New research has shown one of the world’s most beautiful hikes is right here in the UK, offering unmatched sea views as the perfect reward.
An eye-tracking study has unveiled the most beautiful hiking trails in the world, as running shoe retailer SportsShoes.com used technology to monitor the eye movements of participants exposed to some of the most iconic hikes from around the world.
Their results were able to assign each spot with an ‘eye-catching’ score, determining which were the most visually captivating. As a result, the UK’s very own Seven Sisters Cliff Walk, located on the English coast in East Sussex, made the cut.
It comes as no surprise to those that live nearby or have completed the trail that it would be considered a top 10 hike, as its serene sands and blue waters are backed by the most breathtakingly white cliff tops.
In fact, the Seven Sisters are so spectacular they have made appearances in some of the most iconic British blockbuster films, such as Atonement and Harry Potter. The recognisable cliffs encompass a strenuous route which can take anywhere between four to seven hours, and it seems tourists think it’s worth every second.
The hike
Most people choose to begin the hard hike in Seaford and end in Eastbourne so they can experience the famous views of the Seven Sisters as they approach the very top. Over the course of the 12 miles of walking, hikers can expect to take on seven hills, some of which are steeper than others.
The best point in this walk for capturing all seven cliffs in one shot is at Hope Gap, but for the very best views from the top, you’ll want to wait until you reach the iconic Belle Tout and Beachy Head lighthouses.
Lucky for hikers, there’s an idyllic little stopgap on the way up where you can rest and enjoy a selection of food and drinks at the Bearling Gap Cafe. Here there’s a convenient National Trust centre which also provides toilet facilities so you know you’re not stranded for the entire duration of the journey.
Having completed the walk themselves, one visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “The cliffs are breathtaking from a distance, and the view from the edge, facing the open sea, is unforgettable. Heading down to the pebble beach gives you a completely different, striking perspective.”
According to the full results, taking the lead as the ultimate hike with the smot ‘eye-catching’ views is France’s Calanques de Marseille. Set back within the Calanques National Park, nestled between Marseille and Cassis, the route is quite something, with a backdrop of white limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise coves and a range of trails to choose from depending on time and ability.
Lauterbrunnen Valley, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru
Bastei Rock Formation, Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany
The Narrows, Zion National Park, USA
Étretat Cliff Walk, Étretat, France
The Loop, Kalbarri, Australia
Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk, East Sussex, England
Causeway Coast Way, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
