FREE HIKE - Circular Hike at the legendary beauty spot - Devil's Dyke

This is a circular hilly walk near Hassocks, West Sussex. A moderately challenging hike. We may be climbing a few steep hills. The hike may be approx., around 20 km.

Devils Dyke - A legendary beauty spot on the South Downs, just five miles north of Brighton, offers stunning panoramas, a record breaking valley, a curious history and England’s most colourful habitat. At nearly a mile long, the Dyke valley is the longest, deepest and widest 'dry valley' in the UK. The artist John Constable claimed that Devil's Dyke was one of the grandest views in the world. One of the myths on how this huge dyke formed was that the devil tried to flood the many churches of this area by digging a trench towards the sea. In doing so he woke an old woman who lit a candle to investigate. The devil abandoned the trench and fled. Legend also has it that the Devil dug this chasm to drown the parishioners of the Weald. On the other hand, scientists believe it was formed naturally just over 10,000 years ago in the last ice age. With a little exploring the Dyke's story starts to reveal itself: The ramparts or walls of the Iron Age hill fort can be seen when you walk around the hill and the remains of the curious Victorian funfair can be found just a few minutes from the car park. Venture into the valley in summer and you will discover a living carpet of flowers and a myriad of colourful insects.

The walk is completely free. You need good hiking shoes, a packed lunch, and a good spirit. Please get a torch just in case it gets dark in the afternoon. This can be a moderate to challenging walk.

Start and end at meeting point at Devils Dyke Car Park BN1 8YJ (this will bring you to Devil's Dyke Road but short of the pub and car park). Parking may cost £6 for whole day however, there is free parking on the way which may be a 15 mins walk to the meeting point. Bus 77 and 78 will take you to the Devil’s Dyke hotel / pub from Brighton Station (20 mins away) outside which is the meeting point.

Not all good places can be reached easily by public transport so if anyone really wants to join and needs a lift then message me and I will try to accommodate you in my car from 'Three Bridges Station'.

Please note - The participants are expected to stay with or behind the hike / walk leader and not go ahead of him as this is important to maintain the pace of the group and keep the group together and to allow people behind to catch up.

This walk is a group event with some route guidance only, no service is inferred nor any risk assumed. It is wholly voluntary. You are responsible for your own safety and for making sure that your actions don’t damage the people, animals, or environment around you.

Please be respectful to fellow walkers.

At the end of the walk, we can go to the pub.