On 28 Jun 2013 at 10:51pm New to Lewes wrote:
Hi everyone,
We've recently moved to Lewes - love the town and the countryside! Just wondered on your opinions on the nicest spot when you feel like popping to the seaside. Do you go to one of the seaside towns, or are there some particularly nice remote spots somewhere along the coast?
On 28 Jun 2013 at 10:58pm havenrook wrote:
Bournemouth or Beachy Head.
On 28 Jun 2013 at 10:58pm farmer george wrote:
Nudist beach in Kemp Town
On 28 Jun 2013 at 11:01pm Nevillman wrote:
The beach at Seaford. Easy parking, loads of room. Walk towards Newhaven if you want more solitude
On 29 Jun 2013 at 5:35am Horseman7 wrote:
Tidemills
On 29 Jun 2013 at 7:26am Xplorer1 wrote:
Unfortunately the French have all the sand, leaving us with the pebbles. Pevensey Bay is a lovely location, as are Seaford and Tidemills. Billing Gap is a bit more sheltered and interesting, but you have to watch the tides (see elsewhere on this site for tide times).
On 29 Jun 2013 at 9:57am sjep76 wrote:
We like West Whittering although it is quite a trek and queues can be a problem. There is also a nice sandy beach at Littlehampton the other side of the river from all the amusements. Rottingdean is also nice.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 10:04am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Saltdean is nice at low tide: some sandy bits and rock pools. There's a big car park the other side of the road, with a tunnel through to the beach, and a café at the top of the cliff where you can get drinks etc.
You need to check the tides though, there's no beach at all at high tide.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 10:50am Southover Queen wrote:
It depends a bit on whether "seaside" equals sandcastles and knotted handkerchiefs or glorious views of the sea and cliffs. If it's the second then my favourite destination is Cuckmere Haven, specifically the walk down from Seaford Head past the cottages, with the view all the way along the Seven Sisters to Beachy Head. Just spectacular, and always different depending on the weather. There is a beach at the bottom, but like most of our beaches it's stony and (to my eyes anyway) not a particularly inviting place to swim.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 12:00pm Matt Kent wrote:
The Birling Gap and Seven Sisters are pretty good by car. Don't forget to take some change for the parking! My kids love Eastbourne (Princess Park), Seaford (Quiet Long Walks) and Littlehampton (Crabbing). Sometimes Brighton for the Pier, but the place is pretty crowded to be honest, although a good journey on the train or bus.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 12:50pm Southover Queen wrote:
There is a public transport option for the Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters in fact, which friends who've done it say is great. You get the train to Seaford and pick up the 13X which stops at Exceat and then goes via Birling Gap and Beachy Head into Eastbourne, where you can pick up the train back to Lewes. I think you can even book a special ticket which allows bus and train travel through that whole area for a flat fee - the Tourist Information Office would probably know exactly how that works.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 1:15pm Horseman7 wrote:
Tidemills, as already recommended by myself and other posters, is also accessible by bus.
Brighton & Hove Buses now do a £9.00 family day ticket (up to 2 adults and 3 children).
On 29 Jun 2013 at 7:09pm Rods Tiger wrote:
I've always enjoyed the beach at Holywell Gardens at the westernmost end of Eastbourne seafront. Safe lagoon formed by offshore rock formation means the water is slightly warmer, gently shelving sandy seabad makes it safer for children and gives sand and a few rockpools at low tide. Cafe at the back of the beach provides tea, drinks, ice creams and chips. Perfect.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 8:47pm New to Lewes wrote:
Wow thanks for all your suggestions! That's lots of good ideas. I realise there's not much sand to be had, which our nearly 2-year old might regret, but I just love the sea itself. Also am very keen on the cliffs, having lived in flat country for a great deal of my life.
I think we'll try out some of your spots tomorrow - it's supposed to be a lovely day!
On 29 Jun 2013 at 9:19pm Belladonna wrote:
You get a bit of sand at very low tide at Tide Mills, but otherwise Seaford is a pretty steeply shelving beach and often quite rough so not great for a two year old or those who aren't strong swimmers. I would go to Eastbourne for reasons given above.
On 29 Jun 2013 at 10:09pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
Birling Gap, but check the tide tables. There's sand when the tide's out - and rockpools!
On 30 Jun 2013 at 12:52am Horseman7 wrote:
New, have a great time out with your children today.
Let us know how you get on.
And welcome to Lewes.
On 30 Jun 2013 at 8:41am Roy wrote:
If you have a car you should consider Holywell at the western end of Eastbourne beach.
It has toilet facilities, a cafe, a bit of sand and it's sheltered by beachy head. The only drawback is finding a parking space and the walk back up from the beach. Google it.
On 30 Jun 2013 at 11:08am Nevillman wrote:
Nearest proper sandy beach is Camber Sands. Definitely worth a drive on a really nice day if you have kids. Go the inland route via Herstmonceux and you have a relatively nice drive as well. West Wittering is a similar distance the other way. Traffic can be a problem.
On 30 Jun 2013 at 11:24am P wrote:
Hope Gap, between Seaford and Cuckmere.
On 1 Jul 2013 at 3:10pm New to Lewes wrote:
Thanks Horseman7, and also later replies. We were a bit short on time so we went to Tidemills in the end which was nice. Strangely the weather at the coast was completely different - it was sunny in Lewes but very cloudy at the seaside (does this happen often?).
Next on the agenda are Birling Gap / Beach Head and Holywell. I think we'll spend most of this summer checking out all the different spots mentioned here - what a lovely to do list for the weekends 
On 1 Jul 2013 at 3:50pm Southover Queen wrote:
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Don't miss the walk down to Cuckmere Haven on your perambulations: that's really special.
That sounds like a sea fret - yesterday was a case in point! I spent a perfectly glorious afternoon down near Hamsey basking in warm sunshine, only to find that the downs were swathed in damp mist which I think must have rolled in from the sea.
On 1 Jul 2013 at 4:43pm belladonna wrote:
Yes often happens that a haar rolls in. Quite a surprise when you first encounter it.
On 1 Jul 2013 at 8:36pm Wendy wrote:
if you've just moved to Lewes and you've got children you might want to look at my friend's blogLittle Lewes which is all about where you can go with children within an hour of Lewes...
Check it out here »
On 1 Jul 2013 at 9:02pm GhostBike wrote:
Birling Gap is my favourite spot. At low tide you get quite a bit of sand. Cuckmere I always find a bit bleak for some reason.
There are patches of sand around Rottingdean as well. If you feel like going to Brighton stay away from the pier - the Kemptown end and the parts towards Hove (especially the lawns / lagoon) are infintely preferable. You'll soon learn that the pier area is a sort of holding pen for beer-swilling lobster-red hordes, where they can be kept apart from the rest of the city.
On 2 Jul 2013 at 8:28am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Many years before I moved to Sussex, a friend took to using "Birling Gap" as a euphemism for ladies' nether regions. On seeing a woman sitting inelegantly with legs akimbo when wearing a skirt, he would comment "I do believe you can see Birling Gap from here".
Consequently, I struggle to think of it as a location for a beach picnic.