Western Parade Beach (East Sussex)

Eastbourne is a traditional British seaside resort with pier, bandstand, promenade and famed floral carpet gardens. Very popular shingle beach which has sandy stretches at mid to low tide. From the Wish Tower to the Pier the main resort beaches offers clean bathing water and safe bathing zone. Water sports, children’s theme parks, mini golf, gardens, a Victorian Pier, Napoleonic fortress, leisure pool, Sovereign Harbour, Dotto Train, boat trips to Beachy Head and a 1930’s Bandstand are just a few of the attractions along Eastbourne seafront. Deck chair and beach hut hire, lifeguards, first aid, kidzone wristbands, showers, refreshments, children entertainers and a slipway are among the many facilities.

Eastbourne Seafront has a number of beaches that offer slightly different experiences for the eastbourne visitor. Watersports including windsurfing and kayaking. Parking, toilets, showers, lifeguards, promenade, pier, restaurants, cafes, shops, beach huts, cabins, rentals (sun loungers, deckchairs), kidzsafe wristband scheme, children’s attractions and amusements. We have no dog information for Eastbourne Seafront beach.

Work on the Eastbourne pier began on 16 April 1866 and it was opened by Lord Edward Cavendish on 13 June 1870, although it was not actually completed until two years later. On New Years Day 1877 the landward half was swept away in a storm. It was rebuilt at a higher level, creating a drop towards the end of the pier. The pier is effectively built on stilts that rest in cups on the sea-bed allowing the whole structure to move during rough weather. It is roughly 300 metres (1000 ft) long. During World War II the decking was removed and machine guns were installed in the theatre providing a useful point from where to repel any attempted enemy landings. The pier features a camera obscura which existed in Victorian times but was restored in 2003. A number of traditional pier theatres were built over the years but after the last one was destroyed by fire in 1970 it was replaced by a nightclub and bar which remain to this day. On the landward half of the pier stands a fish and chip kiosk, an amusement arcade and a fast food outlet. Further out as well as the club there is a cafe, a restaurant, shops and fishing platform. The tower at the end of the pier (often used as a viewing point during the annual air show) contains one of the earliest camera obscuras ever made. In May 2009 the Listed building status of the Pier was upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*

Eastbourne is a traditional British seaside resort with pier, bandstand, promenade and famed floral carpet gardens. The east beach stretches from the Pier to Redoubt Fortress and is a shingle beach which has sandy stretches at mid to low tide. Deck chair and beach hut hire, lifeguards, first aid, kidzone wristbands, showers, refreshments, children entertainers and a slipway are among the many facilities.

Beachy Head is sited about 165 metres seawards from the base of the cliffs. It is said that as early as 1670 a light shone to guide passing vessels from the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head, the 90 metres high seaward termination of the Sussex Downs. In 1828 James Walker erected Belle Toute Lighthouse, a 14 metre high circular tower, on the headland. This remained in operation till 1899 when it was abandoned due to being frequently shrouded in mist and threatened with collapse because of recurrent falls of chalk from the cliff. In 1902 under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer-in-Chief, the present lighthouse was brought into service, sited about 165 metres seawards from the base of the cliffs. It took two years to complete and involved building a coffer-dam and a cableway from the top of the cliffs to carry materials down to the site. 3,660 tons of Cornish granite were used in the construction of the tower. More details: www.trinityhouse.co.uk

Birling Gap is a beautiful pebble beach set below the dramatic backdrop of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. The beach is good for hunting fossils in the chalk on the beach or exploring the low tide rock pools. The beach is managed by the National Trust and you also have large grass areas to explore along the cliff tops. Pay and display National Trust car park (free for members), Birling Gap cafe, toilets, shop. Please be aware that you have 50 steps to gain access to the beach from the cliff top car park and facilities.