Sussex

Fulking pub walk

A moderate circular walk, starting and finishing at the Shepherd and Dog pub, comprising ancient landscapes and breathtaking views across the downs.

Near to

Devil's Dyke

Start point

Shepherd and Dog pub car park, grid ref: TQ247113

Trail information

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Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 0 (km: 0)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 2 (km: 3.2)

Duration1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours

Dog friendly**

*Short, steep ascent at the beginning and in the middle. Part of the walk is on uneven chalk trail paths and some points can get very muddy in winter. Please note that some of the sections of this walk can get very muddy in the winter.
**Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead around grazing livestock. For further information, please visit the section marked Facilities.

Address
Fulking, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9LU
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Brighton station is 7 miles (11.2km) from Devil's Dyke, then take the 77 bus (see 'By bus').
By bus
Service 77 from Brighton (Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company), alight Devil's Dyke and walk down to Shepherd and Dog pub (approx 1 mile/1.6km). The number 17 from Stagecoach stops at Newtimber Crossroads, walk to the Shepherd and Dog pub (approx 2 miles/3.2km). 104 service by Compass Travel, Mondays only, stops right outside the Shepherd and Dog pub.
By road
From the A23 at Dale Hill take the junction which leads you on to the A281 past Tates Garage. Go through roundabout onto West Road. Take the second exit on the next roundabout onto Cora's Walk. Continue on to Poynings Road. Continue onto The Street and stay left. The Shepherd and Dog pub car park will be on your left.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Shepherd and Dog pub car park, grid ref: TQ247113
Stage 1
From the pub car park take the public footpath which starts to the left of the pub garden and has bushes on both sides. The track is marked with a small concrete public footpath sign on the right-hand side. Turn right when you reach the fence at the end and continue along this path until you reach a stile.
Stage 2
Go over the stile and up the steps. At the top of the steps you will come to a T-junction with another path. Turn right along a narrow track.
Stage 3
Follow this track around the hill taking note of the direction indicated by the post with the pink arrow. You will come to a clearing in a dip with a trough in the middle. Go past the trough and continue up a wide path on the other side until you get to another junction of paths.
Stage 4
Continue following the path which is parallel to the fence on your right as indicated by the pink arrow on the wooden post at the junction. After a short distance you will come to a stile. Climb over this and continue to go straight ahead. When you get to the end of the fence turn left onto a wide chalky track which comes up the hill from your right.
Stage 5
Walk up the hill. After a short distance, where the track bends to the left, you will see an old lime kiln on your right. This dates back to the Victorian era.
What is a lime kiln?
Chalk was burnt with charcoal and changed into lime, which was mainly used for improving clay fields or in the building industry. What you can see of the kiln is the brick face where lime was removed. Behind this is a bottle-shaped hole the kiln. The kiln was loaded with layers of chalk from the quarry behind it and charcoal, probably from Furze Field woods, north of Edburton. The kiln worked continuously: as lime was removed below more chalk and charcoal was added at the top.
Lime kiln at the foot of Fulking Escarpment | © National Trust Images / Christine Dawson
Stage 6
Continue up the main track until you reach the electricity pylon at the top. This is an old bostal track which snakes up the hill.
Stage 7
When you have passed the pylon you will see the South Downs Way following the fence line up ahead. Don’t take this route but instead turn to the left along a small track between two low banks. In summer the banks here will be teeming with butterflies, moths and orchids.
Stage 8
At the end of this path you rejoin the South Downs Way which runs from Eastbourne to Winchester. Continue towards the fence ahead of you and go through the gate. On your right, over the fence, you can see the remains of the Fulking Isolation Hospital.
Stage 9
Walk along the top of the left-hand bank of a sunken ditch descending to your left and follow it downhill until you reach a pair of wooden signposts. In late spring the banks of the ditch to your right are covered in cowslips.
Cowslips on Fulking escarpment | © National Trust Images / Christine Dawson
Stage 10
Turn left and follow the broad grassy track which hugs the foot of the escarpment until you reach the junction above the steps you came up at the beginning of the walk.
Stage 11
Turn right and retrace your route down the steps, over the stile and along the path back to the pub car park.
End point
Shepherd and Dog pub car park, grid ref: TQ247113
Trail map
Map route for walk on Fulking | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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