Birling Gap

Birling Gap is a short distance to the east of the Seven Sisters. The cliffs are lower here, so boats could be winched up from the beach to the settlement above - quite important when high tides cover the whole of the beach.

These chalk cliffs are constantly being eroded, and there have been long disputes about whether it would be better to slow down the process by placing some kind of defences at the foot of the cliffs or to let nature do what it will.

Since this picture was taken in 2001 some of the houses in the row in the bottom right-hand corner have been demolished so as to reduce the risk to life and property as the cliffs eroded further.

Picture taken: October 2001

Page last updated: 31 May 2021