Walk from Peacehaven to Newhaven Fort

The Walk: Visit the Greenwich Meridian Monument, then walk from Peacehaven along the coast path to Newhaven Fort. Explore 'Newhaven West Beach'. Return the same way. Explore Peacehaven Undercliff.

Map

NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. RED = Walk to Meridian Monument. BLUE = Walk to Newhaven Fort and Beach. PURPLE = alternative return route round Newhaven Fort. GREEN = Down steps to Peacehaven Undercliff

Why do it: Remarkable Spring display of feral wallflowers on Peacehaven Cliffs. Greenwich Meridian Monument. Epic staircase cut in the chalk cliff down to the Undercliff Promenade. Chalk platform beach at Peacehaven, with fossils of giant ammonites. Pleasant clifftop walk to Newhaven Fort, which is well worth the entry charge to have look round and admire the views over Newhaven Harbour. Newhaven West Beach, a surprisingly pleasant sandy beach at low tide protected by the Harbour moles, but sadly closed to the public because of safety concerns due to the crumbling sea walls. Shingle and chalk beach under the cliffs to the West of the breakwater. Wavecut rock platform exposed at low tide at the base of the cliffs.

Wallflowers on Peacehaven Clifftop

Distance: From car parked at Eastern end of Peacehaven Clifftop: about 1 mile one way to Meridian Monument. Peacehaven to Newhaven Fort and explore Beach: 3 miles one way. Explore Peacehaven Undercliff: about 0.5 miles one way. Total 4.5 one way, 9 miles total round trip. (You could also walk along the Peacehaven Undercliff to Bastion Steps and combine with the visit to the Meridian Monument).

Logistics: Kerbside parking in the streets bordering the clifftop, or in Bastion Steps Car Park. Rather than return by the same route, one could walk along the harbourside to Newhaven town and get the bus back to Peacehaven.

Low tide will give the best views of the impressive wavecut platform below the cliffs.

Challenges: It's worth exploring the environs of the Newhaven Fort, but the surrounding slopes are quite steep.

The beaches at and between Peacehaven and Newhaven comprise a wavecut platform which has chalk ridges and 'islands' which, whilst geologically fascinating, are treacherous to walk on. Indeed, the Peacehaven beach is now officially closed to the public, which is a shame, since at Peacehaven, some of the chalk 'islands' sticking up are topped by giant ammonite fossils. (I originally intended to walk back along the platform, but pretty soon concluded that would be unwise.)

As noted above, Newhaven West Beach is owned by Newhaven Port, which, for some reason, is owned by a French company, which despite local pleas, has refused to (re)open Newhaven West Beach and the Moles (breakwaters) to the (British) public, in part due to the expense of making the structures safe. The shingle beach to the West of the breakwater is however open to the public, and there is a pay car park with a manned entry control.

Refreshments: Newhaven Fort has a cafe. The Hope Inn on the harbourside road next to Newhaven Fort. There may be a snack shack in the aforementioned West beach car park.

Nearby Walks

To the West: Southwick to Brighton

To The East: Seven Sisters: Seaford to Birling Gap

Also, Cycle Ride: Brighton to Eastbourne, including Seaford beach

Photos

Sunny April day. Tide high in the morning, falling in the afternoon (compare photos on the way out to those on the way back, showing the large platform exposed at low tide).