Things to see and do at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill

Saddlescombe Farm, tucked amid trees, with Devil's Dyke behind, at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, West Sussex — Saddlescombe Farm, with Devil's Dyke behind | © National Trust Images/Laurence Perry

Saddlescombe is an ancient farm hamlet nestled in the South Downs. The oldest part of the present-day farmhouse dates from around 1630 but most of the current farm buildings are Victorian. Here you will find a well-preserved donkey wheel which was used to raise water from the well. Surrounded by chalk grassland and ancient woodland there is plenty to explore at any time of year.

Things to do at Newtimber Hill

Newtimber Hill is Sussex countryside at its finest. Ancient woodland, pristine grassland and unsurpassed views make a visit here a real pleasure. A 1,000-year-old lime tree and bluebells galore hide in the woodland and the open chalk downland is home to many specialist plants and insects.

Things to do at Saddlescombe Farm

Today, Saddlescombe is a working farm, so some areas are not open to the public. You are welcome to visit the donkey wheel and information barn at any time of year. Both are signposted from the South Downs Way, which runs through the farm. If you wish to see more, two open days are held each year.

Walking on Newtimber Hill

The South Downs Way is very popular and is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It passes through Saddlescombe and Newtimber with some steep but rewarding climbs along the way. The Sussex Border Path nearby provides a gentler option.

Enjoy a quiet stroll or a two-hour trek here, the Downs around Saddlescombe are a walker's delight. The summit of Newtimber Hill reveals rarely seen views of the famous Dyke Valley and the ancient woodland offers a maze of paths to explore.

Highlights

Audio recordings, downloadable from the information barn
A walk through Newtimber's ancient woodland
A circular walk to Devil's Dyke and back
Newtimber in autumn when the hill is purple with devil's-bit scabious.

Walkers on a butterfly spotting walk at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, Sussex. Walking across a field with hills in the s

Discover more at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill

Find out how to get to Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, where to park, the things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

Farm buildings and a tractor, with a hill behind, at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, West Sussex

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The history of Saddlescombe Farm

Evidence of human settlement, dating back to the Mesolithic and Bronze Ages, has been found here. Its many owners include the Knights Templar and generations of farming families.

A view of Saddlescombe Farm, amid green fields, with Devil's Dyke in the distance, taken from Newtimber Hill, near Brighton, West Sussex.

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Wildlife and habitats at Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill

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Wolstonbury Hill in the summer, South Downs

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