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East Dean And Friston

Birling Gap to Beachy Head loop via Friston — South Downs National Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

East Dean And Friston

Birling Gap to Beachy Head loop via Friston — South Downs National Park

Moderate

4.6

(17)

106

hikers

Birling Gap to Beachy Head loop via Friston — South Downs National Park

03:39

13.1km

240m

Hiking

Embark on a moderate 8.1-mile (13.1 km) hiking loop from Birling Gap to Beachy Head, offering dramatic coastal views and varied terrain. This route involves about 788 feet (240 metres) of elevation gain and typically takes around 3 hours and 39 minutes to complete. You will traverse undulating downland paths,…

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

South Downs National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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49 m

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters Cliffs

Highlight • Natural Monument

A busy hub for people coming to walk and admire the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. There is a cafe, toilet block, ice cream van (in summer), shop, visitors’ centre and lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

Tip by

1.25 km

Belle Tout Lighthouse

Highlight • Monument

The Belle Tout lighthouse was the original one at Beachy Head. It was built in 1832 and operated until the end of the century. The light was becoming ineffective due …

Tip by

2.37 km

View of Beachy Head Cliffs and Lighthouse

Highlight • Natural Monument

This route is part of South Downs Way, a prominent long-distance footpath covering 100 miles (160 km) from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. Sometimes pretty crowded with lots of school kids.

Tip by

3.04 km

Beachy Head and Lighthouse

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beachy Head is an iconic landmark close to Eastbourne. At 162m (531ft) it looms above the sea, its high chalky peak easily recognisable. Its name comes from the French 'beau chef', meaning beautiful headland.

Tip by

3.19 km

View of Beachy Head and the Beachy Head Lighthouse

Highlight • Viewpoint

This lighthouse was built in 1902. The original lighthouse, that being Belle Tout, was moved in one piece in 1999 following cliff erosion. A new lighthouse was then built. In …

Tip by

13.1 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.57 km

2.90 km

1.84 km

434 m

368 m

Surfaces

5.79 km

4.50 km

1.08 km

928 m

753 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (160 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Wednesday 27 May

24°C

16°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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This route was planned by komoot.

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Birling Gap to Beachy Head loop via Friston — South Downs National Park

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters Cliffs

Belle Tout Lighthouse

View of Beachy Head Cliffs and Lighthouse

Beachy Head and Lighthouse

View of Beachy Head and the Beachy Head Lighthouse

Nearby routes

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