Birling Gap

Birling Gap sits in a dip of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs between Eastbourne and Seaford, on one of the longest undeveloped stretches of the south coast, where the chalk retreats by up to a metre a year. A staircase of 50 steps in four flights drops to a shingle beach that turns sandy at low tide, with rock pools, fossil hunting and chalk platforms carved by the sea, while the South Downs Way runs along the cliff top towards Belle Tout lighthouse and Exceat. Inland at Crowlink, over 500 acres of chalk grassland offer quieter walks, and dogs on leads are welcome on the beach, in the shop and in the cafe. Reviewers rate the clifftop cafe, its large cappuccinos and cakes especially, and praise the helpful staff. Tips from visitors: wear proper shoes for the steps, check tide times, and on sunny weekends expect long queues for the loos and water refill point, so arrive early. The beach can close at short notice after a cliff fall.