Back to the Martello Tower for the start of what is likely to be the biggest climb of our walk.  We stroll along the promenade – the seemingly never ending groynes stand like a row of dominoes towards Beachy Head.  This really is the sedate, quiet end of this sedate seaside town.  Time to commence our climb up the UK’s highest chalk sea cliff.

The climb is definitely a lot steeper than I was expecting and there are more people around than I would have liked but the view from the top is so worthwhile.  There are several wooden signs saying “cliff edge” – stating the complete obvious!

As we reach the peak the sun is shining and the cardigan comes off but before we know it a mist starts to appear, the cardigan is back on and the iconic view of the lighthouse is just a little hazy.

We are mesmerised by the hang gliders quietly floating over the cliff edge and slightly disturbed with how close many of the tourists get to the “cliff edge” for their photos with the infamous red and white striped lighthouse.  A wee bit further is the, decommissioned, Belle Tout lighthouse which was incredibly moved 17 metres away from the eroding cliff edge a few years back- now a unique b and b …

Now for the up and down route over the seven sisters – the only time I climbed all of these before I was around 13 years old on a school geography field trip.  With a few years behind me and a little more enthusiasm the walk is a lot less arduous than I remember. Birling Gap, evokes yet more memories – I came here on a university day trip when it was still a pub and what a sad pub it was.

We spend way longer than intended at the Birling Gap National Trust visitor centre, the information is thoughtfully presented and makes fascinating reading – wrecked ships, geology facts, houses that have fallen over the edge and great photos of the area over the years.  Oh and modern, clean and tidy toilets!

Resisting the urge to take the steps down to the beach we take the path behind the visitor centre under some windswept pine trees- beautifully framing the view looking back to the gap and the sisters behind.

On the last descent to Exceat we admire the meanderings of the River Cuckmere with its Ox Bow Lakes – see I did learn something on the school and university field trips!  It’s a bit of a clamber down to the river’s edge but lovely to be on flat ground at last. We follow the busy pathway up to Seven Sisters Country Park and catch the number 12 bus back to where we started…