The Peacehaven Undercliff

If you are bored with the Blackrock to Saltdean stretch of undercliff the section between Telscombe and Peacehaven offers much of the same but is generally less busy.

It was built by Lewes District Council in the 1980s and has three access points from the cliff-top which are:-

At the west end, a ramp from Malines Av.

The Bastion Steps at Steyning Ave., 0.7 miles further east 

The easterly steps leading to Cliff Ave., a further mile east.

It is thus possible, by including the cliff-top path, to do a 4 mile figure-of eight walk from any of the three access points, all of which are on the no.12 coast road bus route.

Looking towards Brighton at the west end

Looking across Friars Bay at the east end

Between the Saltdean east end and Peacehaven undercliff is a gap of about 1.2 miles of unprotected cliff, and a similar gap exists between the east end of the Peacehaven undercliff and Newhaven West Beach. Presumably these sections will need coastal defence works eventually and it might then be possible to walk the 7.5 miles from Brighton to Newhaven along a continuous undercliff path.

Some luxurious vegetation.

Flourishing Fig

It is said that figs like to have their roots restricted but this is ridiculous. This tree is on the top of the cliff-retaining wall opposite Asda. It has presumably grown from a seed deposited in the droppings of a seagull or pigeon that had been scavenging waste bins nearby. It is clearly thriving, perhaps another sign of climate change. Figs in Sussex have put on about 18" of growth this year, about double the usual amount, and they aren't finished yet.

The East End . . .

 . . . of the Undercliff.

Walkers reaching the far east end of the Undercliff, 500 yards beyond Saltdean Gap, cannot help but feel a sense of anti-climax. Not only is it an inevitable dead-end but the once dramatic glimpse provided of the untamed cliffs beyond is there largely obscured by a concrete barrier. This barrier, to judge by the usual warning notice, is mainly designed to deter the rash-minded from "entering the caves" in the small bay beyond. 

Looking east.

Google Earth view.

The last 310 yards of the Undercliff Walk lie beyond the city's boundary and were built by Chailey Rural District Council in 1963. Presumably it is now the responsibility of Lewes District Council. One can understand that they might not feel the same commitment to the Walk as a visitor attraction as BHCC.

At the moment there is one derelict seat. The site seems to be calling out for something to make it more of a destination, such as a site-specific sculpture. Maybe Thomas Heatherwick or Anthony Gormley has something looking for a home?