East South Downs Tourist Information

East Sussex South Downs & Ditchling Beacon

The remains of an iron age fort and a nature reserve (Sussex Wildlife) are at Ditchling Beacon, one of the most popular elevated spots in the South Downs. Stunning views of the Weald are from Ditchling Beacon, a site containing precious chalk grassland and scrub. A National Trust car park sits at the top of the Ditchling Beacon Reserve and the Downland wildflowers here are not to be missed including twayblade orchids, marjoram and thyme. Butterflies, including the chalkhill blue butterflies, abound in the Ditchling Beacon area. Find out more via the Sussex Wildlife Trust's webguide. The historic village of Westmeston sits at the foot of Ditchling Beacon.

Other attractions and features in the area include the Jack & Jill Windmills at Clayton, the Chattri Indian War memorial commemorating the service of many Indian troops in the First World War, spectacular views from the chalk grassland at Newtimber Hill and one of the South Downs' most famous beauty spots Devils Dyke, a dramatic dry valley carved during the Ice Age.

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The Brighton South Downs

The stunning hamlet of Pyecombe, a classic Downland village, sits in the heart of the South Downs alongside the South Downs Way National Trail. Famous for its ancient shepherding history, Pyecombe is a popular holiday base choice with walkers, horse riders and cyclists. Within the village you'll find the historic pub, The Plough Inn. Pyecombe is perfectly placed for exploring the nearby Ditcling Beacon Nature Reserve and affords easy access to the Jack & Jill Windmills as well as Brighton to the south via the A23 main road.

The two famous windmills at Clayton called the Jack and Jill Windmills afford spectacular views of the surrounding Sussex South Downs and the Sussex Weald to the north. Jill Windmill is owned by Mid-Sussex County Council and maintained by volunteers whilst neighbouring Jack Windmill is in private hands. Jill is open to the public for visits between May and September from 2pm to 5pm on Sundays, with Christmas special openings - see the webguide right for details and a full history of both mills. Windmills on this South Downs site were first referred to in 1765. The Jack and Jill windmills were most probably given their nicknames by daytrippers in the 1920s.

Poynings, Fulking and Saddlescombe villages are located around the dramatic dry valley, Devil's Dyke in the South Downs. Poynings developed as a Saxon village (Puningas). A Saxon church and two watermills were recorded at Poynings in the Domesday book but the current historic Holy Trinity Church is 14th century. Poynings has close links with Devil's Dyke, the steep coombe which sits adjacent to the village. Devil's Dyke takes its name from a legend linked to St Cuthman and his friend Sister Ursula. The Devil, as the legend goes, carved out the steep valley at Devil's Dyke with the intention of flooding the surrounding Sussex land where numerous Christian churches had been springing up. Sister Ursula apparently put a stop to the Devil's work by placing a candle in her window and getting her cock to crow thus fooling the Devil into thinking it was dawn - the Devil apparently only worked at night. After she had saved Sussex from flooding, poor Sister Ursula died having done her job. For a superb complete account of the Devil's Dyke legend see Sheila Marshall's account via the Poynings Village webguide.

Looked over by the National Trust, the vast dry valley of Devil's Dyke is a popular beauty spot in the South Downs - hang gliders love it here. The valley cuts deep into the rolling chalk grassland to great dramatic effect and affords outstanding views of the Weald north and the English Channel coast to the south. Cycling, walking, hang gliding and kite flying are all popular outdoor pursuits around Devil's Dyke. Wildlife is extensive including huge numbers of rare butterflies and orchids. The Dyke has long been a favourite with visitors to the Downs and in the late Victorian period a cable car (built in 1894) was up here, the foundations of which are still visible. As well as the cable car a funicular railway was also popular, with around one million visitors recorded as visiting this railway in 1897. Remains of the railway are also visible today. Classic Downland is at its best here at Devil's Dyke with views across to the Fulking escarpment to the West. The National Trust's Estate Office is at Saddlescombe Farm, Saddlescombe Road, Brighton, West Sussex BN45 7DE. Tel.01273 857712. A National Trust information trailer is also at Devil's Dyke from Easter to the end of September, open Sat & Sun 10am to 4pm but sometimes Mon-Fri dependent on warden availability. Toilets, open all year round, are also on-site and Devil's Dyke is a most popular spot for family picnics.

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The Alfriston & Eastbourne South Downs

Polegate sits a mere 5 miles north of Eastbourne and the magnificent Beachy Head Downs coast and just 4 miles south of Hailsham. This location makes Polegate, often referred to as 'The Gateway to Wealden' the perfect base from which to explore both the High Weald and the South Downs as well as bustling seaside resort Eastbourne. Polegate also boasts superb local transport including a railway station and an extensive local bus service, making it easy to move around the Weald with direct links available from Polegate to Hailsham, East Grinstead, Uckfield, Heathfield and in to Kent and historic Royal Tunbridge Wells. Polegate has long been a bustling junction since the railway first arrived here.

South of Polegate sits the spectacular Alfriston Downs and the Cuckmere Valley. Famous South Downs attractions near Polegate include the giant chalk engraving of the Longman of Wilmington which is over 200ft tall. The many attractions at South Downs centre Alfriston and the popular Drusillas Family Fun Park & Zoo are also within easy reach of Polegate. Linked to the town's main growth period and the arrival of the railway (Polegate was a popular early residential base for railway workers), historic buildings are distinctly 19th century including Tower Mill, the Polegate Windmill in Park Croft dating from 1817 and the Parish Church of St John built in the Victorian era in 1874. The town is well equipped with a selection of restaurants and take-aways.

Just south of Polegate the Willingdon area, specifically Chalk Farm on Coopers Hill, has been receiving much attention recently as the inspiration for the farm featuring in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. Orwell had attended St Cyprian's School in Eastbourne from 1911 to 1916 so was certainly familiar with the area. An old track, illustrated on old maps shows that a path ran right past Chalk Farm between the school and Willingdon village. Today Chalk farm, supervised by the Downland Farm Project, is both a hotel and garden centre (see Chalk Farm's weblink right for more details).

The famous chalk engraving of the Long Man of Wilmington holds a particular fascination in the area. Archaeologists and historians have reflected on this magnificent chalk carving for a few centuries. It was in the 19th century however that the Long Man really got its colours when it was marked out in yellow bricks in 1874. Definitive historic evidence on the origins of the Long Man are still looked for. For more information see the Sussex Past webguide on the history of the Long Man which is clearly signposted from the A27 road.

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Charleston Manor

Charleston Manor, not to be confused with nearby Charleston home of the Bloomsbury artists, sits just south of Alfriston in the heart of the South Downs. The manor estate here has a history stretching back to just after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Charleston House was referred to in the Domesday book in 1080 and many of the buildings within the estate are incredibly old with sections of the main house dating from between 1170 to 1180. William Thomas of Lewes owned the property in the early 17th century whilst in the first half of the 20th century Charleston Manor was extensively renovated by Sir Oswald and Lady Birley.

The outstanding heritage listed gardens which surround Charleston Manor House were influenced by Vita Sackville-West, creator of Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in Kent. A detailed history of Charleston Manor is via the webguide. An annual festival takes place within the manor estate in June.

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