This little seaside town in Sussex is beautiful in its own right, but its close proximity to so much beautiful nature makes it the ideal base to explore the great outdoors! Here are my favourite Eastbourne walks, all either within the town or easily accessible close by.
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Looking for a longer walk? Check out a guide to the Seven Sisters Walk
Eastbourne to Beachy Head
Beachy Head lighthouse is the most famous of Eastbourne’s landmarks, and therefore this is probably the most well-known of all the Eastbourne walks. The route from Eastbourne to Beachy Head takes you along the seafront and up to the start of the South Downs Way– a 100 mile trail from Eastbourne to Winchester. But if you’re planning on doing this particular walk, it’ll take anywhere from forty-five minutes to an hour and a quarter to get from Eastbourne to Beachy Head lighthouse. It all depends on your pace and number of stops.
Head west on the seafront and keep going until you reach St Bede’s School at the foot of the cliffs. Clamber up the (rather steep) hill at the start of the South Downs Way and follow the signs to Beachy Head. There are lots of pathways you can take to reach the lighthouse, but essentially as long as you head west and keep the coastline as visible as possible, you’ll make it.
Here’s What Beachy Head looked like without the crowds: Notes from Isolation in My Hometown
Walking across the chalk downland along narrow pathways through gorse bushes is a downright beautiful experience, especially with the sun illuminating patches of the sea. Birds of prey, stoats, foxes and all sorts of colourful butterflies and birds roam these hills, as well as the odd herd of Dartmoor ponies on the cliffs near Belle Tout Lighthouse.
Stop in at The Beachy Head Pub for food (especially around sunset), or once you get back to Eastbourne at The Stage Door.
Eastbourne to Birling Gap/East Dean
A slightly longer variation of the first route, for if you’re feeling extra energetic and it’s an extra-awesome day- this is a circular route which stops at The Tiger Inn in East Dean before heading back to Eastbourne. Or alternatively, save your aching legs- hop onto a bus on the main road back in to town.
Keep heading along the cliffs after Beachy Head, and carry on past Belle Tout lighthouse. In the distance you’ll already be able to make out the car park near Birling Gap. (Although it’s deceptively slightly further away than it looks, thanks to all the ups and downs of the hills).
Staying in the area for a while: The Best Things to Do in Eastbourne, East Sussex
Birling Gap is a pretty pebble beach underneath the cliffs, accessible by a metal staircase. At the top of the cliffs is a little row of cottages and a red telephone box, all looking rather England WWII. Once upon a time there were eight cottages in this row, although over the years as the cliffs erode, they have one by one been demolished. It’s free to access the beach although the car park needs to be paid for, and there’s a small cafe on site as well; the area is maintained by the National Trust. Those lovely folk!
After Birling Gap, head inland towards the quaint village of East Dean, and the village green in front of the Tiger Inn. This 15th century pub is one of my absolute favourites, and its location on the village green looks like something out of an Agatha Christie novel. Luckily there doesn’t tend to be much murder or mayhem around here though, thank goodness.
The Cuckoo Trail
The Cuckoo Trail is a fourteen mile long pathway which runs from Eastbourne to Heathfield- although your best bet is actually to start from Hailsham or Polegate. The Cuckoo Trail follows the route of the old Cuckoo Line railway, and of all the Eastbourne walks this is the most ideal route for cyclists.
The pathway is entirely surfaced, although there’s no traffic to contend with. So this is very much a route for people not wanting anything too strenuous!
Find an exact Cuckoo Trail map here.
Arlington Bluebell Walk
Most of the Eastbourne walks are ideal year-round, but the Arlington Bluebell Walk is (obviously) a springtime thing. Every spring, Beatons Wood and three working farms are opened up for the public, with several different walks to choose from. The white anemones and bluebells which carpet the floor are stunning, and trekking across the fields past dairy cattle and herds of sheep in springtime is a lovely way to spend the day.
What makes the Arlington Bluebell Walk even more special though, is its beginnings as a way to raise money for the community. The walk was first opened in 1972 to raise money for the local school swimming pool, then in the years following the money went towards maintenance of local buildings and land for the village hall to be constructed. These days, money raised from entry tickets goes towards several local charities.
The whole idea is blooming’ brilliant I tell you! The Arlington Bluebell Walk begins at Bates Green Farm in Arlington. This is a great Eastbourne walk for kids- partly down to the collection of farm animals you can see at the entrance, and partly because there are varying route lengths to choose from. One of the routes has also been made accessible for wheelchair users.
Entry is £6 per adult and £2.50 per child.
Long Man of Wilmington
Just off of the A27, the village of Wilmington is a short drive from Eastbourne- and buses stop here as well. The Long Man of Wilmington is a chalk figure of a man on a hill overlooking the village; some people believe the giant has been here since the Iron Age, and others think its more likely to have been created in the 16th or 17th centuries.
However old the Long Man may be, this is one of those sites like Stonehenge which attracts pagans from far and wide. When I lived in the village a few years ago, I’d often open the curtains early in the morning to spot a gaggle of pagans roaming up the lane with all the drums and feather accessories. Casual.
For pagans and non-pagans alike, the Long Man of Wilmington walk is best started and finished at The Giant’s Rest pub, at the entrance to the village. As you walk through the village look out for boxes of home-grown fruit and vegetables by the front doors (take a few for a few coins in return), and wander round the churchyard of the church of St Mary and St Peter. This is home to the Wilmington Yew, a gnarled but beautiful yew tree which at over 1600 years old is thought to be the oldest tree in Sussex.
Find the detailed route on All Trails.
Eastbourne/Polegate to Alfriston
If you fancy a challenge, start this walk on the outskirts of Eastbourne, in Polegate. Walk up and down hills, along country lanes and past overgrown churchyards, and keep going past the feet of the Long Man of Wilmington. Carry on along the South Downs Way to the medieval village of Alfriston.
There are some incredible views on this walk, as well as a beautiful mixture of landscapes- from forested pathways to open rolling hills. And plenty of sheep. So. Many. Sheep. And the best part of all is that Alfriston is one pretty, pretty village, with plenty of tea rooms, pubs, and also a whole village green to relax on as a reward for finishing your walk.
Abbot’s Wood
Abbot’s Wood is very close to Polegate (just outside of Eastbourne), and is a beautiful woodland for a jolly old stroll through! Footpaths run throughout the wood, with two main trails signposted very clearly. The Oak Walk trail is the shorter of the two, with the Abbot’s Amble Trail a distance of just under two miles.
Entry to the wood is free, although there’s a charge for the car park which opens at 8am every morning. The really awesome thing about this place is the barbecues that are dotted in the odd clearing throughout the wood. These are hireable for £33, and whether you choose to hire a barbecue or not this is a grand place for a picnic. Or a game of manhunt. True story.
Eastbourne seafront
You can’t make a list of Eastbourne walks without mentioning a seafront stroll- perfect for clearing out the cobwebs on a blustery day, or lapping up the seaside atmosphere in summer!
The entire Eastbourne seafront walk is about 4 and a half miles in length, either starting at Holywell (the beach beneath the cliffs at the western end), or at Sovereign Harbour. This is another of the Eastbourne walks which is perfect for those wanting an easy stroll- the route follows the promenade along the seafront and is therefore completely flat and very accessible.
The marina at Sovereign Harbour is an awesome place to spend some time on a summers day, with plenty of restaurants and bars to grab a drink outside (also keep your eyes peeled for seals, especially early in the morning around the entrance to the harbour). The route passes some rather intriguing new beach huts (as well as some more traditional designs), the Victorian splendour of Eastbourne Pier and the Eastbourne Bandstand, and carries on past the Grand Hotel and the beautiful cliffs of Holywell.
Pevensey Castle and beyond
The little village of Pevensey (not to be confused with nearby Pevensey Bay), is just outside of Eastbourne- a short drive away, although trains also run regularly from Eastbourne to Pevensey and Westham train station.
See more of 1066 country: Exploring the Pretty Town of Rye, East Sussex
If you’re up for seeing an incredibly old building, this walk is for you. Pevensey Castle was built on the site of an old Roman fort after the Normans invaded in 1066, and therefore is part of “1066 country.” In fact, the Duke of Normandy landed at Pevensey Bay to kick off his conquest of England and the famous Battle of Hastings. What a drama.
The Pevensey Bay walk takes you through the outer bailey of the crumbling castle, through the village of Pevensey and onwards past streams and over fields towards Chilley Farm. Check out this detailed route map and itinerary.
So there you have it pals, my favourite Eastbourne walks of all! These are all no more than a fifteen minute drive from Eastbourne, but other slightly further-afield locations to head to include the villages of Firle and Jevington, the beautiful Cuckmere Haven, and nearby Friston Forest.
What a location for appreciating the great outdoors!!
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