Belle Tout and the clifftop: the back story

About Belle Tout and the clifftop: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Brighton Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Belle Tout lighthouse was built in 1832 on the cliffs west of Beachy Head. Restored, it is now one of Britain’s most unusual places to stay, with six rooms, panoramic views of the Channel and the Seven Sisters, and a home-cooked breakfast.

There are few more dramatic buildings in England than Belle Tout: a white lighthouse tower and keeper’s house standing alone on the Downs, a short walk from the edge of a chalk cliff, with nothing but sea and sky beyond.

The lighthouse on the cliff

Belle Tout was built in 1832 on the clifftop between Beachy Head and Birling Gap. Today, beautifully restored, it combines its history with a guest house, looking out over the English Channel and the Seven Sisters.

Check opening times and trains on the official sites before you travel.

Staying the night

Belle Tout has only six rooms, among them the Captain’s Cabin and the Keeper’s Loft, and is for adults only (16 and over). Breakfast is home-cooked, and the sunsets over the cliffs are unforgettable.

The walk from Eastbourne

From the western end of Eastbourne seafront, the South Downs Way climbs onto Beachy Head and follows the cliffs west past Belle Tout to Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. Our Eastbourne & the Seven Sisters guide and the day walk from Seaford cover the route.

Practical notes

Keep well back from the cliff edge: the chalk is fragile. The Beachy Head Experience visitor centre has trail guides for the headland.

Our advice: book Belle Tout well ahead for a summer weekend, arrive on foot along the cliffs from Eastbourne, and stay up for the sunset.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Belle Tout and the clifftop: the back story before you go.