Tide Mills Beach (Tidemills)
Situated between Newhaven and Seaford lies Tide Mills beach. The stretch of beach here is quite unusual for the area is it undeveloped, but also fairly accessible.
The backdrop to the beach is an area of low lying grassland and the wide muddy, tidal Mill Creek. However, closer inspection reveals a wealth of crumbling ruins and hints at Tide Mills’ once industrious past.
Back to the 1760s this was the site of a tidal mill, which used the power of the tide to grind corn into flour. The sluice gates still remain, but much has vanished over the years, including the thriving village which housed the mill’s workers. Indeed this was occupied until the late 1930s when it was condemned as being unfit for human habitation.
These days the village offers some great exploring and is a popular walking / cycling route
As with much of the East Sussex coast the beach comprises a shingle bank at high tide with flat sand revealed as the sea retreats.
Also known as:
Tidemills
Type of beach
Shingle
Lifeguard service
No
Dogs friendly beach?
Dogs allowed
East Sussex dog friendly beaches »
Activities
- Surfing
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Tide Mills Beach Reviews
Parking
Local resident
Jul 20th 2021It’s ok to promote this lovely beach but it’s a nightmare as very little parking!!! At the weekend they were parking on the verges of the A259. It’s crazy!!! Buses couldn’t even use the bus stops!!! By promoting it it’s encouraging the problem!!!
A great beach used only by the locals
John
Mar 25th 2021This is the best beach in the local area!
I spent loads of time here as a child and then went on to bring my own kids and now grandkids here. At first glance it looks like all the other local shingle beaches but just wait for low tide and it reveals a great expanse of sand. Unlike the steeply shelving Seaford beaches this beach is great for the kids to paddle in. This beach can be accessed from tide mills itself where there is plenty of parking or by walking along the beach from the Bishopstone end of Seaford beach by the sailing club. Access is also easy from Newhaven but i have not done this for many years. There are no facilities here so come prepared but enjoy the great views across the bay to Seaford Head.