WALK REPORT Photos from the edge of England! 20 shots in this set. Scroll down to see the full-size images with captions. [walk profile]

Sunday was a day of many ups and downs. Kenny, Keitlin, Christopher, Adam, and I travelled out to the Seven Sisters Cliffs, where the rolling hills of the South Downs meet the English Channel. These chalk cliffs are so named because they form a linear series of seven distinct promontories. Our route was short but steep, as we had to keep dipping down into the valleys (or bottoms, as they are known locally) that cut between the cliff summits (brows). For relief and refreshments we visited two pubs along the way – the Tiger Inn in East Dean and the Golden Galleon in Exceat.

As you’ll see, the scenery was quite spectacular!

Brighton station on Sunday morning. We changed trains here for Seaford, where our walk begins.

Keitlin, Kenny, and Christopher, just off the train in Seaford town.

Our first stop was the church of St Mary the Virgin, Friston. It stands on a hill above East Dean village and is built on a Saxon foundation. The remains of an 11th-century window can still be found in the south wall.

This is the view inside. That’s Christopher’s hat balanced on a pew in the foreground, to give you some idea of scale (it’s quite a small church).

These brasses on the south wall of the church commemorate the Selwyn family who lived at nearby Friston Place during the 17th Century.

Keitlin, Kenny, and Christopher on the downhill path into East Dean village. Keitlin has just discovered the joys of stinging nettles for the first time by treading right in a big bunch of them. First aid kit not required this time …

Had lunch on a picnic bench outside the Tiger Inn pub on the village green in East Dean. This was Keitlin’s main course – a mountain of potatoes and tuna fishcakes.

Adam at the Tiger Inn, with a drinks tray that almost, but not quite, matches his surname.

Christopher and his beloved hat. We’re still at the pub. You can see a bit of the East Dean village green in the background.

After lunch we played a game of fetch with these friendly dogs. L to R: Keitlin, Adam, border collie, lab.

The poor black lab in the background always lost out to the wily border collie in the race to catch the toy.

Christopher climbing the steep hill that leads out of East Dean village. White cliffs ahead!

First views of the cliffs. Christopher and Adam at Rough Bottom on the Seven Sisters coast path.

Adam and Kenny checking out the sea views from the chalk cliffs at Gap Bottom. Christopher’s hat blew off here and he very nearly lost it over the edge.

Big sky country. This is Christopher taking a picture at Limekiln Bottom. Two more hills to go before our descent to the estuary at Cuckmere Haven.

Christopher and Keitlin taking photos at Short Brow on the Seven Sisters cliffs. You really had to brace yourself against the strong breeze here in order to get a steady picture.

On the shingle beach at Cuckmere Haven, where the Cuckmere River empties into the English Channel. Close-up of sea kale (Crambe maritima) with the chalk outcrop of Haven Brow in the background.

On the shingle beach at Cuckmere Haven. Unsurprisingly given the weather, we weren’t the only ones here.

Keitlin and Kenny trying to skip stones on the sea at Cuckmere Haven, but the rocks just aren’t the right shape. Photo by Christopher Booth.

Adam was the only one brave enough to go in the sea. Apparently, it was “very refreshing”. In other words, damn cold!

That’s THE END of this walk. Now you can try it yourself. This page has all the details you’ll need.

If you liked these photos, please leave a comment. Kenny, Keitlin, Christopher, and Adam – thanks for coming and hope to see you again sometime!

— DW