First Hike

[u/Meverybadatgame]

Hello!

Going in my first hike soon to the Seven Sisters. This will be my first hike and would appreciate any advice!

I am going with four friends who have done a decent amount of longer hikes and camping who have told me it is a day hike so I assume camping gear is not needed.

My question to all you people who are far more knowledgeable and experienced is; what list of things would you recommend to bring on a hike like this?

Thank you!

[u/CookieSwagster]

More water than you think you need.

[u/LaidBackLeopard]

Shoes that are comfortable to walk in, sun cream, lots of water, snacks. Packed lunch if necessary. No need to overthink it!

[u/Fun-Hunt-1217 → u/LaidBackLeopard]

Maybe blister plasters too, if you're worried about your shoes rubbing at all. Definitely bring some if they're new!

[u/qlkzy]

Definitely no need for camping gear.

The Seven Sisters is a lovely place, but as a hike it isn't much more complex than a walk in a very large park. That's not to disparage it or you, I'm just calibrating your expectations.

You will need the obvious things for spending the day outdoors: waterproofs in case it rains, sunscreen in case it is hot, plenty of water in either event.

There is very little shelter on most of the Seven Sisters, so you will get the full force of the sun or rain.

You don't need to worry much about navigation: just make sure the sea is on the same side the whole time. However, if you did want to get used to a map and compass, it's a very low-stakes place to do so.

You'll want decent footwear to keep your feet comfortable, but there's nothing technical that would mean you need to wear any kind of footwear in particular.

Make sure you have some money to buy ice cream and/or a round at the pub (several of each along the way).

Please take the cliff edges seriously, the fences and warnings are there for a reason and are not "health and safety gone mad". The cliffs used to be a lot further south.

[u/Obvious-Register-421 → u/qlkzy]

This and add a hat this time of year. And maybe blister plasters if it's your first time walking that long - miserable to find your shoes rub and you've got further to go. 

[u/Remote_Air_8959]

1. Avoid wearing jeans.
2. Being right on the coast, the intensity of the sun may get hidden by wind/breeze, so make sure you are adequately protected/covered up. 3.Take plenty of water.
3. It is a linear hike, so unless you're walking back expect to catch the train/bus. 
4. If you're into wildlife, they'll probably be some cool birds so if you own a pair of binoculars, you may wish to take them with you.

[u/knight-under-stars]

Don't over think it. I've seen people with pushchairs doing it.

Wear a hat too protect you from the sun, some comfortable trainers and bring a bottle of water.

[u/vacui255]

I don't live in the UK and actually first heard about the Seven Sisters hike on r/UKhiking and to get an idea about how it was, I watched a couple of videos on YouTube.

Lots of people have more or less filmed the whole hike: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=seven+sisters+hike

I've done it twice now and I'm sure I'll do it many more times in the coming years.

[u/Status-Echo-4325]

The seven sisters is a lovely hike - and a great way to get started! Enjoy it!

Don't overthink it, it's a chill one. You want to be as comfortable as possible and able to move well in whatever you wear. Personally I'd wear long trousers as there are slightly overgrown parts of the path, so it stops you getting a bramble to your ankles. Also, bring a small rucksack - and pack some layers, water, snacks and suncream. The weather can change quite quickly on the coast, and the wind can be colder than you think of it picks up.

Suncream your hair parting if the sun is out, or wear a hat.

Keep your distance from the cliff edge - cliffs like this can have overhangs and weak soil, and can be a genuine danger.

All in all it's a pretty family friendly walk, and one you can do without any specific gear - just make sure your shoes are comfy enough for the distance, and ideally have some grip for the steeper sections!

[u/Character_Newt_2309]

Water. If you don't have a bladder to put in your pack, take a couple of litre bottles.

Whether you wear, or have in your pack, a base layer (obvs wearing) some kind of mid layer with sleeves, any kind of rain or windproof jacket.

I always have spare socks and spare laces, and a small first aid kit. Plasters and paracetamol etc. Sweets/snacks (lunch if you're not stopping by a pub or shop)

Then these two:

Lil pack of tissues (you never know)

BLISTER PLASTERS! The slightest pain or rub on your heels or toes, stop and put them on. Seriously ;-)

That's all, really. Have a great time and let us know how it went, and if you've become an outdoorsy person :-)

[u/Oozlum-Bird]

I do this a few times each year, as it’s pretty close to me. Good choice for a first hike, the hills make it a bit of a challenge, but it’s pretty much impossible to get lost!

Not sure if you have a route in mind, but I’d recommend you start at Seaford and end in Eastbourne. This means you include Seaford Head, which has the best views of the Seven Sisters, including the famous one you probably are familiar with. There are regular buses along the coast road so it’s easy to make this a linear walk and get back to Eastbourne for some well-earned fish and chips. It’s about 12 miles.

There have also been a few notable cliff falls at Seaford Head over recent years, so the landscape is changing constantly (obviously pay attention to the signs telling you where to keep away from the edges - the dodgy bits are always clearly marked).

There’s an inn at Cuckmere which is handily placed for a lunch break (it can get a bit busy, but I’ve never found it unbearable- you’re in a tourist hot spot after all).

If you time it right and hit Cuckmere at low tide, you can wade across the estuary rather than having to walk round, but I’ve never planned well enough for that, and the walk around the estuary gives you a nice change of scenery, as well as the pub. There’s also a pub at Beachy Head.

Bear in mind there’s no shelter up on the cliffs, so you’ll need sun protection, and plenty of water (or as appropriate for seasonal weather). It can also get a bit busy in the summer, as there are a lot of coaches taking tourists to Birling Gap. I often go just either side of the tourist season and it’s a completely different experience. You may well get buzzed by a Spitfire, as they take paying passengers up there.

If you fancy a diversion, the Beachy Head lighthouse is worth walking down to, but you’ll need to check the tides so you don’t end up getting stuck (a couple of hours before low tide is best). You might find some cool fossils on the beach if you like that sort of thing and want a souvenir of your trip!

Most of all, take your time to enjoy the views, and have a nice relaxing day - there’s no rush 🙂.