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Devil’s Dyke Circular Walk

By Dave Roberts   

on January 11, 2020    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, South Downs National Park

Devil’s Dyke Circular Walk

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A circular walk in the South Downs exploring the Devil’s Dyke dry valley.

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

4 km

Ascent

149 m

Time

1–1.5 hrs

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Devil's Dyke Car Park

Difficulty

Easy Walk

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

South Downs National Park Weather from Met Office

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Devil’s Dyke Circular Walk Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Devil’s Dyke Circular Walk

At over 1.5km long, the Devil’s Dyke is the longest, deepest and widest dry valley in the UK. In the Iron Age there was a hill fort here, taking advantage of the naturally defensible position. In the Victorian Era, it was even more popular, being served by its own railway line as far as Devil’s Dyke Farm until 1939, a cable car from 1894–1909 and a funicular railway from Poynings around the same time. The summit could boast a fairground, bandstand, an observatory and a camera obscura and was visited by a record 30,000 people on Whit Monday in 1893. This was possibly due to John Constable, who noted that the view from the Devil’s Dyke as ‘the grandest view in the world’

Today, there’s a pub there instead, so no wonder it’s still popular!

The dry valley itself was formed during the last ice age, but not directly from the action of ice as the South Downs were cold but not glaciated. It was formed when the meltwater from snow and permafrost created new rivers that consequently formed the dry v shaped valley we see today. Folklore would have us believe that it formed when the devil decided to dig a trench to allow seawater to flood churches in the Weald of Sussex. However, he never completed the dyke for various reasons that include being persuaded by a crowing cock that morning was approaching, stubbing his toe and then kicking the stone in anger or even more bizarrely that he was a huge goat who feared the salt water. The video below provides some more information.

The walk starts from the car park, continuing towards the hill fort and down towards the village of Poynings along the western rim of the Devil’s Dyke. The route then returns along the opposite side of the valley to return to the start of the walk.

The walk can also be accessed from other local villages such as Poynings, Fulking and Saddlescombe for those looking for an alternative walk. Or you can walk up the valley bottom, which will often be a carpet of colourful flowers in spring and summer.

More information and a leaflet with full route information on the Devil’s Dyke Walk can be downloaded from the South Downs National Park website here.

Featured Image Credit: © Copyright Paul Gillett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Footpath on top of the South Downs Northern Escarpment
Devil’s Dyke is the longest, deepest and widest dry valley in Britain.
Devil’s Dyke is a V-shaped valley on the South Downs Way in southern England, near Brighton and Hove. It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A circular walk in the South Downs exploring the Devil’s Dyke dry valley.

Route Start Location: Devil's Dyke Car Park

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
4 km 149 m 1–1.5 hrs

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Route starts and ends at the Devil’s Dyke Pub and Restaurant. There’s also the Royal Oak at Poynings.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : BN1 8YL

Pay & display parking at Devil’s Dyke. £3 all day, National Trust members and Blue Badge holders park free

Public Transport:

Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon are served by the Breeze Buses.
The nearest railway station is Brighton.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

South Downs National Park Weather from Met Office

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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