Low Tide Eastbourne Lighthouse Walk
Sometimes you don’t know how much you needed something until you do it. Picking along landscape by the towering lighthouse in Eastbourne I had such an emotional feeling of being exactly where I needed to be.
I fought the decision to go to Eastbourne on this Saturday afternoon. But I’d been working in the town earlier that week and needed to get back for some more photos of the surrounding area. I told myself I should stay home and clean, or that my to do list was too demanding and that I could go back another day. But I did end up on the beach, having been recommended the walk by someone kindly recommending it on my Instagram stories.
The first part of the walk was fairly arduous, mainly because I hadn’t clocked there was another way to the lighthouse that wasn’t picking along the rocks and rock pools. But while I say arduous it was entirely enjoyable but I was definitely hoping there was going to be another way back!
And I did wonder when the lighthouse was going to come into view - ‘is it round this corner?’. Just before I started to look around for exit routes the underfoot landscape levelled out and made way for soft, sandy terrain.
You get a sense when the lighthouse is near and as you pass the metal steps there’s a feeling of anticipation. With the tide out and the golden Spring sunset making everything glow when the lighthouse comes into view it doesn’t disappoint.
On these stretching sands I saw a couple romancing, a father and son kiting, some pals doing outfit photos and a friendly chap enjoying watching his Springer Spaniel lose his shit. Time stood still here, suddenly my to do list didn’t matter and all that mattered was being there on the beach, breathing and enjoying.
I didn’t quite make it to the lighthouse, I’m going to save that for another time, so I ascended along the coast path as the full moon started to illuminate the sky. The blue light combined the textures and I went back to the van rewarded and satisfied.
As I heated some food Monty snored alongside me and I worked through the photos - a fruitful walk that killed a lot of birds with one stone.
Walk Info.
Without a doubt the key to this walk is to time it right. You need to start this walk around 1.5 hours before the lowest tide.
I ended up out for around 3 hours but I had joined the beach near Bede’s School which added a lot of time on to the walk as I had to pick around the rocky beach.
You’ll need to be fairly able for this walk - it tested me at points.
An important note - you lose phone reception towards the lighthouse so make sure if you’re doing this walk alone someone knows where you’re going.
Starting Point.
We’re starting on Dukes Drive or King Edwards Parade to the West of Eastbourne. When I went there was free parking for 4 hours which I was pretty chuffed about.
The starting point is around a 25 minute walk from Eastbourne Station but sure you can pick up a bus going west.
The Walk.
We’re going to head to the Kiosk (What3Words: dark.soda.object) and head south to the beach taking the path. Soon enough this will open out with spectacular views over the sea and Beachy Head Sports Fields to your right. Keep nearest the sea and you’ll soon end up descending down to the beach. Watch the bottom of the metal steps as there’s a big gap to the beach. Then head right along to the lighthouse. You’ll be coming back on yourself to get back.
Enjoy this epic walk. A huge thanks to Hannah at Little Black Lines for recommending this walk to me.
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