SOUTH EAST
06 WEST/EAST SUSSEX CLAYTON & DITCHLING BEACON
■Distance: 7¾ miles/12.4km ■Time: 4 hours ■Grade: Moderate
CHOSEN BY… FIONA BARLTROP
Ditchling Beacon, the third highest point on the South Downs, is deservedly popular. The views are superb and can be enjoyed with no effort thanks to the car park alongside! But it’s more satisfying to climb the Downs first, as this walk does, starting from the hamlet of Clayton to the west, above which are the famous Sussex windmills, Jack and Jill (and a car park, too). From here an invigorating stretch of the South Downs Way is followed to Ditchling Beacon, the walk then looping south, with an extension to the Chattri memorial, for Indian soldiers who died in WWI.
From car park cross road and follow bridleway opposite up through trees to gate. Keep ahead up grassy hillside to car park by white Jill windmill at top. A restored 19th-century working windmill, it is open to the public most Sundays May to Sept. Black Jack windmill is in private ownership.
Turn L on track, continuing ahead at junction, now on route of South Downs Way (SDW). Follow steadily uphill, initially along enclosed track then open grassy downland. Route turns R at four-armed fingerpost and gate (Ditchling Beacon trig point is 20m further on just off R of path).
Turn R through gate and follow bridleway S. Keep ahead at waymark post on L,
