Travels Across the UK : Seaford

Finally winter gave way to spring and it warmed up in UK! At the onset of spring I decided I wanted to see the cliffs of UK once more and this time without the fog and frozen air. I’m sure some Norwegians, Russians or Americans would be laughing at my description of cold UK considering they are acclimatised to the extreme negative 30 deg. of temperatures in their winters but we Indians are happier when it’s hot… atleast those of us from the central and southern parts of India… and minus 5 deg. is the coldest that I’ve experienced so far.

Seaford is a place on the southern coast of UK with the longest range of white cliffs along the coast. They are called the Seven Sisters. The journey to Seaford was long. The rail transport in UK is designed in a peculiar manner. The rail network is routed via major cities instead of creating direct tracks from one place to another. So if you want to go to the south of London from anywhere in the north or west you need to first go to London and then take a train to that place. This journey to Seaford required us to change trains thrice. Well, it does sound tedious to hear but when you are on a vacation with nothing else to do and full of enthusiasm for travelling on your own, you can hardly be bothered about the journey.

So we travelled all the way and reached the place at around 11 in the morning. It was a sunny day… mind you, even in spring and summers it is very important to make sure the day is sunny when you step out in UK; it can rain any time of the year! Nascent sun caressed the entire landscape and welcomed us with open arms. Unlike Dover, Seaford is a well-trodden location. Tourism is relatively higher in this area. Accordingly the public transport is very good. There is a regular bus that takes you straight to the cliffs from the main town. The cliffs and the shore are a little on the outskirts of the habitation. There is no trade link from this place and hence the sea remains untouched and serene.

The bus dropped us on the back of the cliffs. The cliff was covered with stunted vegetation and looked fresh green from a distance. Boards directing the tourists in the direction of the cliff-top and to the water were appropriately placed. We walked along the cliff towards the water. The water was totally hidden at first and we didn’t feel its presence. As we moved further we saw a small glimpse of it around the bend of the cliff edge. We walked closer with a pleasant whoosh of the waves greeting our ears and the sea looking peaceful in the mild daylight. The cliffs stood tall next to the rumbling water. From the other side of the cliff the view was fascinating. The cliffs stretched far ahead bordering the coastline and the white reflected the sunlight making the place look brighter. They indented in and out of the coastline in an elegant serpentine manner leaving the audience guessing what falls beyond the protruding rock. We kept walking further along the coastline exploring the cliffs until our curiosity was met with a cliff that had ensconced itself deep inside the water. Its constant contact with the water had rendered the chalky rock green with moss around the edge. That green was the only dark shade in the fairer surroundings and it stood out from a distance. We turned around to another breath-taking view on the other side. There was another cliff far ahead into the sea which wasn’t white but the normal brown. Along the coast, very close to the water, were parallel heaps of large pebbles. The water hitting them during high tide had rounded them smooth and they shone in the pleasant sunshine like precious stones. I relaxed down on the heap to stare up at the towering white cliff on me and stayed there for a long time.

Having satisfactorily soaked the sun for a while, we walked back on the route we had taken and came back to the bend which would take us back to the bus stop. We saw a sign that showed a short way up the hill to the cliff-top. How could we miss the view from the top?! So, we climbed up quickly – trekking has always been a passion – and reached the top of the rich green surface of the cliff. It was hardly a 15 minutes’ climb. Once on the top, we realised what it was like to have a view from the bird’s eye! What a beauty this place was! Birds flew above us in a dance to the tune of the wind. The water straight below us looked calm and serene. Clouds on top of the water formed shadows on the clear water so much so that the water looked green in areas where the cloud’s shadow fell and blue otherwise. People looked tiny and rather insignificant from here. Nature’s miracles never cease to awe me. Every new treasure of nature that I unveil continues to marvel me till date!