National Geographic didn't lie to me, there really is an end to the world.
I first learned about the White Cliffs from the movie "Dunkirk," which features a famous line: "You see the white cliffs, you see home." For the British, the White Cliffs are a symbol of home, and seeing them means you're home. The White Cliffs are actually a typical landform of the southern coast of England, formed by the combined effects of marine erosion and tectonic movements. They are famous for their steep and spectacular cliffs, with white rocks contrasting beautifully with the blue sea.
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The Seven Sisters Cliffs are the most famous section, named after the seven main cliffs that rise and fall like natural works of art. It takes about 2 hours to drive from London. Although the weather forecast was sunny on the day we went, the clouds were thick by the sea, so we didn't see the White Cliffs at their best. But I was already very satisfied, as rain is the norm in England, and this place indeed has the solitude and grandeur of the world's end.
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🔀Route
The Seven Sisters Cliffs cover a large area. If you don't want to hike, you can just stroll around the viewing spots and the beach near the Birling Gap parking lot. But if you want to hike, you can plan a 1-hour hiking route like us: Birling Gap - Belle Tout Lighthouse - Beachy Head Lighthouse. That is, climb up to the white lighthouse on the east side from the parking lot, then go down to Beachy Head Lighthouse. If you hire a car, you can ask the driver to wait at the parking lot on the Beachy Head side, so you don't have to walk back.
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📸Photography
✅Birling Gap: This is the largest parking lot at the Seven Sisters Cliffs. From here, you can go down to the beach to see the White Cliffs. The light is good in the morning, but a bit backlit in the afternoon, although you can watch the sunset in the evening. But the best place to take panoramic photos of the Seven Sisters Cliffs is on the hillside on the east side, which is also the starting point of the hiking trail.
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✅Belle Tout Lighthouse: This is the white lighthouse, the highest point of the hike, and one of the highest coastal cliffs in England. From here, you can overlook the magnificent view of the English Channel and take photos of the Seven Sisters Cliffs and the green grass. But be sure to pay attention to safety when taking photos at the edge of the cliff.
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✅Beachy Head: After passing the white lighthouse, you can see Beachy Head, a classic spot to admire the White Cliffs, with the lighthouse, S-shaped road, and White Cliffs. It's recommended to go in the afternoon when the light is better. But when we got there, the weather suddenly changed, and it started pouring rain a few minutes later. We were taught a harsh lesson by the British weather.