Devils Dyke, South Downs

Explore ancient chalk downland and the deepest dry valley in the country. Discover where the Devil and his wife are said to be buried and watch kestrels soar above you. Visit an ancient farmstead with over 1,000 years of history and experience stunning views over the Sussex countryside.

Route Description:

• 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.

• Head straight down into the valley for 50m (1 min), then make a sharp hairpin bend right and go through a gate which leads into the deep valley. 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.

• Go through the small bridle gate in the right-hand end of the fence, continue along the bridle path for 120m (3 mins) and turn sharply right up a steep footpath, which leads to a stile.

• 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.

• Cross the road and go into Saddlescombe Farm, past the pond on your right. The Hiker's Rest tea-room is in the courtyard after the first barn on your left.

• Continue on the second half of this figure-of-eight walk by walking 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.

• Turn left immediately, walk past the trough and then turn right above the fence and ditch. Walk beside the ditch for 50m (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.

• 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.

• 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.

• You will see six steps across the path, go up these and follow the path through the woods until you reach a kissing gate.

• Go through this gate, up a steep incline which has 63 steps. It is worth it! 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. Continue up this path until you reach another kissing gate above you on your left.

• 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 pub drink, 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.