Birling Gap

Location and the Beach

The beach is comprised of large pebbles with occasional patches of sand and backed by chalk cliffs. It is not overlooked and attracts few walkers. In the past the beach has been closed owing to cliff falls. The cliffs are fast eroding, which is how they're white - don't sit too close!

A visitor described the beach as:

"very clean" and "in a beautiful setting, the white chalk cliffs of the seven sisters behind you afford great views down the coast"

Safety and ease of swimming depends upon the state of the tide, owing to rocks which make entering and leaving the water difficult. Around high tide (when the rocks are well below the surface) or at low tide when the rocks are visible are the safest times:

"there is a shallow platform of sharp rocks... the waves push you back onto them (I've got the cuts to prove it!)"

Even at the height of the season the naturist section of Birling Gap is relatively quiet, with a mixture of couples and singles, the predominant age group being 40-50's.

"Another positive is that the beach allows you 30-45min walk up the coast over the pebbles to the headland, where a new bay begins.. I only passed three clothed couples beach walking, and to avoid confronting them, I sat down behind a boulder and waited until they passed... I would definitely recommend Birling Gap..."

Birling Gap made the news because local residents are campaigning for work to be undertaken to protect their properties from the on-going coastal erosion, while the National Trust feel that nature should be left to take its course. The row of houses by the car park is slowly falling into the sea.

Beach Facilities

There is an NT tea-room / pub, and toilets are available in Birling Gap.

Directions

By Car

Take the A259 from Eastbourne or from Seaford. On reaching Eastdean turn south on to a minor road to 'Went Hill' and 'Birling Gap'. When you get to the coast, the beach is accessible from the NT pay car park down an iron staircase. Since non-naturists don't venture far from these steps, a walk of no more than 500 yards along the beach (to the West) will take you to the area traditionally used by naturists.

Satvav: BN20 0AB

By Public Transport

There is a summer / winter weekend bus service from Brighton and Seaford Station, via Birling Gap, to Beachy Head and Eastbourne Pier.

Additional Information

The beach descriptions originally came from the closed NUFF website.
Thanks to its authors.

Last updated: 26 Jun 19