Save this place and discover nearby attractions with NextOnTrip
In the app you can add it to your favorites, see what else is worth visiting nearby on the map, and earn a badge for your visit.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.
About this place
Beachy Head is a chalk headland in East Sussex, right next to Eastbourne on England's south coast. It sits immediately east of the Seven Sisters and is one of the most recognisable sights on the English Channel coastline. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising roughly 160 metres above sea level.
What should you know about Beachy Head?
The white cliff face is made of Late Cretaceous chalk. When the last Ice Age ended, sea levels rose, the English Channel formed, and the waves began cutting into the Sussex chalk. The result is the steep, pale cliffs visible from far away. The name has nothing to do with beaches: a common explanation traces it to a French phrase meaning "beautiful headland".
What about the lighthouse?
At the foot of the cliff stands the red-and-white Beachy Head Lighthouse, built by Trinity House between 1900 and 1902 some distance out from the cliff base. The site was chosen low down because a light close to the water, reflected off the chalk, was easier to see than one on top. Materials were lowered from the clifftop on a temporary cable way. The lighthouse is Grade II listed and has been automated since 1983.
On the next headland to the west stands the older Belle Tout lighthouse, dating from 1831. It was decommissioned in 1902 and today is a popular viewpoint with accommodation and a tea room.
Why does the cliff keep changing?
Chalk erodes. A major rockfall in January 1999 left a pile of debris at the base about the size of several houses, and later falls nearly created a land bridge to the lighthouse. Erosion also claimed the Devil's Chimney, a chalk stack. For that reason, stay on marked paths and keep well back from the edge.
Why is the land protected?
In 1929 Eastbourne Borough Council bought around 1,600 hectares of land around the headland to save it from development. That is why the area remains open downland ideal for walking. The headland also had military importance, including a radar site during the Cold War.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Beachy Head? In East Sussex, close to Eastbourne and just east of the Seven Sisters.
How high is the cliff? Wikipedia gives 164 m above sea level; other sources say about 162 m. Either way it is Britain's highest chalk sea cliff.
Can you go near the edge? Better not. The cliff regularly collapses and the edge can be unstable, so follow the paths and keep a safe distance.
What else is nearby? The Belle Tout lighthouse, views of the Seven Sisters, and Eastbourne itself.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.