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Walk Up Ditchling Beacon

By Dave Roberts   

on January 11, 2020    No ratings yet.

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

Walk Up Ditchling Beacon

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A circular walk in the SouthDowns that includes the summit of Ditchling Beacon and a short section of the South Downs Way

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

Distance

7.2 km

Ascent

175 m

Time

2–3 hours

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

Start Location

Ditchling Beacon car park

Difficulty

Easy Moderate 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. 

Walk Up Ditchling Beacon Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk Up Ditchling Beacon

At 248 metres high, Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex and the third highest in the South Downs National Park after Black Down and Butser Hill. Located just to the north of Brighton, its popular with locals and not surprisingly, it is a busy hill to visit. Ditchling Beacon used to be a hill fort and you can see how effective the northern slopes would be for defences, though any obvious signs of the fort are long lost to the plough . As the name suggests it was one of the chain beacons that used to be lit in order to warn of invasions,

The walk up to the summit from the car park is very short, so this is a longer circular walk that skirts the southern side of the hill that should take a couple of hours. The South Downs Way is followed initially, and the summit is reached literally after 200m walking and it would be rude not to stop to admire the view over the South Downs, across the Weald an out over the English Channel. This can be a busy spot, shared with walkers, picnickers, those walking through on the South Downs Way, kite flyers and and even paragliders.

The South Downs Way near Ditchling Beacon This was one of those days where the views in all directions were crystal clear. Here the South Downs Way is heading west across Ditchling Beacon Nature Reserve.
View NNE along the path to Ditchling Beacon © Copyright Ian Cunliffe and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Northern Slope View from Home Brow © Copyright James Emmans and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

From the summit, the walk continues on the SDW for around 2km before joining the Sussex Border Path south for around 1km. The walk then leaves the trail left towards Standean and continues via the valley of North Bottom. From here, the walk finally reascends back up to the summit of Ditchling Beacon. On the second visit to the top, you’ll at least have earned the right to take a breather! It’s only a short walk back to the car park and the end of the walk.

You can also walk up to Ditchling Beacon from Stanmer Park on the outskirts of Brighton.

More information and a leaflet with full route information on the Ditchling Beacon Walk can be downloaded from the South Downs National Park website here.

Featured Image Credit:   © Copyright James Emmans and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A circular walk in the SouthDowns that includes the summit of Ditchling Beacon and a short section of the South Downs Way

Route Start Location: Ditchling Beacon car park

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
7.2 km 175 m 2–3 hours

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

Activivity Type: Easy Moderate Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Toilets are available in the Devil’s Dyke car park

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 8ZB

National Trust’s Ditchling Beacon car park on Ditchling Road, but be warned that it is very busy at peak period and public transport is recommended at those times.

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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