Birling Gap 10 Years Ago
ENGLAND IS SHRINKING
I've been visiting "Seven Sisters", East Sussex, for a long time. It's one of those classic English locations that are easily recognisable. Dover, Kent, is probably the place most associated with white cliffs in England, but the white cliffs at Seven Sisters are much more prominent than at Dover.
Which end of the range I start from depends on how I travel there and how long I'm staying. If I'm there for the weekend, or longer, I'd normally go to the sea-side town of Eastbourne where I'd be in a B&B with a parking space for my car (if I drive). Most of the time though, I'd take the train down from London Victoria. Otherwise, if only visiting for the day, I'd head down to "Birling Gap" where I can leave my car and do the Seven Sisters hike.
Birling Gap
It is a stunning coastal area located in the East Sussex region of England, as mentioned above, famous for its hiking trails. There's always a mix of people walking along there - from the experienced hiker with all the professional gear, to a bunch of tourists in totally inappropriate attire. It's also a popular spot for picnics, especially in summer, because of the stunning views of the countryside and the sea. One of the famous landmarks around there is the Belle Tout Lighthouse which is a very well photographed structure. I've even seen people flying drones down to get a closer look.
Another interesting attraction in Birling Gap is the beach. It's not ordinary beach though. Apart from not being sandy, like many beaches in Europe, it's a pebble beach. What's special about that is what the pebbles are made of. Because the coast has been eroding for centuries, a lot of the pebbles are bits of sedimentary rock that have been eroded from the cliffs and shaped smooth by the water. You can even see houses and other such buildings, made of brick, that have been eroded and shaped into smooth pebbles by the water of decades, centuries and possibly millennia! You can see entire chunks of brick walls on the beach that have clearly falling down the cliff when the erosion reached them.
Even in my own lifetime, I've noticed the difference in the edge of the cliffs. They are eroding at nearly 30cm a year!, so in the past 10 years, which was when these photos in this post were taken, the cliff would have moved in another 3 metres! England is getting smaller! There was a building so close to the cliff that I'm nearly sure would have either collapsed by now, or be about to do so. Even back then the building was already closed off. I wonder why they didn't just demolish it in advance to prevent it collapsing down to the beach.
Dinos & Archeology
One of the most unique features of Birling Gap is the natural history that can be found here. The area is a popular spot for fossil hunting, and many visitors come specifically to search for ancient relics in the cliffs and on the beach. You can stand on the beac and physically see the different archaeological levels in the ground. It's a unique experience that many people never get to see in real life.
There's a lot more of that kind of stuff westwards towards Exeter and Plymouth. The "Jurassic Coast" of England is full of these cliffs and a collection of dinosaur-era discoveries were made there, hence the name. I visited that part during the first year of the Pando to get away from it all :)
The area is also home to a variety of rare and endangered plant and animal species, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. There is a lot of information in the visitor's area but these days most of that spot has become unstable and unsafe so I'm not sure if you're still allowed to walk down to the beach via the steps or not. I haven't been back down there since the Pando started.
Peace * Love,
Adé