MAKING THE MOST OF THE SHORT WINTER DAYS...GET OUTSIDE!!!

SEVEN SISTERS CLIFFS, EAST SUSSEX ROAD TRIP

If you are anything like me the lack of sunlight as you approach the dead of winter is so unbelievably depressing. Living in London it actually starts getting dark at 3:30 in November AND we haven't even got through the worst of it. So what is that saying, make hay when the sun shines?  So in order to survive the long, dark winters you have to make the most of the short sunny days and a road trip is exactly the way to do it. 

Sun going down...and it is only 2:00 in the afternoon. 

There are many fantastic places to explore just a few hours outside of London and I am sure there are places not far from where you are living too that you tend to ignore over the choice of staying in and binge watching Netflix, I get it. But in order to survive and make the most of this dark season you just have to get your ass out of your house and explore someplace new. 

Stay away from the edge. There is no where to go but down. 

We decided to go on a walking weekend, you know get that step count up, breath in some fresh air and enjoy the outside. Our destination, The Seven Sisters, Eastbourne just a couple hours outside of London. You could do this as a day trip made easier by taking the train, only 1 1/2 hours from Victoria Staton to either Eastbourne or Seaford. 

Eastbourne Beach

The Seven Sisters cliffs (or peaks) are chalk hills along the English Channel where the South Downs meet the sea. The entire walk was 22.3KM (13.8 miles) of mostly climbing and descending beautiful unspoiled shoreline. We spread it over two short days and happily ended the walk with a well earned pub meal and pint. Almost none of the route is flat with the exception of the section around Cuckmere Haven (where we ended) and Eastbourne (where we began) so get ready for the quad burn.

The ‘sisters’ or peaks are called Haven Brow, Short Brow, Rough Brow, Brass Point, Flagstaff Point, Flat Hill, Bailly’s Hill and Went Hill Brow.  The troughs between them are valleys. We personally counted 8. Hmm? 

Cuckmere River

THE PICTURESQUE SEASIDE TOWN OF EASTBOURNE

Eastbourne Pier

What's a seaside town without a pier OR Zoltar The Fortune Teller? A childhood celebrity for sure from the movie Big. Of course I had to get my fortune told but I did not wish to be "big" (movie reference).  I, in fact could be a little smaller thus the walking weekend. 

The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne

One of the many things great about this walk is you do not have to double back to return from where you started. There are buses that will take you back after a long day of walking or the local pub can also order you a taxi. Getting cell service is spotty at best. 

So get out there, wherever there is.

One Final Thought

Truly the added beauty of the British country side is this.  No matter how far out in the wilderness you think you are, no matter how long you have been walking... there is ALWAYS a pub nearby. That is my idea of roughing it. Rule Britannia!!!

Words of prose on the walls of Cuckmere Haven pub. I think that sums it up.