Welcome
Everyone is welcome at The Seven Sisiters Country Park which boasts a variety of habitats, many of which are accessible for everyone to enjoy. Our Easy Access Trail offers views along the valley, following the meanders and chalk grassland hillsides to the lagoon and salt marsh before you reach the shingle beach.
Within the complex of buildings are the Visitor Centre offering information with a gift shop; Grab and Go take away refreshments; and toilets including a Changing Places. Also the Saltmarsh Cafe.
South of the main road is our refreshments trailer and Buzz Active watersports are at the far end of the carpark.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Visitor Centre Information and Gift ShopGrab & Go take away Trailer in South Car ParkVisitor CentreOpen Access LandHearing
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
Please see diagramme for illustration layout.
Travel by taxi
Parking
CAR PARKING
We have two car parks, one either side of the A259 main road which runs through the park close to the building complex. In peak times during the summer these car parks can become very busy and updates are posted on our social media channels.
Parking is pay and display by card, cash or via the Ringo app. Please see the car parking page on our website for current charges and information.
FOREST CAR PARK (North of main A259 road)
This wooded car park has lots of parking, including 4 disabled spaces closer to the buildings which are situated on the second bay on your right.
There are three speed humps as you enter this car park which has an uneven, loose stone surface.
Moving towards the buildings complex over this surface there is a 1080 milimetre wide opening in the flint wall where the surface becomes smoother.
Picnic benches next to disabled parking:
There are five picnic benches with open access at each end to accommodate wheelchairs. The sizes vary but are 1600 milimetres long and vary in height between 740 milimetres and 750 milimetres high. Please note these are on rough ground.
SOUTH CAR PARK (South of main A259 road)
This smooth tarmacked, open car park has capacity for a smaller number of vehicles, including two disabled bays closer to the gateway and Trailer.
There is a single bench overlooking the meanders situated on the grass, accessed between bollards with 1100 milimetre gaps. The bench measures 1800 milimetres long by 250 milimetres wide by 540 milimetres high.
From this carpark you can use the roadside pedestrian path of 110 metres with an upwards incline of three per cent to the main entrance of our Country Park Easy Access Trail. This gate needs to be held open to pass through.
Alternatively there is a 1630 milimetre gateway entrance with a slide fastening that needs to be held open, to an uneven path onto the park which can be slippery and muddy after wet weather. Just through this gate is a bench 1800 milimetres long by 25 milimetres wide by 550 milimetres high.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
The main entrance to the Seven Sisters Country Park is through one of two gateways on the South side of the A259.
A259 ROAD CROSSING
This often busy road separates the visitor building complex from the open Country Park. The safer place to cross this is at the bus stop on the south side of the road where you are able to see clearly the traffic coming down into the valley, also you have a better view of the traffic travelling east which has needed to slow to navigate the bends.
At this point there is a dropped kerb on both sides of the road. On the buildings side there is a safety barrier with a staggered opening 1820mm wide.
FROM THE ROAD CROSSING TO THE VISITOR CENTRE COMPLEX
There is a brick paved, tree covered walkway 1690mm wide which opens up into a communal space at the entrance to the Visitor Centre, a distance of 50m.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Visitor Centre
All of our staff will be willing to assist you with any advice. The uniform is a green polo shirt and black fleece or gilet with our logo.
Visitor Centre Information and Gift Shop
This newly refurbished centre has a level entrance and floors, the doors will already be open in good weather.
Interpretation displays are situated around the walls of the centre with retail shelving and tables positioned in the open space with full wheelchair access.
Please ask our staff if you need any assistance or advice and they will be happy help.
In colder months we may have a log burning stove heating this listed building which has a safety guard.
Grab & Go take away
You are able to purchase hot and cold drinks here along with cold snacks such as sandwiches, crisps, cakes and ice cream.
The counter is 760 milimetre high with easy access for card payments.
Prices are displayed on a hand written chalk board fixed to the wall but staff are very willing to explain what is available and the respective prices.
Trailer in South Car Park
This trailer serves ice creams, hot and cold drinks and some cakes.
The counter is quite high in this trailer, but our staff will happily come round to you with your purchases and the card payment reader is portable.
Public toilet
Access to the toilet block is level through a single door which is open corresponding to current car park opening and closing times.
There are 22 toilets in this area, of which two are accessible and one is a comprehensive Changing Places.
ACCESSIBLE:
Door opening 986 milimetres, room size 1500 milimetres by 2200 milimetres.
CHANGING PLACES:
Door opening 986 milimetres, room size 4000 milimetres by 3169 milimetres. It has a full track mounted hoist tracking; toilet with privacy screen; shower with detachable head; height adjustable wash basin; wall mounted height adjustable adult changing bench.
Getting around outside
Easy Access Trail
This trail takes you through the Seven Sisters Country Park, following the valley floor towards the beach and the mouth of the Cuckmere River with spectacular views. From it you are able to experience a variety of habitats and wildlife as they change through the seasons, from a multitude of pollinating insects and butterflies on the chalk grassland banks adjacent to the trail in summer to the migrating waterfowl on the meanders in the colder months.
At the entrance there is a latch gate which needs to be held open, (1130 milimetre opening) as you join the trail and the first 1120 metres is a wide, flat concrete surface. At this point (named Foxhole Corner) there is another sprung loaded latch gate (pedestrian 1120 milimetres or wider 3000 milimetre opening) which continues onto the remaining 620 metres where the substrate changes to a compacted chalk and stone. This remains flat but slightly more uneven and can hold puddles after wet weather. There is one final latch gate (pedestrian 1720 milimetres or a wider gate 3000 milimetres) as you arrive at the lagoon where there is shallow water bordering both sides of the path.
The end of this trail has an incline as it becomes a shingle beach which undulates subject to the recent tides where the Cuckmere River mouth meets the sea.
The concrete path has 5 bench positions along it:
Bench 1 after 240 metres; 1800 milimetres length by 270 milimetres wide by 570 milimetres high. (There is a slight grass verge of aprox 70 milimetres).
Bench 2 after another 160 metres: 1800 milimetres length by 250 milimetres wide by 550 milimetres high. (This is positioned on the grass.)
Bench 3 after another 240 metre: 2100 milimetres length by 260 milimetres wide by 370 milimetres high. (This is flush on the concrete surface.)
Bench 4 after another 180 metres: 1800 milimetres length by 270 milimetres wide by 640 milimetres high. (Very slight lip next to bench.)
Benches 5 and 6 after another 300 metres: 1980 milimetres length by 230 milimetres wide by 530 milimetres high.
PLEASE NOTE: This concrete track and path is occasionally used by vehicles working on the park who will be driving exceptionally slowly with drivers happy to wait for people and animals.
Open Access Land
The whole of the Country Park is open access with a variety of paths over the chalk grassland. The hillsides vary greatly in gradient and are home to rabbits and other burrowing mammals so care would be needed underfoot. Being chalk, any surface water drains rapidly, so with the exception of the valley floor the terrain is not particularly muddy but can become slippery in patches on bare chalk.
The floodplain along the meanders is flat, although an uneven surface so you may be able to navigate closer along the meanders for further than on the concrete path.
Customer care support
Customer care support
We are always happy to help all our visitors, so please do not hesitate to ask for assistance from a member of staff and we will do our very best to assist you.