After a peaceful sleep in our comfortable double bed, with the cut off side at the end, we set out to explore the area around Beachy Head. A fascinating place, due to its popularity with suicide jumpers, sadly, but also with film units who use the area as a backdrop for many films.
And we were so lucky with the weather. The drive there was interesting too, along the coastal road. And made easier in our lovely car, with heated seats.
We arrived at Birling Gap, which is at the end of the Seven Sisters, an undulating stretch of the South Downs in East Sussex. Birling Gap and the surrounding area is owned and managed by the National Trust.
Of course the coast is unprotected so the sea is constantly eroding the cliffs. It is not possible to walk down the steps to the stoney beach due to the unstable cliff edges.
Walter, walking pole in hand, all ready for our walk, and well rugged up due to the icy wind blowing from the east.
A row of cottages, minus two at the end, which started to fall into the sea at some point.
A view of the National Trust restaurant and tea rooms, plus gift shop and information office. We had a lovely lunch there. No motor home to have lunch in and no packed lunch either, due to poor organisation. Good excuse.
The building was once a hotel, and there was a carpark in front of it, and also a large camping ground beside it. All taken away by the sea, during the last seventy or so years.
We started our walk along part of the South Downs Walk. A steady, but easy climb uphill, with fantastic views of Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. There are meant to be seven rolling hills with white cliffs jutting out. We did not count them to make sure.
A group of fluffy ponies grazing on the cliff tops. They had an electric fence around their paddock. No danger of them going over the edge of the cliff. I must admit we stayed close to the electric fence so that we did not stray too close to the edge.
The Belle Tout lighthouse, now decommissioned, and quite a landmark in the area. It was built in 1834, but was not very successful due to being often shrouded in mist. It is now a very expensive Bed and Breakfast venue.
In 1999 the lighthouse was put onto rail lines, and moved to its present position, due to the risk of it toppling into the sea. It is still on the rail lines in case they have to move it again. Looking at the slope, it would only need a nudge to make it roll down into the valley. Remind me to not stay in this B and B.
Looking north to the nearest village, name forgotten. In England one is never far from civilization.
We tried to walk around the lighthouse on the ocean side but realised in time, that the path was no more. Scary.
We could see the buildings of Beachy Head in the distance, but decided to retrace our footsteps and return to Birling Gap, where lunch was beckoning us. Easier to drive around.
On the drive around, we stopped, and I got out of the car, and walked through a gate in order to get this photograph. This was as close as I was going to get to the edge. As you can see there are no fences along the edge of the cliffs, and when walking on the grass the edge just looks like the brow of a hill. There is a person looking over the edge in this photograph.
I think the top of this hill is about the highest point, as the new red and white striped lighthouse is just below this cliff.
Beachy Head, at long last. The name Beachy Head is a corruption of the French word, Beauchef or Beauchief (13th Century) meaning 'beautiful headland'. There is also a memorial further around the headland, to commemorate the pilots who flew on missions to Germany during WW2. Apparently they always flew over Beachy Head.
Of course I needed a photograph of myself to prove I had visited Beachy Head.
We were rather surprised to see a steep grassy slope rising above the cliffs way below.
However the slope became steeper as we walked around on the circular path. I think the lighthouse is below the cliff face in a previous photo. At some point along here the headland is 162 metres above sea level.
From Beachy Head it is easy to get a good view of Eastbourne, and Pevensey Bay.
We reluctantly drove back to Hove, where we parked in the marina for a spot of shopping at Brighton Marina. After purchasing three pairs of shoes, two pairs for me and one pair for Walter, we decided we must go back to the caravan, before we parted with any more money.
A view of a building, rising above the marina. The blue sky was very impressive in the late afternoon sunshine.
Jobs were carried out easily this afternoon, water container filled up and waste water container emptied, although it did release dirty water all the way to the waste water dumping area. Now everyone will know it was us, as the water mark leads to the side of our caravan. And it is not going to dry either. No doubt we will be criticised. Oh dear, I must learn to check that the lid is screwed on properly.
And now we are lying comfortably on our couches, listening to music, in our lovely warm caravan.
A really great day out.
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