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The Ultimate Guide to the Ditchling Beacon Circular Walk

Are you looking for one of the best walks in Sussex? This guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk includes step-by-step directions, plus recommendations for where to eat, drink and stay nearby.

This is the ultimate guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk
This is the ultimate guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk

We think there’s nothing better than discovering a new place on our own two feet. Exploring with our eyes and ears, all while giving our legs a little workout too.

We’ve just completed a walk that offers some of the best views over East Sussex, West Sussex and the South Downs National Park. We were in the area as part of a trip with Classic Cottages, staying at a lovely holiday cottage nearby. More on that coming up!

The walking route starts at Ditchling Beacon, the highest point in East Sussex at 248m. From here you have sensational panoramic views over the countryside and small villages in one direction. Flip 180 and you’ll have a view right over Brighton to the sea.

The Ditchling Beacon walk is one of the best in Sussex
The Ditchling Beacon walk is one of the best in Sussex

The walk itself is a 2-3-hour stroll (depending on your pace) and passes through more picturesque scenery. You’ll see sweeping valleys, fields of wild flowers, grazing land with sheep and cows, woodland and more. It really has got a bit of everything!

As you can imagine with a viewpoint up on a hill, there are a few gradients to deal with too. If you struggle with hills, just take your time. Don’t rush, relax into the route and enjoy taking regular breathers in the pretty surroundings. We passed people of all ages enjoying this walk – right from kids up to 80+ year old ramblers! It’s dog-friendly too, so you can bring your pooch along for some exercise.

Pretty views from the top of Ditchling Beacon
Pretty views from the top of Ditchling Beacon

A Guide To The Ditchling Beacon walk

What is the Ditchling Beacon circular walk?

This 4-mile (7 km) circular walk takes you from the National Trust car park at Ditchling Beacon through the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park. It passes through a mix of landscapes, including hills, valleys, farmland, grazing land, nature reserves and forests.

Ditchling Beacon is one of the highest points in the South Downs, so it provides epic panoramic views not just over the countryside, but also towards Brighton and the sea.

You can expect views like this from the top of Ditchling Beacon
You can expect views like this from the top of Ditchling Beacon

How long does the Ditchling Beacon circular walk take?

This part obviously depends how fast you walk! It took us around 2 hours in total, with a few short stops along the route to take photos. There are no pubs or cafes on the route, so it’s not a walk with a  pub stop like some of our other favourites (including the Chess Valley Walk, the Amersham circular and the Beachy Head walk). You’ll need to fuel up before or after, or pack a picnic to take with you.

How to get to the Ditchling Beacon circular walk

This circular walk starts and finishes at Ditchling Beacon National Trust car park. The easiest way to reach this point is by car, and thankfully there are spaces for quite a few cars. It can get busy on sunny days though, so you might want to set off early to bag your spot.

You can either follow directions to the postcode BN1 9QD, or travel to this exact location on Google Maps.

It’s worth noting that there are no public toilets at the start or along the route, so make sure you’re comfortable before you arrive!

What a perfect English country view
What a perfect English country view

Can you reach Ditchling Beacon by public transport?

Yes! It may seem like a pretty remote location, but there is a special bus service to Ditchling Beacon every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday throughout the year. Bus route 79 starts at Brighton Station and travel time to Ditchling Beacon is just 35 minutes.

You can use contactless payments on the bus (a ticket is £5), which also covers journeys on the other ‘Breeze Buses’ such as to Devil’s Dyke (another beautiful place in the South Downs). You can find out more about the special bus service, and check timings and pick up locations here.

Is the Ditchling Beacon walk easy to follow?

This is a pretty simple walk to follow, especially if you keep an eye on our walking guide. We’ve included lots of helpful photos so you can match up what you’re seeing with key directions along the route. You can find out about other beautiful walks in East Sussex here.

What is Ditchling Beacon?

This site is where there a special warning beacon was once located. Once upon a time, this beacon would have been set alight to warn people of incoming invasions! There’s also the remains of an Iron Age hill fort here too, so lots for history lovers to enjoy!


A step-by-step guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk

Section 1

This walk begins at the Ditchling Beacon National Trust car park. From here, you want to face towards the amazing panoramic views and follow to your left to reach the South Downs Way. There’s a gate to the left of the car park here, pass through that and you’ll be off on the first section of the route.

This is where the walk starts
This is where the walk starts

Along this first section you’ll enjoy stunning views on your right-hand side. You’ll see the village of Westmeston in East Sussex below as well as sweeping views over the valley and the countryside.

This section is also popular with cyclists who cycle along the ridgeway. It’s not for the faint hearted as it’s pretty hilly on two wheels!

Spectacular views over the countryside from Ditchling Beacon
Spectacular views over the countryside from Ditchling Beacon

Section 2

It’s time to count gates! You need to continue along the South Downs Way passing through three gates in total. This is a fairly long stretch of the route. When we visited there were cows and sheep grazing in one of the large fields. We stopped briefly to watch the baby lambs too – so cute!

Lots of nature along the route
Lots of nature along the route
Pretty views along this section of the Ditchling Beacon walk
Pretty views along this section of the Ditchling Beacon walk
The Keymer Post
The Keymer Post

After you’ve passed through the third gate, you’ll spot a wooden signpost on your right. Written on one side is ‘Keymer Post’. It has directions to Keymer, Brighton, Eastbourne and Winchester. Continue past the post briefly, then turn left through the metal gate. Here you’ll see a sign towards the Chattri. You are now on the Sussex Border Path.

Turn left through this gate
Turn left through this gate

Section 3

Continue along this path and pass through another gate. During our visit in May, there were lots of pretty wildflowers along this section, including bright red poppies and long grasses.

This section passes lots of wild flowers
This section passes lots of wild flowers

When you reach the junction, take the left turn and follow the track downhill towards the gates. You’ll then follow the bridleway as it winds past a small wooded area. You’ll have some farm buildings in the distance ahead of you. Aim for those to stay on the correct path.

Looking back at the farm
Looking back at the farm

Section 4

With the farm buildings on your right, follow the path left uphill through the gate (which may be open). This path continues upwards for a section before going downhill again, with really beautiful vistas on each side.

Heading uphill
Heading uphill after the farm

I’d recommend pausing here for a moment to look at the path snaking through the landscapes here. This was one of our favourite views on this walk!

One of our favourite views on the Ditchling Beacon walk
One of our favourite views on the Ditchling Beacon walk
Lovely country views in the South Downs
Lovely country views in the South Downs

Section 5

Once down the hill, continue straight and look out for a gate with a sign saying ‘footpath’. There are other gates near here which have ‘private’ on, so make sure you follow the footpath! Pass through the gate and into the field. There were lots of sheep and lambs here when we visited.

Keep an eye out for this footpath sign
Keep an eye out for this footpath sign

There should be a well-trodden path visible on the grass through this field. It goes in a diagonal direction north-east as you look at it, and eventually goes down towards another gate at the bottom left corner.

Section 6

Pass through the gate and follow the path up a steep hill. There’s plenty for nature lovers along this route. In fact, we saw lots of wild mushrooms growing in this field.

Once you’ve made it up this steep hill, look for the gate to the left-hand edge of the field and pass through it onto a fenced path.

Section 7

Be sure to take in the stunning views on your left here. This was another of our favourites on the route.

Beautiful views over the valley from Ditchling Beacon
Beautiful views over the valley from Ditchling Beacon

Follow this path up to the gate which marks the junction with the South Downs Way. You might recognise where you are now! If you do – well done! Pass through the gate and turn right immediately. You’ll be back on the original path and it’s just a short walk from here back to the start point at the car park.

The final section of the Ditchling Beacon walk
The final section of the Ditchling Beacon walk

There’s often an ice cream van in the car park, so perhaps treat yourself to a Mr Whippy to finish the walk!

We’d also recommend crossing the road and walking for a couple of minutes in the opposite direction. The views here are absolutely spectacular – we loved it!


Suggested places to eat near Ditchling Beacon

As mentioned, there’s no café or pub along this walking route, so you’ll need to eat before or after. If you’re looking for local pubs, here are a few of our recommendations:

The Bolney Stage – This country pub is a 20-minute drive from Ditchling Beacon and offers a great menu of classic dishes and gourmet options. One of our favourite things about this pub is it has really warm, cosy interiors for cold days and a huge pub garden for sunny days. Best of both worlds! We opted for a light lunch here, tucking into some tasty and colourful salads. The service was really friendly too, making this somewhere we’d definitely recommend.

Lunch at The Bolney Stage, Sussex
Lunch at The Bolney Stage, Sussex

White Horse Inn – Located in Ditchling itself, this is one of the closest pubs to Ditchling Beacon. It’s a charming pub too. The garden has a view of the South Downs and serves a range of local beers and Sussex’s very own sparkling wines. The menu is pretty basic, with a selection of filled baguettes, burgers and warm mains, but what more do you need after conquering the Beacon?!

The Half Moon Inn – Located in Plumpton, this pub is also very close to the beacon. While the pub itself offers a pretty standard menu of classics (think fish and chips, sausage and mash etc) there’s a unique offering here. This pub has one of the biggest gardens in Sussex, and they recently launched a pizza bar in it! This is mainly open at weekends, but you can imagine how fun the vibe will be out there.


Where to stay near Ditchling Beacon

We stayed at The Piggery at John Bull’s House, one of a handful of holiday cottages in Sussex with a hot tub. This is a real home from home in a beautiful and tranquil spot, close to Bolney Wine Estate and Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens.

The Piggery is a Classic Cottages property
The Piggery is a Classic Cottages property

Inside you’ll find a large open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. There are rustic accents with the ancient beams running along the ceiling, giving it that cosy country cottage feel. There’s a large bedroom with its very own sofa area too. It’s very spacious inside.

How beautiful are the interiors at The Piggery?
How beautiful are the interiors at The Piggery?

One of my favourite parts of staying at The Piggery was the amount of time we spent outside. There’s an outdoor dining area, sun loungers, a fire pit and a BBQ, right by the pretty pond. When the sun is shining, it really is a little slice of paradise!

There's lots of outside space at The Piggery
There’s lots of outside space at The Piggery

After our lovely walk at Ditchling Beacon, we picked up some BBQ ingredients and enjoyed eating outside as the sun started to set. We finished the experience by toasting some marshmallows!

Another great feature at The Piggery is the wood-fired hot tub. Relaxing in the warm waters was the perfect way to rest our tired muscles after tackling the hills of the South Downs during the day.

Toasting marshmallows at The Piggery in Sussex
Toasting marshmallows at The Piggery in Sussex

This cottage is ideal for couples looking for a romantic country getaway in Sussex. It’s just a 20-minute drive from Ditchling Beacon too, so it’s a great fit if you’re planning to do this walk. Find out more about our Sussex staycation.


Walking packing list

Usually when we go out on these walks, we’re spending all day out and about in the countryside. Because of that, there are some things that we always bring with us and recommend to others. Hopefully one or two of these items can help make your walk that little bit more enjoyable!

  • Walking shoes – The no.1 item we always recommend is a good pair of walking shoes! They can really make or break your walk. Here are the ones we currently have – Mens | Womens
  • Walking socks – It’s important to have a comfy pair of socks too otherwise your feet can blister – Mens | Womens
  • Plasters – And if your feet do get blisters, then make sure you bring along some platers just in case (and hope you don’t need them).
  • Rain jacket – The reality of walking in Great Britain means walking in all weathers, so it’s always a good idea having a quality rain jacket with a hood just in case the weather turns bad – Mens | Womens
  • Sun cream – On the opposite end of the scale, it’s always a good idea to have sun cream on you too for when the sun comes out, especially in summer.
great british packing list
  • Water bottle – I am a water bottle convert and I barely leave the house without one now. This is a great water bottle with a built-in straw – it’s surprisingly handy when walking!
  • Energy bars – No matter whether I’m hiking or trail running, I always have a couple of energy bars in my bag to stave off the hanger. These are some of the best I’ve found.
  • Portable power bank – Just incase you’re out hiking for a long time and your battery dies, it’s always a good idea to have a power bank as a backup. This one is my favourite – just make sure you charge it before you go walking!
  • Quick dry towel – With the rise of wild swimming (or cooling off under a waterfall in the Lake District), then having a quick dry towel in your bag is a must.

Final tips for the Ditchling Beacon walk

If you’re planning to follow this walk for the first time here are a few tips.

  • Wear comfortable trainers or walking boots. The terrain is uneven so you want to make sure your feet are well supported. If it’s been raining, wellies would be a great option as it will get muddy.
  • Take some water with you. Those gradients are thirsty work!
  • Pack some snacks. Remember there are no shops, cafes or pubs along the route, so be prepared.
  • Visit a toilet before your walk. There are no facilities along the route, so arrive ready!
  • Bring some change for the ice cream van. There’s often a van waiting in the car park – what better reward for all of that exercise?
  • Enjoy the views. They really are spectacular!

Thanks for reading our guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk. Wwe hope it helps you plan a lovely day out in Sussex. If you’re looking for accommodation for a staycation this year, definitely take a look at these Classic Cottages holiday cottages here.

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Ultimate guide to the Ditchling Beacon walk

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