A Seven Sisters Hike - Wander Along the UK’s prettiest coastline

This guide is an overview of exactly how we like to Wander through Seven Sisters. There are many different routes, distances and directions to go. We’re sharing our favourite one.

Why Seven Sisters?

If you are planning a trip to London or the UK anytime soon, I recommend squeezing a hike into your itinerary. Seven Sisters is definitely in my top five fave trails in the UK: the views are really rewarding, it's a challenging hike without being overwhelming and it's great for anyone who’s in half decent shape. The trail is pretty much all grass so it’s soft underfoot. You don't even need hiking boots, running shoes are adequate. It’s about 1.5 hours by train from London and easy to get to. You can expect:

Epic views of the cliffs & ocean
Easy terrain on the feet
Challenging, good workout, not daunting

Total Hiking Distance: 15km

Getting there:

Leave from London Victoria Station and train out to Seaford
Get off the train at Seaford and walk to Seaford Library
Take the bus from Seaford (just outside the Library)
The Seaford library bus stop is right next to a Tesco - great spot to get water & snacks if you forgot to pack them from London
Take the bus (X12 or X13) out to the Seven Sisters Park Centre (15-20 mins)

You start your journey from the Seven Sisters Park Centre and walk down along the river to Cuckmere Haven.

Check out our full Google Map with key locations here.

Pro Tip

If you are planning on going down the west side of the river to see Cuckmere Haven, then make sure to check the tide times before you go. It’s doable to cross the small river down by the sea at low tide. You'll still be up to your knees and water however much easier than when it's a high tide and you'll basically have to swim. We saw some more adventurous hikers teetering along a wooden structure like a balance beam to cross a river. Dealer’s choice, I’ll let you decide how adventurous you’re feeling…

I won’t lie to you, the river cross is a little treacherous - the current is rather strong and you need to walk barefoot over some very uncomfortable rocks. I wish someone had better prepared me for this eventuality. The good news is, once you maneuver through river crossing at the beginning, the rest of the hike seems like a piece of cake.

If you’re not feeling that ambitious, then you can walk along the east side of the Cuckmere River where you’ll start at the base of one of the cliffs and avoid the river crossing altogether.

Things to know before you go:

Be prepared for changes in weather at any time
Always assume it's going to rain (because it's still the UK after all)
An extra battery pack to charge your phone is always handy. You’ll likely be taking a lot of pictures for the ‘gram to make those sitting at home jealous. Let's face it, the only reason why we hike is really for the content.
Start your day on the early side - it’s easier to find a seat on the train earlier in the morning since it tends to get crowded as the day goes on
On your return train journey, make sure that you are on the platform early and that you scramble to find a seat - it's a long ride so after a long day of hiking you don’t want to have to stand up on the ride home.
There aren’t any places to stop for supplies between Seaford and Eastbourne so prepare accordingly.

Ending the day with a tipple at Bistro Pierre

What to pack:

Blanket or towel - to dry your feet after the river crossing & to sit on when you take a snack break
Tick remover - easy to find a kit on Amazon and always handy to have
Pack of tissues
Sunglasses
Extra battery pack/phone charger
Windbreaker/rain coat/waterproof jacket
Sweater/long sleeve
Extra pair of socks

Places to stop in Eastbourne at the end of your hike:

Bistro Pierre - French bistro right on the ocean. Great seaside views, wine & delicious food

The Pilot Inn - traditional English pub, pints, buzzy atmosphere

Where and when will you wander next?

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