Ditchling Beacon circular

By Ben Perkins

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Starting from the high point of Ditchling Beacon, this walk heads westwards along the ridge as far as the twin windmills of Jack and Jill, with superb views all the way along.

It then turns south to explore the rolling dip and slope of the Downs to the north of Brighton, passing the isolated farm at Lower Standean, tucked down in a quiet downland valley.

It is a fairly hilly walk but follows good downland paths and tracks throughout and is generally well signed and easy to follow.

1.From the far end of the Ditchling Beacon car park, follow the South Downs Way westwards along the top of the downs escarpment, a fine walk across open downland with a spectacular panoramic view northwards into the Weald.

Beyond a restored dewpond, an unfenced track continues through an arable area where a view soon opens up ahead towards the outlying downland hills of Wolstonbury and Newtimber with, between them, a distant glimpse of the trees on Chanctonbury Ring, now beginning to regain its status as a landmark after the devastating gale of 1987.

2.After two miles along the ridge, when you are about 150 yards short of the twin windmills of Jack and Jill, turn sharply back to the left along a fenced track, still with the signed South Downs Way.

Follow the track as it passes through the buildings at New Barn Farm.

After another 100 yards, where the South Downs Way goes off to the right, go straight ahead along a headland track with a fence and Pyecombe golf course to your right.

Follow this track down into a valley and up the other side, continuing, unfenced across high open downland.

3.At a T-junction with another path, turn left and, after another 100 yards or so, turn right through a gate to follow a fenced path with a belt of stunted trees on your left.

After a further 250 yards the path goes left through another gate and continues across high ground with a fence and hedge to the right.

Ignoring a signed crossing path, continue beside the righthand fence as it drops down and veers round to the left.

After about 80 yards, go right through a wide gateway and follow a fenced track down into the valley.

4.Continue with the track as it passes the buildings at Lower Standean and continues as the access drive from the farm.

About 350 yards beyond the farm buildings, turn left along a flinty track which climbs steadily. Keep on the track as it curves to the right, skirting to the left of a large barn complex and still gaining height.

On reaching a waypost next to a wooden power pole, where the main path continues beneath the power lines, you should veer half-left, diverging at about 50 degrees from the power lines and climbing gently across open grass downland.

As you top a rise, the next stile comes into sight in a crossing fence. Over this stile, maintain direction to a second stile leading out to the Ditchling Beacon road.

5.Turn left for ten yards only before going right on a narrow path into woodland. After a few yards, bear left along a wider path within this wooded strip, running parallel to, but well insulated from, the road. After about a quarter of a mile, at a waypost, fork left along a narrow path which takes you back out to the road.

Your next path, signed as a bridleway, starts through a gateway almost opposite. Go ahead with a fence on your left. In the field corner, go through a metal bridle gate and turn right to follow a path along the rim of a shallow downland valley, with a fence on your right, following it as it curves round to the left.

6.In the field corner bear right through a gate and climb along a fenced track. After a little more than 200 yards, go right through a bridle gate next to a farm gate and forward along a grassy strip between two areas of arable land.

Ahead a superb view opens up eastwards along the line of the Downs with the two striking profiles of Firle Beacon and Mount Caburn facing each other across a valley.

Also in view is the squarecut outline of the sea cliff at Seaford Head.

At a waypost, turn left and follow another unfenced grassy strip for two thirds of a mile back up to the summit of Ditchling Beacon, joining the South Downs Way within a few yards of the trig point.

At 813ft above sea level, this is one of the highest points on the South Downs and a superb viewpoint.

As well as a wide prospect to the east and west along the ridge of the Downs, and southwards to Brighton and the coast, the view northwards extends, on a clear day, as far as the North Downs.

From the point where you join the South Downs Way, the car park is now in sight, a few yards to the right.