The Best Walks in Eastbourne: Coast and Downs Routes

The seafront promenade

For the easiest and most accessible walk in town, you can’t beat Eastbourne’s elegant Victorian promenade. Running for around four flat miles from the Italian Gardens and Holywell in the west all the way to Sovereign Harbour in the east, it takes you past the pier, the bandstand and the Wish Tower, with the sea on one side and the town’s famous flowerbeds on the other. It’s level, pushchair- and wheelchair-friendly and perfect for all ages — and there’s an ice cream or a portion of fish and chips never far away.

Up to Beachy Head

The town’s signature walk climbs from the western end of the seafront up onto the cliffs to Beachy Head. At 162 metres (around 530 feet), it’s the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, with breathtaking views over the English Channel and, far below, the red-and-white Beachy Head Lighthouse. It’s roughly two miles from the seafront and takes about 45 minutes each way, with a fairly steep climb to start. Along the way you’ll pass the old Belle Tout lighthouse and the RAF Bomber Command memorial. The reward at the top is one of the finest views on the South Coast.

Stay safe: the chalk cliffs erode constantly and can collapse without warning — a large section fell in 2021 — so always keep well back from the edge, particularly with children and dogs. The clifftops are completely exposed with no shelter, so pick a clear, calm day.

The Seven Sisters cliff walk

If you’re after something more ambitious, the walk out to the Seven Sisters is regularly named one of the finest coastal walks in Britain. From Eastbourne, you can head over Beachy Head and along the cliffs to Birling Gap — around four miles of rolling white cliffs, sea views and open downland — with the option to catch a bus back. The full route from Seaford to Eastbourne runs about 14 miles and takes in Cuckmere Haven, the Coastguard Cottages and both the Belle Tout and Beachy Head lighthouses. It’s longer and more demanding, with plenty of ups and downs, so allow a good chunk of the day and refuel at the Birling Gap Tea Room or the Beachy Head pub along the way.

The South Downs Way starts here

Eastbourne holds a special place for serious walkers: it’s the eastern trailhead of the South Downs Way, the 100-mile National Trail that runs all the way to Winchester in Hampshire. You don’t have to tackle the whole thing, of course — but walking the first glorious stretch out of Eastbourne, up onto the cliffs and towards the Seven Sisters, is a wonderful way to sample one of England’s great long-distance paths.

Local tip: plan your finish around the buses — services out to Birling Gap and back run less frequently in winter, so check times before you set off, and always give yourself plenty of time to catch the last one.

Downland and village walks

Not every walk has to hug the cliff edge. Just west of town, the pretty Downland villages of East Dean and Friston are the starting point for some lovely circular walks through meadows and over the hills, often with a well-earned pint at the picture-postcard Tiger Inn on East Dean’s village green. For woodland and shade — a welcome change on a hot day — Friston Forest offers gentler, tree-lined trails, while the meandering river valley at Cuckmere Haven, with its famous Coastguard Cottages, is one of the most photographed spots in Sussex.

Gentle and family walks

For a relaxed outing with little legs or an older dog, Eastbourne has plenty of easy, flat options away from the cliffs. The town’s parks and green spaces — including Hampden Park, Gildredge Park and the tranquil Shinewater Lake — make for pleasant, unhurried strolls, while the cliff-top and lower promenades around Holywell and the Italian Gardens offer a quiet, scenic corner at the western tip of the seafront. Spring and autumn are especially lovely, with wildflowers and autumn colour, though these walks are a joy at any time of year.

Best walks in Eastbourne: FAQs