What follows is some January morning landscape and seascape photography from the Seven Sisters country park in East Sussex.

Cuckmere River Return

Have visited the Seven Sisters Country Park many times over the years. The most recent over a year ago where I explored the views from Exceat hill. Previous to that was a late spring sunset along the Cuckmere river. The Seven Sisters country park was one of the first locations I ever visited as a landscape photographer back in 2016.

Parking

There is paid parking at the entrance to the Seven sisters country park on the A259 using the Ringo pay and display system. 2 hours is the lowest amount else all day. Initially I paid for 2 hours then extended for 2 hours when still at Cuckmere Haven. This car park opens at dawn and closes at dusk so be aware of that. You may find some free parking by the side of the road along the adjacent Litlington road.

Location Location location

When remaining in your home area week after week can be hard coming up with an inspiring location to visit when have some free time. What will influence a chosen location, is the expected weather, the season, the tide etc. Having explored most locations close to home it implies a repeat visit under different lighting conditions time of day, year etc. Still it can be hard deciding what location to visit. Often ill get out of bed, get ready and still not decided where to visit. If I was in a new location like the lake district would be out everyday for a year with no end of new places to visit and photograph. Sometimes the desire to explore, hike and photograph the landscape can be in competition. With repeat visits to the same location can be a case of leaving no stones unturned.

Visualisation

While getting ready, racking my brains I remembered a scene of the Cuckmere river and valley I had seen driving along A259 on the way to Seaford and Newhaven. Got a plan together to visit Seven Sisters country park and check out this visualisation. Would also take a hike down to Cuckmere Haven and photograph the Seven Sisters cliffs close up at peak low tide. That was the plan.

Cuckmere River

I got up too late, on the drive to the Seven Sisters country park there was some excellent morning light that you only see in the winter months. Kicking myself for not getting up early. But still was looking forward to the hike and the weather was mixed sunshine and cloud for most of the day so may still get some good light given the time of year.

Not far from the car park framed the shot had visualised. Using the 200mm lens compresses the scene and the Cuckmere river filling the frame with interest and removing any dead space. What the scene lacks is some good light. Was not patient in waiting for the light as wanted to get on with a good hike. But the composition had a lot of potential. There is quite a lot of people and tourists about the Seven Sisters country park even early morning and this shot is from the main path.

Exceat Hill

Took the footpaths up over Exceat Hill that provides some good views over the south downs and the seven sisters countryside. There was some good morning light over the hills of the south downs and Cuckmere valley. Pools of light and shadows.

Cuckmere Haven

Then took some footpaths towards Cuckmere haven and cliff edge. Interestingly these footpaths were not shown on OS Maps online, so sometimes just best to go with the flow when in a location.

Some nice views of Cuckmere haven really enhanced by the January morning light. Coastguard cottages in view and the cliff face that leads round to Hope Gap.

Seven Sisters Cliffs Low Tide

Then down to the beach at peak low tide. Having explored the beaches between beachy head and Birling Gap at low tide knew they were very perilous and not many people walk there. But also realised had not ever taken a dramatic closeup of Seven sisters chalk face cliffs from this location.

The first composition was a handheld panoramic to capture the complete cliff range using the 24-70mm lens. At this precise time still had some good morning light on the cliff face. But thick clouds were moving in fast and knew not have much time left. Experimented with the viewpoint and frame.

Love the moody dark clouds in the background and the sunlit cliffs rising above. There were many possible compositions to experiment with. Would have been good to have a sense of scale with a person at the foot of the cliffs looking up maybe.

The final one of the morning at the Seven Sisters cliffs being my favourite just as the light was about to disappear behind the clouds. The cliffs dramatically rising above and moody sky in the background. In the far distance Birling Gap and Belle tout lighthouse. Single frame shots are coming out better than my panoramic attempts.

Good Morning

A great morning out at the Seven Sisters country park where satisfied both my need for some good landscape, seascape photography and hiking. The café back opposite the carpark does a good coffee and bacon sandwich. Definitely discovered two compositions will return to photograph given the right conditions sometime in the future when trying to decide where to visit.

Check out the January 2023 landscape photography gallery

Check out the East Sussex landscape photography gallery