Devil's Dyke histories and mysteries walk
Explore ancient chalk downland and the deepest dry valley in the country and discover where the Devil and his wife are said to be buried whilst watching kestrels soar above you. Towards the end of the walk you'll visit an ancient farmstead with over 1,000 years of history and experience stunning views over the Sussex countryside.
Map
Start:
Devil's Dyke car park, grid ref: TQ258110
1
From the car park at the pub, go back towards the big Devil's Dyke pub sign and onwards past the bus turning circle. Follow the path alongside the road. On your left is a gate with a sign on a post. Look at the banks on either side of the road - these are the remains of the ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort.
Devil's Dyke
Devil's Dyke is the longest, widest and deepest dry chalk valley in the country. Legend has it that the Devil dug the valley to drown the parishioners of the Weald. Scientists, however, believe it was formed in the last Ice Age. Delve into the Dyke to really appreciate its grandeur.
2
Head straight down into the valley for 55yd (50m or 1 min), then make a sharp hairpin bend right and go through a gate which leads into the deep valley. (From here, look up to your right on the side of the valley and you can see the concrete footings of the Great Cableway.) Walk to the bottom of the valley, follow it as it curves left and you can see the Devil's Graves ahead (two humps in the ground). Continue round to the left until you reach a fence across your route.
The Great Cableway and Devil's Graves
When descending into Devil's Dyke, look out for the concrete footings of two pylons on the top of the slopes to the left and right. These originally supported Britain's first cable car, which was built here in 1894. The ride took Victorian day-trippers across the 328yd (300m) wide valley and was a great attraction in its day. The Devil and his wife are said to be buried at the bottom of the Dyke. Legend has it that if you run backwards seven times around these humps, whilst holding your breath, the Devil will appear.
3
Go through the small bridle gate in the right-hand end of the fence, continue along the bridle path for 130yd (120m or 3 mins) and turn sharply right up a steep footpath which leads to a stile.
4
Go over the stile and follow the path up the incline which then takes you along the edge of a field, with telegraph poles in it. Head up the tarmac track and through the gate at the top.
5
Cross the road and go into Saddlescombe Farm, past the pond on your right. The Wildflour cafe (not NT) is in the courtyard after the first barn on your left. After tea you can visit the Donkey Wheel (one of only four in the county). Go left out of the cafe with the barn on your right and the cottages ahead on the left. At the end cottage there is a stile on your right leading to the small, square black wooden-clad building with a steeply-pitched slate roof.
Saddlescombe Farm and Donkey Wheel
A hidden hamlet in the South Downs, the farm has over 1,000 years of stories to tell and was once home to the Knights Templar. Take in the atmosphere with a visit to the Wildflour cafe (not NT). The Saddlescombe Donkey Wheel is a wooden well-house containing a large, broad wheel. For centuries the wheel was turned by a donkey or pony, raising drinking water from 150ft (45.5m) below the downs.
6
Return to the cafe and continue on the second-half of this figure-of-eight walk. This time the walk takes you up through woods which lead to fabulous views. Retrace your steps out of the farm, back across the road and back through the gate at the top of the tarmac track.
Information Barn
Why not pop into our Information Barn? Here you can find out more about the history of the farm and the wider South Downs, and also connect to our free WiFi and download our multimedia information. There are also leaflets to take away detailing walks and events in the local area, and local bus timetables.
7
Turn left immediately, walk past the trough and then turn right above the fence and ditch. Walk beside the ditch for 55yd (50m or 2 mins). Go straight over the field, coming away from the ditch. You will be able to see a view of the Dyke Valley that you walked earlier. At the top of the slope you reach a stile.
8
Go over the stile and turn immediately right down a very steep bank. If the weather is wet this can get muddy, you can avoid this by continuing along the path then do a hairpin bend turning right and going down into the valley. You can see the bridle gate you went through earlier.
9
This time take the stile at the left-hand end of the fence and climb the steps up through the wood. Follow the path to a crossroads.
10
You will see six steps across the path, go up these and follow the path through the woods until you reach a kissing gate.
11
Go through this gate, up a steep incline which has 63 steps. It's worth it, though. Halfway up, have a look through the bushes to your right - the view is amazing. You can see the village of Poynings below. Take care following the narrow path up and across the escarpment. The views continue to be stunning, with Fulking village in the distance. If you're lucky you can spot birds and hang-gliders soaring above you. If you look carefully at the ground, there is a wide gulley crossing this path - this used to be the site of the funicular (steep grade) railway. Continue up this path until you reach another kissing gate above you on your left.
Funicular railway
The remains of the Victorian funicular railway station (pictured here in 1898) can be seen towards the end of the walk. This masterpiece of engineering took visitors to the village of Poynings.
12
This is the last gate on the walk; you can either head straight back to the pub car park, or follow the fence left to see the remains of the funicular railway station. Have a drink at the pub, enjoy the view outside and take a look at the stone lookout with a map of the whole area and a telescope nearby. In the car park there is a National Trust information board with ideas for other great walks and things to do in the area.
End:
Devil's Dyke car park, grid ref: TQ258110
