ROSEDALE's Guide to Seaford and the surrounding area
City/town information
A lovely old town with buildings from the Medieval period onwards. There's a ruined Priory, a lovely public garden with nice cafe, Anne Boleyn's house which is a wonderful timber-framed house, and of course the Castle. Paid admission to all of theese but not that expensive.
Lewes also has lots of flea markets/ antiques shops - better the Brighton now! with items at all prices. There's lovely shopping generally, and pretty cafes, some of them by the river. Great just to walk round and browse.
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Lewes
A lovely old town with buildings from the Medieval period onwards. There's a ruined Priory, a lovely public garden with nice cafe, Anne Boleyn's house which is a wonderful timber-framed house, and of course the Castle. Paid admission to all of theese but not that expensive.
Lewes also has lots of flea markets/ antiques shops - better the Brighton now! with items at all prices. There's lovely shopping generally, and pretty cafes, some of them by the river. Great just to walk round and browse.
Sightseeing
Alfriston is a very pretty village with the 'Cathedral of the Downs' - a lovely Sussex church - on its ancient green called the Tye. It has lots of great tea shops and several old and beautiful pubs, including the recently renovated Star Inn.
On the Tye is a small NT property, the first they ever acquired, a lovely half-timbered house called the Clergy House. (There is another NT property nearby as well - Monk's House).
The Rathfinny wine estate is just outside Alfriston and has a bar and restaurant for wine tasting as well as a shop for their wine! You can walk round the vineyard, and see the local wildlife as well as archaeological sites.
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Alfriston
Alfriston is a very pretty village with the 'Cathedral of the Downs' - a lovely Sussex church - on its ancient green called the Tye. It has lots of great tea shops and several old and beautiful pubs, including the recently renovated Star Inn.
On the Tye is a small NT property, the first they ever acquired, a lovely half-timbered house called the Clergy House. (There is another NT property nearby as well - Monk's House).
The Rathfinny wine estate is just outside Alfriston and has a bar and restaurant for wine tasting as well as a shop for their wine! You can walk round the vineyard, and see the local wildlife as well as archaeological sites.
Newhaven Fort is a fascinating mixture of different periods - part of the Fort is Napoleonic and part 20th Century. It has various exhibitions inside the walls. Entry charge applies.
There are views out over the Channel and the town of Newhaven.
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Newhaven Fort
Newhaven Fort is a fascinating mixture of different periods - part of the Fort is Napoleonic and part 20th Century. It has various exhibitions inside the walls. Entry charge applies.
There are views out over the Channel and the town of Newhaven.
Eastbourne Beach is a scenic 30 minute bus ride away and is less busy than Brighton, but busier than Seaford! There is a pier, and cafes along the sea front and in the town. The shopping centre has recently been refurbished and includes a cinema.
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Eastbourne Beach
23 Royal ParadeEastbourne Beach is a scenic 30 minute bus ride away and is less busy than Brighton, but busier than Seaford! There is a pier, and cafes along the sea front and in the town. The shopping centre has recently been refurbished and includes a cinema.
Walking
Firle Beacon is fairly close to us but most easily reached by car. The car park is up on the top of the Downs and a short, mostly flat walk in either direction gives magnificent views north and south to the sea. There are prehistoric barrows (burials) along the summit of the Downs, still fairly easily found.
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South Downs Way Firle Beacon car park
South Downs WayFirle Beacon is fairly close to us but most easily reached by car. The car park is up on the top of the Downs and a short, mostly flat walk in either direction gives magnificent views north and south to the sea. There are prehistoric barrows (burials) along the summit of the Downs, still fairly easily found.
A short drive from Seaford is the NT's carpark at High and Over. There are various walks from the car park giving wonderful views over the meanders of the Cuckmere River down to the sea, and also inland towards Rathfinny vineyard and Alfriston, plus the Friston Forest.
High and Over
High and OverA short drive from Seaford is the NT's carpark at High and Over. There are various walks from the car park giving wonderful views over the meanders of the Cuckmere River down to the sea, and also inland towards Rathfinny vineyard and Alfriston, plus the Friston Forest.
The Friston Forest was planted in the 1930s by a water company and is a mixture of conifers and other trees. There are 3 car parks at different entrances to the forest plus the 12 bus from Seaford stops at the Forest's tourist centre which has a cafe beside it and toilets. This is also the starting point to walk to Cuckmere Haven.
Hidden in the Forest is the pretty medieval village of West Dean which has a beautiful old church, and pond.
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Friston Forest
The Friston Forest was planted in the 1930s by a water company and is a mixture of conifers and other trees. There are 3 car parks at different entrances to the forest plus the 12 bus from Seaford stops at the Forest's tourist centre which has a cafe beside it and toilets. This is also the starting point to walk to Cuckmere Haven.
Hidden in the Forest is the pretty medieval village of West Dean which has a beautiful old church, and pond.
Seaford Head is walkable from our house, or you can drive to the car park at South Hill Barn, which is on top of the Downs, or park on the seafront and climb up. It's quite steep! Once on top it's a fairly flat walk along to either Hope Gap, or Cuckmere Haven and the Coastguard Cottages. Wonderful views of the Channel and Seven Sisters.
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Seaford Head Nature Reserve, Sussex Wildlife Trust
Seaford Head is walkable from our house, or you can drive to the car park at South Hill Barn, which is on top of the Downs, or park on the seafront and climb up. It's quite steep! Once on top it's a fairly flat walk along to either Hope Gap, or Cuckmere Haven and the Coastguard Cottages. Wonderful views of the Channel and Seven Sisters.
Archaeology and History
The Long Burgh was probably constructed in the fourth millennium BCE, during Britain's Early Neolithic period. It is sited just off the South Downs Way above the village of Alfriston. It's impressively large and the shape is clearly visible, with an information board to show you its possible uses.
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Alfriston
The Long Burgh was probably constructed in the fourth millennium BCE, during Britain's Early Neolithic period. It is sited just off the South Downs Way above the village of Alfriston. It's impressively large and the shape is clearly visible, with an information board to show you its possible uses.
The Museum is open on Weds afternoons, and Saturday and Sunday. It houses an amazingly varied selection of items, from the nationally important Neolithic age flint axes, to washing machines from the 1960s! There are also exhibits about the Napoleonic-era origins of the Martello Tower, about local shipwrecks and smuggling, and the importance of Seaford in navigation in the early 20th century. Really something for everyone! Admission is very inexpensive.
Seaford Museum Of Local History
The Museum is open on Weds afternoons, and Saturday and Sunday. It houses an amazingly varied selection of items, from the nationally important Neolithic age flint axes, to washing machines from the 1960s! There are also exhibits about the Napoleonic-era origins of the Martello Tower, about local shipwrecks and smuggling, and the importance of Seaford in navigation in the early 20th century. Really something for everyone! Admission is very inexpensive.
Bishopstone is a very pretty village that can be reached by walking across the fields from Seaford. It has a lovely 11th / 12th century church and graveyard.
From Bishopstone, or a car park near the village, you can walk up onto the Downs at Rookery Hill and see the line of barrows remaining from prehistoric settlements there. There are wonderful views out to sea and back over the village and downland.
Bishopstone
Bishopstone is a very pretty village that can be reached by walking across the fields from Seaford. It has a lovely 11th / 12th century church and graveyard.
From Bishopstone, or a car park near the village, you can walk up onto the Downs at Rookery Hill and see the line of barrows remaining from prehistoric settlements there. There are wonderful views out to sea and back over the village and downland.
Walking along from Seaford you reach Tide Mills which has a fascinating history. Developed as a major corn mill, powered by the tide, by local business man Catt, there was a flourishing small village to house the workers. Later a pioneer in the field of race horse rehabiliation had stables there, and a hospital for recuperating disabled children was built on the seafront. It's all now ruined, the last bits having been finally pulled down in WW2 to stop German invaders using them!
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Tide Mills station
Walking along from Seaford you reach Tide Mills which has a fascinating history. Developed as a major corn mill, powered by the tide, by local business man Catt, there was a flourishing small village to house the workers. Later a pioneer in the field of race horse rehabiliation had stables there, and a hospital for recuperating disabled children was built on the seafront. It's all now ruined, the last bits having been finally pulled down in WW2 to stop German invaders using them!
Food scene
So in Seaford there are a few places we could recommend: Amie's Thai is small, cheap and cheerful. The fish and chips at Trawlers (where you can sit in) is very good, but closes quite early. There's also the Grumpy Chef and the Grumpy Fish, (more fish and chips but posher) opposite each other, I believe good but might require booking. There's Moon Of India (not bad) and other Indian restaurants, plus a new sushi place I'm told is good.
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Trawlers
32 Church StSo in Seaford there are a few places we could recommend: Amie's Thai is small, cheap and cheerful. The fish and chips at Trawlers (where you can sit in) is very good, but closes quite early. There's also the Grumpy Chef and the Grumpy Fish, (more fish and chips but posher) opposite each other, I believe good but might require booking. There's Moon Of India (not bad) and other Indian restaurants, plus a new sushi place I'm told is good.