Log No 311. Sun 11th May 2014 - Seaford to Eastbourne, 13 miles (4767 miles walked)

The wind was still blowing as strong when I rose this morning but ther had not been any rain and the day looked to be drier than forecast.

I was staying the night with Gavin & Pearl in Eastbourne and I had said I could get there in time for lunch at 1 o'clock.

At just over 13 miles this might have been optimistic as it wasn't going to be a flat walk so I had an early start at 07.00.

Walking along the sea front through Seaford there was a shelter with 6 keen photographers crammed in, each hoping to capture the perfect shot of the windy conditions.

The Martello Tower at the end of the promenade was, according to the information board, the last one built in 1806, it was now a museum.

The footpath left the town growing straight up the side of the cliffs to Seaford Head. The golf course was also on the side of this hill and I don't think I have seen one with such a height difference between holes.

I dropped down the other side to Cuckmere Haven where the Cuckmere river came out to the sea.

Looking at the map I was hoping it would find a way out under the stony beach and I would be able to cross the bay without having to go inland to the bridge but it wasn't to be.

After walking up and down the side of the river I climbed back up the hill and joined the South Downs Way, this stretch of cliffs to Birling Gap is called the Seven Sisters.

Erosion is taking its toll here like everywhere else with buildings at Birling Gap succumbing and the footpath having to be shifted Inland a bit.

During WWII Beachy Head was where most of the bombers flew across the channel and the monument here remembers the 110,000 aircrew of the RAF Bomber Command, 55,573 of whom gave their lives during the conflict.

I thought the cliffs from Seaford to Beachy Head and into Eastbourne might have been slow going but it was a good footpath, just like walking on a lawn, and the hills were gently rolling, the strong wind behind me made easy work on the uphill side and gusts occasionally blew me into a run downhill so I made good time.

From Beachy Head it was downhill into Eastbourne and I got to the pier for 12.00.

I had been prepared for a hard slow walk and having to rush to get here in time but the 13 miles turned out to be a very pleasant and fairly relaxed walk.