Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, around 160 metres, and the place where the South Downs end in a white wall at the English Channel. Down on the shore a red-and-white striped lighthouse from 1902 looks tiny, and the old Belle Tout lighthouse sits on the next headland west, a squat white tower that was moved back from the cliff edge in 1999. Past it the cliffs run on in the long, undulating line of the Seven Sisters, now protected as part of the South Downs National Park.
It has been a landmark for sailors for as long as ships have used the Channel. In 1690 a French fleet beat a combined English and Dutch fleet in the Battle of Beachy Head, one of the great naval defeats in English history, and wrecks lie on the seabed. On the cliff top the turf is short and springy, full of orchids, thyme and skylarks, and the view runs over the sea and, on a clear day, as far as the Sussex coast to the east. It is also a place with a grave reputation, and you will see Samaritans signs and volunteers on patrol. Be considerate, keep your voice low, and stay well away from the edge.
For a rider, the approach is via the steep road up from Eastbourne, with a couple of tight bends and sudden views, ending in a large car park with a pub and a visitor centre. The road is narrow and the surface can be patchy, with cars pulling in and out. The wind is the main thing. On the open headland it can be fierce, and sudden gusts from the sea will push a loaded bike across the road, so keep your speed down and your hands relaxed.
Eastbourne, about four kilometres away, has filling stations, supermarkets and plenty of cafés along the seafront. The pub on the top does simple meals and tea and is a decent place to warm up, and from there it is a short, steep walk down to the viewpoint. Go early on a weekday and you will have the place almost to yourself.