South Downs Way

Eastbourne → Alfriston

Distance: 10.6 miles
Ascent: 581 metres
Duration: 4 hours 1 minute

Seven Sisters
« Cuckmere Haven | Not walked »

Almost exactly two years ago Emma and I planned to walk the South Downs Way in a week. We failed miserably. It was the week of a huge storm and staying upright and dry simply wasn't possible. We tried getting out twice, but each time only managed a mile or two before giving up.

So I was a little nervous when on Friday we thought we'd try something similar. We won't complete the entire trail this week, but we'll hopefully make a good start.

The highlight of the walk was the first two thirds: up and over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, arguably the most dramatic chalk cliffs in England. And there's the second reason to be nervous: walking that stretch on my coastwalk featured a near miss with lightning.

Today turned out to be windy in places but we stayed on our feet. Bolts from the sky were absent. It felt as though we had the countryside to ourselves. And even though we mis-counted the Sisters (there seemed to be eight; on the previous occasion I only counted six) the rolling landscape wasn't too arduous.