November 24, 2009
Family-friendly meanderings and a mecca for mountain biking. In Eastbourne?
I’m constantly being amazed at the beauty and opportunities within a stone’s throw of here at The Guesthouse East in Eastbourne.
We took advantage of a rare spare afternoon this weekend to head to the Seven Sisters National Park, just ten minutes down the road. There are 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, a meandering river to potter along (complete with a concrete path for buggies and easy-access), enough walking trails for even the most determined, Berghaus-clad enthusiast and birdlife to keep the twitchers happy for eternity. And that’s without mentioning the canoeing on offer – for hire and with instruction if you fancy it.
I must be so transparent. Within 3.5 minutes the wife has seen through this apparently genuine quest for family-friendly fun in the great outdoors. Sure, this area truly is beautiful, invigorating and life-enhancing. It also plays home to Friston Forest which, as well as gentle trails for cycling, also plays host to death-defying , fear-inducing single-track mountain biking. Joyous!
Some of the country’s finest professional riders live in the area which says everything about the potential here. And even the fella in the cycle hire shop there hasn’t worked his way around all the trails. Ahh, heaven….
So, bring your bikes (they accept them on Southern Trains) and your kit, and get ready for some action. Your bikes are more than safe here as well – with secure storage and even a drying room.
