brown tourist signs from East Dean.
Cycling
Network of bridlepaths with cycle stands available at Birling Gap. Went Way bridleway from East Dean to Birling Gap.
By road
5 miles (8km) west of Eastbourne and 6 miles east of Seaford. Birling Gap car park (pay and display) is signposted from A259 at East Dean, between Seaford and Eastbourne.
Total stages: 5
Total stages: 5
Start point
Birling Gap car park by the coastguard station, grid ref: TV554960
Stage 1
From the bus stop follow the fingerpost with a yellow arrow saying 'South Downs Way'. Walk up the path and through the gate with the National Trust 'The Lookout' sign and follow this path up the hill to another fingerpost. Follow this fingerpost and take the path bearing left along the clifftop or through the scrub.
Etching of the shipwreck Nympha Americana on the beach at Birling Gap in 1747 | © National Maritime Museum
Stage 2
At the top, head towards the lighthouse either along the clifftop path or through the scrub.
Stage 3
Follow the path to the left of the lighthouse. Continue to follow the old access track down the hill. This will afford wonderful views towards Beachy Head and the candy-striped lighthouse. At the bottom of the path turn left to head back towards Birling Gap.
A family walking up towards Belle Tout lighthouse | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor
Stage 4
Continue walking along the track around the base of the hill. This will take you through a small dappled woodland known as the Horseshoe Plantation, much loved by dragonflies and migrating birds.
Wonderful wildlife
The grassland to the sides of the grassy track leading to the Horseshoe Plantation are a carpet of wild flowers in the spring and summer. Look out for the spotted leaves of early purple orchids in the spring, and if you're very lucky you might see the delicate green flowers of an early spider orchid. Dropwort bursts into puffs of white in the summer and the black and white checkerboard wings of marbled white butterflies can be seen as they feed on the nectar of the wild honeysuckle.
Bee orchid | © Morwenna Egan
Stage 5
Continue along the track and this will take you back to the car park from where you started.
Ancient settlements
As you leave the Horseshoe Plantation look up to your left and you can see a mound running parallel to the path. This is the remains of an ancient rampart which would have once encircled the entire hill. Birling Gap itself is named after the Baerelingas: a group of Anglo-Saxons who settled here in 489AD. This rampart was excavated in autumn of 2016 as part of the Seven Sisters Archaeology Project.
End point
Birling Gap car park by the coastguard station, grid ref: TV554960
Trail map
Bounding up to Belle Tout map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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