• Devil’s Dyke National Trust - Devil’s Dyke is a 100-meter (330 ft) deep V-shaped dry valley. Visitors can enjoy a walk around the top of Devil’s Dyke and learn about its history as a major attraction for the Victorians in the mid-1800s.

Formation
The V-shaped dry valley of Devil’s Dyke was formed through solifluction and river erosion. Over 14,000 years ago, the area experienced a very cold climate, though not glacial. Snowfields covered the South Downs, and permafrost conditions kept the chalk permanently frozen. During summer, melting snow saturated the topsoil, as water couldn’t penetrate the frozen chalk beneath. This waterlogged material slid down the slope, eroding the surface and exposing deeper layers of frozen chalk. When the Ice Age ended, melting snowfields led to the formation of rivers across Sussex, with one such river completing the Devil’s Dyke valley.

• Seaford Beach - Seaford Beach in East Sussex has a long history of coastal challenges due to the natural movement of shingle along the shore. This constant shifting has required ongoing human intervention to maintain the beach’s integrity and protect the town from erosion and flooding. Today, heavy machinery like bulldozers and dumper trucks are used to manage the beach’s shingle, redistributing pebbles around structures like the Terminal Groyne to counteract longshore drift and ensure the beach remains a viable sea defense.

• Seaford Head Nature Reserve, Sussex Wildlife Trust - The best viewpoint of the Seven Sisters is a short 20-minute walk from the parking area. Visitors can enjoy the scenic views of the Seven Sisters Cliffs from Seaford Head Nature Park, which stands on one side of the last remaining undeveloped river mouths on the South Coast, Cuckmere Estuary. The reserve is home to many nationally rare and significant species of plants, birds, and insects, offering a great conservation experience along with peaceful walks and world-renowned views of the Coastguard Cottages, Seven Sisters Cliffs, and the Cuckmere River Valley.

Cable House 14 is hidden along the newly named route, ‘The King Charles III England Coastal Path.’ This intriguing hut is the birthplace of a network of undersea cable stations connecting the world. Built in 1900 as a relay station for telegraph messages under the sea to France, it was converted into a gun emplacement during WWII to defend against a landing invasion at Cuckmere Haven.

• Belle Tout Lighthouse Lookout - A recommended walk from the lighthouse down along the cliffs to Birling Gap takes about 20 minutes. The Belle Tout Lighthouse began operation on October 11, 1834, and was manned around the clock by two lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse’s location was carefully chosen so that its light was visible 20 miles out to sea and obscured by the cliff edge if sailors were too close to shore.

• East Dean - Visitors have the option to enjoy lunch at the Tiger Inn in East Dean Village, a pub where smugglers once met. East Dean Village is centered around the Village Green, featuring a war memorial, medieval church, and the long-established inn, “The Tiger.” The Tiger Inn has been serving fine ales, wines, and food to residents, farmers, soldiers, walkers, smugglers, lovers, and brewers since the 15th century. It’s a great stop for a hearty country pub lunch or a quick drink.

• Long Man Brewery - A local beer brewery and café (optional).

• Birling Gap - Enjoy views of the Seven Sisters Cliffs from sea level, walk along the beach, and capture some great photos. Stop for a snack or drink at the visitor center.

• Wilmington - Home to a Yew tree estimated to be 1,600 years old. Wilmington is a Downland village of Saxon origin, with a church first built around 1200 as a chapel to the adjacent Priory. A feature of the churchyard is the ancient Yew tree, with a trunk girth of 23 ft.

• Lullington - A charming church in a peaceful rural setting, with a history dating back to the 13th century. A larger church once stood on the site but was replaced by the current building after being destroyed by fire. This tiny church is one of the smallest in England and the smallest in Sussex. The churchyard offers lovely views of the surrounding countryside, and the church is open daily. There’s no on-site parking, but the walk from Alfriston takes about 15-20 minutes.

• Rathfinny Wine Estate - An option to stop for complimentary tasting in the cellar door shop. Dedicated to producing some of the world’s finest English sparkling wines from a single-site Sussex vineyard, the estate is located on a beautiful south-facing slope in England’s South Downs. The climate, chalk soil, and aspect make it the perfect UK vineyard for producing Sussex sparkling wine.

• The Long Man of Wilmington - The Long Man of Wilmington, also known as the Wilmington Giant, stands on the steep slopes of Windover Hill above the village of Wilmington. The origins and meaning of the figure have puzzled archaeologists and historians for centuries. Is it a fertility symbol, an ancient warrior, or an 18th-century folly? The true answer remains unknown. There are various theories about the figure’s date, with some believing it to be prehistoric. Roman coins with a similar figure suggest a 4th or 5th-century origin, while an Anglo-Saxon origin has also been proposed. Alternatively, it may be the work of an artistic monk from the nearby Wilmington Priory between the 11th and 15th centuries.

• The Star - One of the most iconic buildings in the village, The Star Inn was originally a religious hostel built in the 14th century. By the 18th century, it had become a popular inn and was rumored to be a base for smugglers, with its connections to the trade being part of local legend.

• Church of St. Andrew - Founded in the 1360s, St Andrew’s is a fine example of a 14th-century parish church, located close to the winding Cuckmere River and beside the Old Clergy House (the first National Trust property). Built with the loving care of craftsmen of that age, it stands out for being constructed all at once with no major later additions. Its size and soaring arches, along with few interior memorials, create a spacious and open feel, earning it the nickname “Cathedral of the South Downs.” Six bells are placed below the spire, making it one of fewer than twenty churches in the country where bell ringers regularly and dramatically ring from the center of the church.

• Ye Old Smugglers Inne - Known for its six staircases, twenty-one rooms, forty-eight doors, and numerous corridors and hiding places, it was a meeting place for smuggling gangs. Uniquely, it bears two names: the Market Cross, seen on the swing sign, and Ye Olde Smugglers Inn.

• Alfriston - A stop for sightseeing around the village.

• The Dressing Room @ Emmett & White - Offers the very best in vintage fashion.

• Much Ado Books - Located in the charming medieval village of Alfriston, East Sussex, this two-floor shop features new books alongside vintage, antiquarian, and secondhand volumes. Formerly a builder’s yard, the compound includes a book-filled shepherd’s hut and a bower bursting with bargain paperbacks.

• The George Inn - First licensed in 1397, the foundations of this splendid flint stone and half-timbered building date back to 1250, with a network of smugglers’ tunnels leading from its cellars. The bar, the oldest part of the inn, boasts an impressive inglenook fireplace with a huge copper hood, oak floors, and Sussex hop bines decorating the walls. To the rear is a large garden and a heated terrace for cooler evenings. Good quality food is served here.

• Private transportation
• Light refreshments while traveling
• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• Hotel or Airbnb pick-up and drop-off within Brighton
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Tour guide

• Alcoholic beverages
• Lunch

This region of England left a remarkable impression, prompting the desire to share its offerings, just a 25-minute drive from Brighton. The tour is designed with flexibility and a laid-back atmosphere, providing a day to relax and enjoy being chauffeured to the hidden coastal gems that other tours overlook.

Travel in style with a Mercedes Luxury 7-seater minibus, with convenient pick-up from your hotel or Airbnb. This small, relaxed tour can be adjusted en route to meet your preferences if needed. Discover local historic villages and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Seven Sisters, accompanied by an experienced guide ready to answer all your questions. The tour is tailored to your needs.

Thanks to the smaller bus, we can navigate the narrow roads in the villages of the South Downs.

Note: Travelers from London will be picked up from Brighton train station.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.