Alfriston to Eastbourne – South Downs Way

If you’re walking the South Downs Way from West to East, this route follows the last 20.5km from the small village of Alfriston to the large seaside town of Eastbourne. Believe us when we say this one isn’t for the faint-hearted! We’ve categorised this route as difficult due to the time needed to complete it, but mostly because of the ever-changing terrain at different stages of the route. Be sure to wear comfortable, appropriate footwear to account for this.

While this hike begins along the flat, grassy riverside path out of Alfriston, it ends with a gruelling stint over the steep, undulating Seven Sisters cliffs before descending into Eastbourne, where your feet will be grateful for the smooth pavements underfoot along the seaside promenade. There are steep, wooden steps climbing up into Friston Forest, and another set just after West Dean, where you’ll follow a dirt track before a gentle descent through a grassy field containing horses as you approach the Seven Sisters Country Park in Exceat.

As this is a point-to-point route, we recommend arriving by public transport to avoid having to circle back to your vehicle. With buses connecting Alfriston to Lewes, and regular trains running from Eastbourne, public transport is definitely the easiest option. For those looking to arrive by car, there is parking available at either end of this route – at The Willows in Alfriston, and at Eastbourne train station.

While this route is a long one, there are several towns and villages along the way with facilities should you need them, and food stops to keep you going! Starting in Alfriston, Badgers Tea House is a traditional English tea room and is highly rated, as The George Inn pub for good food and real ales. If you’re stopping in Litlington, we highly recommend Cadence Clubhouse for the best sourdough toastie you’ll ever eat, and a fresh berry smoothie to wash it down. The Seven Sisters Country Park Visitor Centre in Exceat has toilets and a shop, plus there’s parking available here if you’d prefer to begin the route with the Seven Sisters at Cuckmere Haven. The National Trust-owned building at Birling Gap is perfectly positioned for a rest stop after conquering the many rolling cliffs of the Seven Sisters, and it has a cafe, shop, toilets and a free water tap to top up your supply. There’s a pub at Beachy Head – simply named The Beachy Head – though it’s only an hour’s walk from there to Eastbourne. If you can hold out until Eastbourne, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the usual plethora of pubs, cafes and restaurants to treat yourself after a good day’s hiking.

If you’re bringing your pooch with you on this hike, it’s vital to ensure you carry enough water (or at least enough bottles to refill along the way) for both you and your dog – especially in hot weather. While places like Friston Forest provide shelter, the Seven Sisters are very exposed. Make sure you bring sun cream on sunny days, or a rain jacket in inclement weather! Stay alert along the cliffs and, if in doubt about your dog’s safety, err on the side of caution and keep them on lead near the cliff edge. You’ll find livestock grazing along many parts of this route, so make sure you can keep them under close control. The good news is that this part of the country is very dog-friendly, and you’ll find bins for poo bags in all the towns and villages, as well as at the National Trust stop in Birling Gap, and outside The Beachy Head pub, so there’s no excuse for leaving them in the countryside. (If you do need to carry them for a short while, we know just the item to bring with you!)