Page 94 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

92 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

1 Beachy Head 3 Berwick
Eastbourne, East Sussex; BN20 East Sussex; BN26 6SZ
The white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head, The ancient St Michael and All Angels
set against the deep blue sea, are an Church was decorated in 1943 with
awesome sight, as though the South paintings by Bloomsbury Group artists,
Downs have just been snapped off to Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, and
let the English Channel through. At their son Quentin Bell. The Bloomsbury
the cliff’s giddy edge, look down to the Group were avant-garde intellectuals,
lighthouse 162 m (530 ft) below. writers and artists who first met in
Above Picturesque exterior of the Tiger Inn The Beachy Head Countryside Centre Bloomsbury, London in 1905 to share
pub, Beachy Head (open Mar–Oct daily; www.beachyhead.org) their ideas. Other notable members
and car park has displays about the included writers Virginia Woolf and
VISITING BRIGHTON history and nature of the area. Lytton Strachey, critic Roger Fry and
A little way along the loop (coast) economist John Maynard Keynes.
Parking
Park in one of the North Laine car parks, road, stop off at Birling Gap for In 1916 Vanessa and Duncan moved
on Church Street or North Road, or in more wonderful sea views before to Charleston (open Mar–Oct; closed
Trafalgar Street, near the train station. continuing round and joining up Mon except Bank Hols & Tue; 01323 811
Tourist Information with the A259. West along the A259 626; www.charleston.org.uk), an
Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, is the Seven Sisters Country Park 18th-century farmhouse which
BN1 1JA; 01273 290 337; www. (www.sevensisters.org.uk); from the car became the set’s country meeting
visitbrighton.com park you can follow the footpaths place. Tours give an inspiring insight
along the tidal Cuckmere River as it to the group’s life.
WHERE TO STAY meanders to the sea, supporting a ª Head west on the A27, turn right
BEACHY HEAD variety of birds, butterflies and plants. through Glynde and past Glyndebourne,
The Tiger Inn moderate ª Head to the A259 and turn left. At the opera venue. At the B2192 go left
A quintessential English pub with five the Seven Sisters Country Park, turn for the A26 to Lewes. After the tunnel,
light and airy en-suite rooms. right (on a sharp left bend) past the turn left, and left again to park.
Gilberts Drive, East Dean, BN20 0BY
(take the East Dean turning off the small chalk white horse on the left and
A259 and continue through the village; through Litlington. Turn left down 4 Lewes
the pub is on the right); 01323 423 878; Lullington Road, signed to Alfriston, East Sussex; BN7 2QS
www.beachyhead.org.uk then left and left again. Park in car Tom Paine (1737–1809), “Father of the
LEWES park on left on way into village. American Revolution”, lived in this feisty
Pelham House moderate county town, which today has its own
Large and handsome redbrick house 2 Alfriston currency. Spend “Lewes pounds” in
with differently styled en-suite rooms. East Sussex; BN26 5TA galleries and craft shops such as the
St Andrew’s Lane, BN7 1UW; 01273 The most attractive village in Sussex Sussex Guild Shop (Southover Grange;
488 600; www.pelhamhouse.com
has a High Street of handsome old 01273 479 565). Get a taste of history in
BRIGHTON inns, shops and teahouses, and a large the medieval castle (closed Mon in Jan),
brightonwave moderate green with the medieval thatched which also houses the Barbican House
This small and friendly boutique hotel Clergy House (closed Thu & Fri) by the Museum stuffed with fascinating
by the sea epitomizes Brighton’s style. river. Pack a picnic from the excellent archaeological treasures, and walk
10 Madeira Place, BN2 1TN; 01273 676 deli in the old Post Office and Village down the High Street and across the
794; www.brightonwave.com;
minimum two-night stay at weekends Store for a stroll along the river. bridge to visit Harvey’s Brewery shop.
ª Backtrack north out of village, ª Follow signs for A27 (Brighton). Turn
but carry straight on to A27. Turn left onto B2123 to coast at Rottingdean,
Below The ancient George Inn, Alfriston, first left, then first left for Berwick, and and right onto A259, then Marine Drive.
licensed in 1397 Below right Straw bales on fourth left for Charleston, signposted At pier turn right, and follow “P” signs
a farm near Lewes, East Sussex after Selmeston. to North Laine car parks.

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150

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