Ditchling Beacon
From Ditchling Beacon car park
- distance
- 4.32 km
- the stile score
- 4 stiles
- circular, about
- 2 hours 30 minutes
Seen farm animals on this walk? Tell us, and we'll check it for the next walker. If cattle come towards you.
Hello from the sticker at Walk through history at Ditchling Beacon. Here's what we know, for you and your dog. More dog-friendly places nearby
Cleo & Bonnie haven't walked this one yet. Everything here is from its publisher, with the date it shows.
The stiles
The directions cross 4 stiles, all below the scarp: 3 close together before the steps down into a big field, and 1 onto Burnthouse Bostal. Gates and kissing gates everywhere else.
Livestock
Sheep graze the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Ditchling Beacon reserve, where the walk starts and ends, and the Trust asks for dogs on leads while they are there.
The ground
'Steep slopes and rough ground', the National Trust says, rated challenging and not for wheelchairs or pushchairs: a steep path down the scarp, steps into a field, and a long climb back up Burnthouse Bostal, a sunken track lined with coppiced ash.
For dogs
'Dogs on leads welcome,' says the National Trust. The Sussex Wildlife Trust asks for leads while sheep are grazing its reserve, and for you to clean up after your dog. Parking fees apply.
Pubs and cafés on the way
- Kiosk at the car park (and an ice cream van in season)Ditchling Beacon · at the start
Named by the route's publisher. The ones on our list link to their page, with what we know about dogs there.
Walked it with your dog? Tell us how it was
Mud, animals, how busy: a few taps. The answers (never your words or name) show here for three weeks, to help the next walker.
The route
Start Ditchling Beacon car park (BN6 8XG)
The directions and the map are on the publisher's own site.
National Trust · undated
On the Downs
Between 1 March and 31 July, dogs must be on a short lead (2 metres or less) on open access land, and near livestock at any time of year. Since 18 March 2026, a dog that worries livestock on a road or path, not just on farmland, is an offence.
The CROW Act 2000, Schedule 2; the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 as amended, in force 18 March 2026 (legislation.gov.uk).
If something goes wrong out there, an adder bite, a lost dog, a vet at night: help and emergencies.