Detour Pit Stop #06: Belle Tout lighthouse, Beachy Head, UK
A great drive is made even better by a great stopover with an equally great view. Beachy Head, at the southernmost tip of the South Downs, is a chunk of East Sussex that has one of the most scenic roads in Britain.
The views from the chalky white cliffs are the stuff of countless television dramas and documentaries. Better still, make a weekend of it, reserve a room at the Belle Tout lighthouse and pack your alarm clock. If you rise with the lark you’ll get to watch the sun lifting over the Seven Sisters, and can have the passing road all to yourself, long before the daytrippers arrive.
The lighthouse offers six rooms, and the views from the lantern room provide a panoramic vista of the sea and surrounding, southern-most tip of the South Downs. It was built in 1832 and when in use the light could be seen by sailors up to 20 miles out to sea. These days the Belle Tout acts as a homing beacon for hikers, and in 1999 had to be moved back 17 metres from the cliff edge - a feat of engineering.
Book a stay before it needs to be moved again.
Words James Mills Twitter | Instagram
Photography James Mills
Roadbook
Class: B&B
Name: Belle Tout lighthouse
Route: Beachy Head
Country: UK
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