Seaford Head - a Place to Breathe.
Do you have a place that you go local to you to when you need air in your lungs and nutrition for the eyes? Somewhere that you meander along, taking along the sights without urgency and without purpose?
Seaford Head is that place for me - a 371 acre nature reserve along the Sussex coast. This is a place where textures feed the sight and the air is fresh and clear. Where you can walk slightly inland to observe rare flora and zigzag back for the drama of cliffs and the birds eye view of the coast. Along the route is Hope Gap where you can drink in the views of the Seven Sisters and descend to the beach where you can pick among the rock pools.
This area is diverse in its habitats with chalk grassland, chalk chills, scrub, and salt marsh.
Before I continue: this post comes with a warning. Recently a huge crack has appeared at the top of the cliffs. Avoid sitting at the bottom of the cliffs at Hope Gap and observe all signage keeping dogs on leads towards the higher points of this walk (trust me - don’t risk it, a friend of mine is a guard of this area and accidents happen far more often than they should)
Transport and parking
You can access Seaford Head either by car or train. To access it from Seaford station head to the beach and turn left to pick up the path ascending the cliff face along the golf course.
If you’re driving you can either park on the East side of Seaford seafront (usually free) and pick up the same path up alongside the golf course or you can park at South Hill Barn Car Park, BN25 4JQ (also free).
The route
This is an easy to follow route that you can find with your own nose, especially with maps on our phones these days, so I’m going to keep these directions loose but the main thing to know is there is a circular from South Hill Barn (which has a kiosk for ice creams - I’ve enjoyed many a Magnum sitting enjoying the views!). Starting from the barn you head East along the track until it veers right through a gate next to. cattle grid. Follow the path down through the gorse lined path down to Hope Gap.
Take in the sights and textures at Hope Gap and the ascend to the West up on the cliff edge (go carefully) and do a loop alongside the golf course back to the South Hill Barn Car Park along the track.
Alternatively you can start at Seaford Beach, taking the climb to the top and picking the circular up from the golf course.