Beachy Head Lighthouse

We've had another full on day but this time out in the fresh air and sunshine of the south coast.  We drove to Beachy Head and walked along the rabbit nibbled grass on top of the very impressive chalk cliffs, as far as Birling Gap which is the first place you can walk down to the pebbled beach.  From there you really see the immense size of these imposing cliffs.  En route to Birling Gap there were lots of pauses to blip the lighthouse down below, being extra careful not to be checking my screen too close to the edge!  We paused for a welcome cuppa (and Tunnocks Chocolate Marshmallows!) at the Belle Tout lighthouse on the cliff top.  We discovered that this is a de-commissioned light because it was not a great deal of use due to the regular sea frets which obscured it.  This was the reason for the erection of the Beachy Head Lighthouse down on the beach.  Belle Tout is now a private house and B&B - a great place to stay I think.  It also has a very good cafe!

We lingered on the beach at Birling Gap a little too long and had to walk briskly back up on to the cliff top and back across the rolling downs path to the car, then it was off to find the Wilmington Long Man - an ancient huge figure etched on to the hillside above the very picturesque village of Wilmington.  It is best viewed at a distance as, sadly, up close the figure loses its impact and it is also possible to see the concrete blocks which in more recent times were laid to pick out the original figure.

From Wilmington we then drove to the Devil's Dyke which had panoramic views 360 degrees, towards Brighton and the sea in one direction and across the south downs.  We did a circular walk which took us across the remains of the Iron Age Hill Fort and down in to the longest, deepest and widest dry valley in the country - immense and tough to climb out of!  As we began the ascent at the head of the valley Tony remarked that it would be a great hill to ski/sledge down.  It was then we spotted the many remains of what must have been an Easter egg rolling competition!

So a day of many miles and spectacular views!