Eastbourne/Seven Sisters trail run and swim this weekend

I'm thinking of getting the train down to the south coast and doing a run along the coast path, plus a swim, and then some chilling out doing seaside stuff. My plan is currently pretty flexible and may be accommodating friends just doing the chilling by the seaside bit as well, so let me know if you are interested. I think I'd prefer Saturday 8th. The maximum I would run is this route, 20k with 500m ascent and descent.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/seaford-to-eastbourne/

"This classic cliff-top walk – one of the finest coastal walks in England – affords stunning (and very famous) views of the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters, and the renowned Beachy Head, before ending in the elegant seafront town of Eastbourne. There is quite a lot of climbing and descending on the walk – indeed, apart from the section around Cuckmere Haven and the finish along the Eastbourne seafront, almost none of the route is flat – but somehow in the grandeur of the scenery the effort is not noticed"

I'm not sure how true that last part will be, but the route does have the advantage of having a bus along the road just inland so there are opportunities to make it shorter or longer.  I'll be doing a v easy pace and probably obeying the rule of "walk if you can't see the top" on the hills. The route is grass and chalk so shouldn't be muddy and I'm hoping road shoes are fine.

Tentative plan was to take the train to Eastbourne, then have a swim at the beach (probably only 15 - 20 minutes for me as I think that's my max without a wetsuit, and unless there's somewhere I can leave one I won't bother). Then run over beachy head and the seven sisters probably as far as Exceat / Cuckmere Haven where there's a shingle beach. Meet friends there, have a dip to cool off, go to the pub to eat, and then hike/bus back to Eastbourne. Could also head over to Seaford, but I don't really know what is there.

Let me know if you are interested and I will try to work out train times.

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I've been in touch with the Eastbourne Sea Swimmers group on Facebook, and they'll be meeting 9.40am for 10am swim on the seafront, doing up to 1.4km at various speeds - they do a buddy system. I'm going to try and meet them so will have to get the 7.47 Victoria departure arrives 9.08 at Eastbourne.

I'm not sure if I'll do the full 1.4km swim, and I am currently thinking of running the 10 miles/15km to Cuckmere Haven to aim for the Cuckmere Inn for refreshments. I am guessing my time will be getting on for 2 hours to do that, with stopping, navigating, hills etc. Then bus back to Eastbourne.

This looks really cool Esther and I would definitely be up for the next one (if you're going again), unfortunately can't make this weekend. Have a good one :-)

Esther similarly I can't make tomorrow but would be interested if there is another trip at least for the swim.  I'm also looking for some accessible sea swim experience so will be interested to hear how you get on with the sea swimmers tomorrow.

The Seven Sisters is definitely my favourite walk in the South, typically used to go from Seaford to Eastbourne and back with the return being a race against the tide.  The run should be fun with great views as long as you don't mind periodic steep inclines! suspect I'll need to train my guides on less technical routes before tackling it as a run!   Esther Stoakes said:

I've been in touch with the Eastbourne Sea Swimmers group on Facebook, and they'll be meeting 9.40am for 10am swim on the seafront, doing up to 1.4km at various speeds - they do a buddy system. I'm going to try and meet them so will have to get the 7.47 Victoria departure arrives 9.08 at Eastbourne.

I'm not sure if I'll do the full 1.4km swim, and I am currently thinking of running the 10 miles/15km to Cuckmere Haven to aim for the Cuckmere Inn for refreshments. I am guessing my time will be getting on for 2 hours to do that, with stopping, navigating, hills etc. Then bus back to Eastbourne.

So today was great - apart from southern rail doing their best to scupper my plans by cancelling trains! Eastbourne Sea swimmers are a really friendly and welcoming bunch, a mix of abilities from slow swimmers up to a few ex-channel swimmers by the sounds of it. They swim all year round, but the swims get shorter as the water temperature drops. They mainly up do a social fitness swim spending about an hour in the water every Saturday and Sunday, and then organise other events, longer swims etc. People seeemed to be training for various swimming events like the Dart 10k etc. It's all quite informal but they are an offshoot of the Eastbourne swimming club. Despite arriving pretty late I did manage to meet up with them in the water and join them for coffee afterwards. If you want to build up your confidence sea swimming, this is ideal: Eastbourne pier makes sighting a doddle as you swim towards it and there are buildings to sight on in the other direction. Today was very flat but with a noticeable current along the shore in one direction so harder than swimming in a lake. Apparently surf can build up if the wind is from the right direction, so best to check before you travel if that's a problem (or if that's what you are looking for). I will definitely join them again but I don't think I have a free weekend for at least a month now.

They did mention a triathlon training group based at a shop called tri tempo who seem to take their swimming more seriously then them and insist on wearing wetsuits at all times, even when it's warm. So if you are looking for longer or more competitive training you might want to find them?

I ran the 15k over to Cuckmere Haven, which was spectacular and involved lots of stopping for photos. The cloud lifted about 20 minutes in and I had brilliant sunshine, which was great, except I had not put sun cream on and now have some pretty epic sunburn. I didn't find it too tough, only had to walk up the last steep bit to Beachy Head, and it was mainly the steep downhills that slowed me down, so I'd be happy to continue on to Seaford another time.

I'll probably try and do this again before the end of the summer, with more notice next time, so shout if you are interested.

Esther this sounds like a wonderful day (apart from the trains!). I'd be up for joining you if you did it again. I hope your sunburn heals quickly.
This sounds really fun - thanks for the info. Glad you had a good time (when you finally arrived)

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