Ovingdean or under Worthing Pier. Kingston is silted up because of the harbour dredging on the flood tide. Ovingdean (park by St. Dunstans) is better than Rottingdean because of the parking problems at the latter. Low spring tides only.
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Are their any decent beaches with Rock Pools in Sussex?
- Thread starter chucky1973
- Start date
Daffy Duck
Stop bloody moaning!
Black Rock used to be brilliant for that until they built a bleedin' great marina on top of it!!
Probably only at spring tide but there are steps up to the top there anyway. I walked all the way from Eastbourne to seafood along the bottom for my dissertation. It's quite a treck though and there's some quicksand at beachy head near the lighthouse.
Was gonna say exactly this. Used to go there a lot. Just one thing, beware of the sinking sand, I nearly got lost in it once and had to be rescued. In big trouble when I got home.
I was rock pooling on The Isles of Scilly, when I were knee height.
Anyway being a patient chap, I was hoovering over this one large pool (I can't imagine anywhere being better for playing 'eye balls in the sky', in the country), when something the size of a blue whale, honest, shot across the pool.
I jumped a mile, landed, slipped forward, and belly flopped the pool I'd been studying.
That was half an hour wasted.
Anyway being a patient chap, I was hoovering over this one large pool (I can't imagine anywhere being better for playing 'eye balls in the sky', in the country), when something the size of a blue whale, honest, shot across the pool.
I jumped a mile, landed, slipped forward, and belly flopped the pool I'd been studying.
That was half an hour wasted.
jevs
Well-known member
Another one for saltdean. Free parking and you could always go for something to eat in the restaurant/pub there. As previously mentioned, watch the kids on the rocks, they're so slippery.
chucky1973
New member
- Thread starter
- #27
cheers chaps, there some good spots there for the fmaily to try. many thanks
Bakesy
Farting for ENGLAND!!!
Birling Gap has a nice sandy beach with rocks either side so you have the best of both....also young women have been known to strip off down there as it's well secluded
Nottseagull
Well-known member
Would that be because central Sussex has about as many decent beaches as Nottinghamshire?
What for, were you trying to make the area clean and tidy?
haha good point well made
Return of the Rev
Well-known member
lots of great rock pools down the west country
chucky1973
New member
- Thread starter
- #32
Well, me the wife and 2 little ones ventured to Rottingdean on Saturday (via the magnifcent AMEX, you boys are spoilt being able to see that view every day) and even though it was windy, misty and about 15 degrees, we had a wale of a time, we got there at low tide and spent 2 hours shifting through the seaweed, looking under rocks and found a load of crabs, the little ones even picking them up in the end. the beach was empty apart from us hardy soles. thanks for suggesting and we will be back very soon.
Hatterlovesbrighton
something clever
Cuckmere Haven gets my vote. Also has a sandy beach.
Where did you park? It gets tricky during the summer holidays. If you arrive early for the low tide, Ovingdean by St. Dunstans is a better option than getting clamped.
Surrey_Albion
New member
I think this is Burlin Gap, My littlens and I go, loads of starfish and crabs nice place
Spacegull
Sehr Kosmiche.
Pett Level..... Between Fairlight and Winchelsea..... Much beloved to the pre Raphaelite brotherhood, location of Bowie's Ashes to Ashes video and absolutely fantastic for shrimping and crabbing.
Monkey Man
Your support is not that great
Birling Gap is a fair bit west of Beachy Head.
You can get to the rock pools at Beachy Head by walking along the path that starts by the cafe at Holywell by St Bede's School. Keep walking past the rugby/cricket pitches at Cow Gap and eventually you'll come to some steps that take you on a meandering walk through lots of wilderness and ultimately to some steps down to the beach.
Great for rock pools, and you'll also find loads of fossils near the cliffs, in the soft rock that you get there. It's quite a trek and pointless if the tide's right in, but a magical spot if you're prepared to walk a bit.
You can get to the rock pools at Beachy Head by walking along the path that starts by the cafe at Holywell by St Bede's School. Keep walking past the rugby/cricket pitches at Cow Gap and eventually you'll come to some steps that take you on a meandering walk through lots of wilderness and ultimately to some steps down to the beach.
Great for rock pools, and you'll also find loads of fossils near the cliffs, in the soft rock that you get there. It's quite a trek and pointless if the tide's right in, but a magical spot if you're prepared to walk a bit.
Seagull over Canaryland
Well-known member
Another vote for Fairlight beach - approached from Pett level. An interesting corner of darkest East Sussex. Good for rock pools, plus remains of a petrified forest and fossils on the beach. Beware of getting too close to the cliffs as there are occasional rock falls. There is a nice little cafe on the prom which is handy for ice creams etc and a hostelry (serves Harveys I think?) if stronger refreshments are order of the day.
Depending on the ages of the kids you might consider a cycle trip - maybe by train if Southern allow bicycles on the Brighton - Ashford service? However the trains normally only comprise of a two or three carriage set so can get crowded (worth remembering for trips to/from The Amex too) but would make a great little ride from Winchelsea or Rye Stations to Pett along the levels and back.
Talking of trains for a local day out: Mrs. SoC and I took the train from Lewes, had a nice stroll around Rye, a ploughmans and a pint in a pub garden looking at the views over the Romney Marshes and coast, then trained back home (it follows the beach at several points along that route) with another stop enroute at Cooden Beach (station is about 100 yds from the seafront). You can get a nice pint at the Cooden Hotel (not too poncey) that has its terrace right on the beach there. All in all a good day out without the car, savouring some great scenery at the seaside, loads of fresh air and relax over a few pints - luxury. Choose a nice sunny day and you will feel like you are on your hols!
Depending on the ages of the kids you might consider a cycle trip - maybe by train if Southern allow bicycles on the Brighton - Ashford service? However the trains normally only comprise of a two or three carriage set so can get crowded (worth remembering for trips to/from The Amex too) but would make a great little ride from Winchelsea or Rye Stations to Pett along the levels and back.
Talking of trains for a local day out: Mrs. SoC and I took the train from Lewes, had a nice stroll around Rye, a ploughmans and a pint in a pub garden looking at the views over the Romney Marshes and coast, then trained back home (it follows the beach at several points along that route) with another stop enroute at Cooden Beach (station is about 100 yds from the seafront). You can get a nice pint at the Cooden Hotel (not too poncey) that has its terrace right on the beach there. All in all a good day out without the car, savouring some great scenery at the seaside, loads of fresh air and relax over a few pints - luxury. Choose a nice sunny day and you will feel like you are on your hols!
Glad it was a success. Not a bad beach now that they have put in sea defences.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Ovingdean has a lovely beach set below the cliffs. The cafe there does amazing home made cakes as well. You can walk it from Brighton Marina, and there are rock pooling opportunities all the way from the Marina to Rottingdean and beyond, all of which an be walked or cycled along the bottom of the cliffs.