Friston Forest
Nature · A beech woodland of walking and cycling trails running up from the Cuckmere valley onto the Downs.
Cuckmere Haven
Where chalk cliffs meet a winding river and open sea, creating one of England's most dramatic coastal landscapes.
From King's Cross St Pancras: ~2 h 25 min by train · ~2 h 45 min by car
Travel times by TravelTime
Time there: 3–6 h to see all 4 places
Get directionsCoastBy the seaBeachesCliffsLakes & riversNational parksScenic viewsLandmarks
Must-see places
Coastguard Cottages
Landmark · A row of white coastguard cottages on the cliff edge, the classic foreground to the view of the Seven Sisters.
Cuckmere River Mouth Beach
Beach · A shingle beach at the mouth of the Cuckmere, with rock pools at low tide and the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs rising beside it.
Exceat Hill Viewpoint
Viewpoint · A gate at the top of the path above the visitor centre looks down over the Cuckmere's winding course to the sea.
Quick facts
A mile's walk from the Seven Sisters Country Park visitor centre, about half an hour on the flat, brings you to a shingle beach at the river mouth, with rock pools at low tide.
The river's looping meanders and the white Seven Sisters cliffs beyond have appeared in films including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Atonement and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
It sits inside the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, declared in 2026, where chalk grassland, heath and floodplain meadow shelter chalkhill blue butterflies and bee orchids.
Loved it?
Spotted something off? Report a problem
Know a day out we’re missing? Suggest a place