Birling Gap Seven Sisters – Brighton

Birling Gap, Seven Sisters & Brighton

The Seven Sisters chalk cliffs are part of the world-famous coastline, offering one of the longest stretches of undeveloped shoreline on the south coast. This stunning natural landscape, where the South Downs meet the sea, has become a popular destination for visitors seeking breathtaking views and a peaceful coastal escape.

The Hidden Geology of Birling Gap Seven Sisters

Birlings coastlines are in a constant state of flux, influenced by rising sea levels, erosion, and weathering. These natural processes have shaped Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters into their current forms over centuries. While these changes pose unique challenges to visitor safety, the diverse geology of these areas is crucial for local wildlife and vegetation, offering habitats for various plants and nesting birds. We embrace these coastal changes to effectively plan for the future in this dynamic landscape.

History

Where the South Downs meet the sea, the Seven Sisters cliffs were formed by ancient rivers carving valleys into the chalk, resulting in seven distinctive peaks. The tallest of these, Haven Brow, rises to an impressive 77 meters (253 feet) and stands proudly to the west of its fellow cliffs, which are known as Short Brow, Rough Brow, Brass Point, Flagstaff Point, Baily’s Brow, and Went Hill Brow. Now designated as part of the Heritage Coast, this area is recognized for its outstanding natural beauty and special scientific interest, ensuring the protection of the Seven Sisters for future generations.

The Seven Sisters Visitor Centre, located at Exceat in an 18th-century barn, offers valuable information about the park and its wildlife through engaging displays and exhibitions. Visitors can also find a shop selling leaflets, maps, and souvenirs, as well as a café and bike hire services available on-site.

Erosion at the Seven Sisters

The iconic white chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters are renowned worldwide. The unique erosion process results in large chunks of chalk breaking away, creating nearly vertical faces that contribute to the cliffs’ steepness.
Erosion is not solely driven by the sea’s action from below; heavy rainfall plays a significant role as well. Water seeps through the chalk, freezing when temperatures drop. As the water expands, it cracks the chalk, leading to erosion from the top of the cliffs.

Adapting to Coastal Change

Over the past year, significant changes have taken place at Birling Gap. We have removed the seaward section of our building and relocated the café and visitor center further inland. As we adjust to our dynamic coastline, further modifications will occur in the coming years. The next phase of our work includes redesigning the existing car park to ensure visitor safety and enhance the overall experience. This redesign will feature dedicated spaces for motorcycles, minibus parking, a taxi drop-off and pick-up zone, improved access for Blue Badge holders, and the removal of designated coach parking.

Staying Safe

While our white cliffs are stunning, they are also incredibly fragile. Though they may seem safe to approach, chalk is a soft rock that can become weakened by heavy rain or eroded by wind and wave action, making the cliff edge unstable and prone to collapse. It is unsafe to stand on or near the edge or the base of the cliffs. Always maintain a distance of at least 5 meters from both the cliff edge and its base, regardless of the weather. Additionally, be mindful of tide times; the sea rises and falls twice daily, often reaching the base of the cliffs, which can lead to being cut off or trapped against the cliffs, increasing the risk of drowning. We advise against walking more than 150 meters in either direction from the beach platform to ensure you can always exit the beach safely.

Hidden Geology

The geology at Birling Gap has its unique characteristics, best observed from the beach during low tide. The dry valley, underlain by coombe rock, was formed during the last Ice Age, which ended around 12,000 years ago. Because coombe rock is much softer than chalk, it erodes more quickly—approximately one meter each year—creating a slight “bay” at Birling Gap.
In 2014, the chalk cliffs at Birling Gap experienced an extraordinary rate of erosion, losing seven years’ worth of material in just two months, largely due to severe storms.

An Important Habitat

Much of the southeast coastline of England has been developed or fortified with sea defenses, but the Seven Sisters remains a pristine area thanks to the long-standing stewardship of the National Trust and East Sussex County Council.

These cliffs and the wave-cut platform beneath them hold significant national and international value for their biological and geological features. They offer ideal environments for specialized plants and animals to flourish and provide a safe nesting habitat for birds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, and peregrine falcons.

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Explore the World-Famous Seven Sisters Chalk Cliffs: A Breathtaking Stretch of Undeveloped Coastline on the South Coast and a Stop Along the South Downs Way at Birling Gap.