Seaalf two

Verified Slow Way

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Really stunning walk. We completed it as part of a circular with SeaAlf1. The paths out of Alfriston were a bit waterlogged so we kept to the east bank until Litlington and we had no trouble keeping our feet dry.

We walked this route from Alfriston to Seaford on a bank holiday Sunday so naturally it was very busy. It is indeed a very scenic route, first down the Cuckmere valley alongside the river mostly on raised pathways with a few stiles and kissing gates. I would imagine it could be quite muddy in wet weather and this is probably not a path for pushchairs. The path on the other side of the river, which is the marked South Downs/Vanguard Way, was very busy with walkers for the first couple of miles from Alfriston but the one we took on the west bank was less so. After reaching Seaford Head it is a straight walk along the clifftops with a few ups and downs and quite a steep descent into Seaford at the end. There were so many people walking here that everyone had reverted to London manners and ceased greeting passers-by. The views are excellent and there are benches at quite a few places along the cliffs.

Alfriston is a lovely village with plenty of places to get food and drink plus, if you are a book lover, a superb bookshop which manages to cram a phenomenal collection of new and second-hand books into every cranny of its many rooms. We arrived in Seaford very late in the day so practically everything was shut but there were still a couple of pubs we passed that were open. After you cross the A259 you immediately come to the Cuckmere Inn which is the only place along the route you can get refreshment.

The only very slight drawback to the route is that when you come out of a field next to the A259 there is a narrow path of a few yards/metres along the top of a bank right beside the road before it slopes down to a pavement.. When we were walking this was busy with almost constant fast traffic. I would be a bit concerned in wet weather about the risk of slipping.

The second leg of my yomp from Eastbourne to Seaford via Alfriston.

I chose to do a combination of SEAALF Two and SEAALF Three. This route uses the west bank of the Cuckmere River from Alfriston to Exceat Bridge. No issues, this is a very attractive walk. There are some stiles and often livestock in the fields and along the path. There was a field of goats today. There were lots of geese on the river and in the fields around about. Great views of the Litlington White Horse above the west bank of the river.

From the Cuckmere Inn by Exceat Bridge you follow the England Coast Path signs to walk down to the coastguard cottages. At this point head up onto the cliff top walk. Don't forget to look back and check out the iconic postcard view of the Seven Sisters cliffs.

The walk back to Seaford is over the cliffs of Seaford Head, past Hope Gap and along the edge of the golf course. The tee shot for the 18th at Seaford Head golf course must be one of the best anywhere.

The route is easy to follow, refreshments halfway at The Cuckmere Inn. The views are spectacular, yes indeed iconic.

Not sure why this route appears in the list of 50 least direct routes? It should appear in the top 50 most scenic routes! Yes it goes on two sides of a triangle, but the first leg takes in the best views of the famous Seven Sisters cliffs and the second leg is a pretty meander up the River Cuckmere to the village of Alfriston.

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