High hilltop, sunset over the rolling countryside (weather permitting), walking on the ridge overlooking the South Downs National Park … Here is just a teaser of what the Ditchling Beacon walk via Blackcap has to offer. Follow me up and down the South Downs hills for breathtaking views and scenic landscapes. And of course, a pub stop at the end!
I did this hike at night time!
Well not exactly. I tried a “night walk” which will be more exact. The idea was to see the sunset on the South Downs from the top of Blackcap Hill. Unfortunately, the clouds decided to obstruct the view but nevertheless, it remains a good walk to do if you are into hill walking. So let’s get to it.
Please note that due to nighttime pictures not coming out great, some of the pictures in this article are not mine.
Disclaimer: Hiking groups may offer the same or similar walks in the South Downs. Discover these groups here.
Logistics of the Ditchling Beacon Walk
- Distance: 9.8 miles (15.7 km)
- Total Ascent: 1010 ft (307.8 m)
- Highest Point: 814 ft (248 m)
- Lowest Point: -9.8ft (-3m)
- Duration: 4 hours and 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Direct trains from London Victoria to Lewes. The journey takes 1 hour.
- For the return journey, take a direct train from Hassocks to London Victoria. The journey takes 55 minutes.
- Lewes and Hassocks are not on the same train line therefore you would have to buy your inbound and outbound tickets separately.
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Backpack
- Packed Lunch & Snacks
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day
- Pair of gaiters if it has been raining before because the paths can get muddy
- Headcover as it gets windy on top of the beacon
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a bright day
- Additional Information
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- There are customer toilets at the Jack & Jill Inn
- Where to eat and drink:
- Jack & Jill Inn, Clayton, West Sussex
Highlights of the Ditchling Beacon Walk
- Lewes
- Lewes Castle
- St John sub-Castro Church
- River Ouse
- Offham Hill and Chalk Pit
- Offham Village
- National Trust Blackcap
- Ditchling Beacon
- Jack & Jill Mills
- Hassocks
The Ditchling Beacon Walk
Lewes
Lewes is a market town in East Sussex, England. Settled approximately around 960 AD, the town is the home of a few important landmarks, such as
- The Lewes Castle
- The Lewes Priory
- Bull House
- Anne de Cleves House
Lewes made history with the Battle of Lewes in 1264, between Henry III and Simon de Montford. The latest saw victory and the King had to yield many of his powers to Montford.
Lewes, nowadays, hosts a farmer’s market on the High Street every third Saturday of the month. It also has its own currency, the Lewes Pound. Whilst the initiative of the local currency was very much criticised you can find some bills on sale on eBay for a very high price. The town also remains famous for its Bonfire Celebration, with a procession of crosses set on fire representing the 17 protestant martyrs burnt at the stake for their faith on the same night as the Gunpowder Plot.
Related Content: The Lewis Circular Guide
Lewis to The River Ouse
We start our walk in the market town of Lewis. When you come out of the station, take Station Street on your right. Continue straight on Station Street until you reach High Street. At the crossing, turn left onto High Street and then turn right onto Castle Gate.
A little bit further up you are walking through the Lewes Castle Barbican. You can see the remains of the tower on the top of the mount. on your left-hand side as you are walking up Castle Gate.
The Lewes Castle was originally a motte and bailey castle, and the second one in England to have two mottes. The construction of the castle was finished in 1066 and it was extended through the centuries with additions such as the Barbican gate in the fourteenth century.
Continue straight and you find Castle Bowling Green on your right.
Walk down Castle Banks and when you get to White Hill, cross over. Walk straight down Abinger Place until you reach St John Sub Castro Church. On this site was erected a Roman church in the eleventh century. However, as the population grew over the centuries, the church became too small. It was demolished and the current Church was built in 1839.
After the church, it is only a short walk straight down until you reach the River Ouse.
Offham
You are now walking alongside the River Ouse. As you are on wetlands, the path can get really muddy depending on the season and the weather. Please make sure you are wearing waterproof hiking shoes and you carry a pair of gaiters with you.
Related Content: Tips for Hiking in the Rain
As you arrive at the end of the path, turn right and you come face to face with Offham Hill, easily recognizable thanks to the apparent chalk on the hillside, like a white stain in the middle of the green vegetation It is in fact what remains from the chalk quarry in operation from 1800 to 1890.
Walk towards Offman Hill and you can start your ascent. Halfway through the ascent, you find the village of Offham and its new St Peter’s Church.
Continue your ascent through a forested area. When you get to the end, you are welcomed to the countryside fields by sheep grazing in the meadows.
Blackcap
Blackcap Hill’s highest point sits at 206 m above sea level and you even find a trig point at the top. This is where we thought we could see the sunset over the South Downs, but the sun was not there.
It is on this very same hill that King Henry III was defeated by Simon de Montfort’s army in the Battle of Lewes in 1264. The hill was originally called Mount Harry and the current name is believed to come from the mill which was a little further down and had a black roof.
The top of Blackcap Hill is perfect for a lunch break, overseeing the National Park. On a clear day, you can see as far as Mount Caburn and Ashdown Forest as well as Brighton’s tallest buildings.
After lunch, follow the South Downs Way path towards Ditchling Beacon. You are walking on what is known as the Clayton to Offham Escarpment, a linear Site of Specific Scientific Interest. Indeed, the top is particularly interesting for scientists as it remains untouched by farming, unlike the rest of the South Downs. Therefore, it is the home of species and rich biodiversity that can not be found anywhere else in the world.
As you are walking, you can see at the bottom the villages of Plumpton.
Fun fact: The guitarist of the rock band Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, lived in Plumpton between 1972 and 1985.
Ditchling Beacon
You then arrive at Ditchling Beacon, the highest point of this walk, and the third-highest one of the South Downs after Buster Hill and Crown Tegleaze. Historically, the Ditchling Beacon was a hill fort during the Iron Age, however, today’s vegetation makes it difficult to see where the ramparts were located.
The Northern face of Ditchling Beacon is very steep, so much so that it was classed as a climb during the two-day ride of the Tour de France in Britain in 1994. It has 3 footpaths leading to the top if one day you feel like taking on the challenge. However, if you want to come back without having to do the walk, there is also a motorway leading to a car park at the top.
Take the time to look around and admire the scenic views over the National Park and the village of Ditchling at the bottom.
Related Content: Best Hill Walks Near London
As you are leaving the Ditchling Beacon, it is time to start our descent towards Clayton.
Jack & Jill
Continue walking on the South Downs Way until you reach Mill Lane. There, at the crossing, you come face to face with Jack & Jill Mills.
Grade II listed buildings, Jack & Jill are a post mill, the earliest type of mill in Europe, and a tower mill, easily recognisable as made of bricks. Jill was the first built of the two in 1821 and grounded grains until 1906. She was restored in 1978 but caught fire in 1987 during the Great Storm. Jill is still in operation and opened to the public from May to September. You can buy flour produced at the mill.
Jack, for its part, was built in 1866 and operated until 1907. It is one of the very few male-named mills in the country. Jack is now private property and it is owned by a barrister.
Clayton
Continue walking downhill and be careful as this part of the walk can be quite steep. Once at the bottom, you are in Clayton, a small village in West Sussex. Its main landmark is a tower-gated train tunnel entrance, built in 1840. The owner of the land where the tunnel goes under refused to give access for the construction of the tunnel to take place unless there was a structure built at the entrance of the tunnel.
The pub where we stop for a drink ( you are more than welcome to stay for dinner) is called the Jack and Jill Inn. Located exactly opposite the castellated gate of Clayton Tunnel, you can enjoy a nice selection of ales in the charming and cosy environment of the pub red painted walls. Weather permitting, you can enjoy your pint on the picnic tables in the beer garden.
Please note that the pub is a 20 minutes walk away from Hassocks train station, which is why we chose to have our dinner in London. If you want to do the same, I recommend that you go to the Market Hall, located opposite Victoria Station’s main entrance. You will find a variety of food stalls offering different styles of cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere!
Bon appetit!
Ditchling Beacon via Blackcap Walk Map
Do you want to do the same walk in the South Downs? Download the GPS map of the walk by clicking on the button below. To upload it onto your navigation app, follow my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Ditchling Beacon via Blackcap Walk
If you like the South Downs and want to discover more walks in the land of chalky hills and farmlands, check out these walks:
Winchester Circular: A Challenge for Hikers
Devil’s Dyke from Fishergate to Hassocks
Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring: The Haunted Hills of Sussex
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