The South Downs Way
Beacon Hill
Straight ahead of you stands the inordinately steep western side of Beacon Hill.
Walking up it is tough. Cycling up it is impossible. Carrying a mountain bike up Beacon Hill is totally shattering and only the fit will have enough energy left to enjoy the rest of the way.
Luckily the South Downs Way takes a canny alternative route around the southern side of Beacon Hill, taking you the thick end of a mile south towards Telegraph House and back northwards again past an area which is being managed by the Murray Downland Trust - a fine local charity doing great work in re-establishing traditional chalkland habitats, most notably at Heyshott Down, further along the Way.
The Trust is looking after a field called Under Beacon and their plan is to cut back invasive plants like brambles and wild parsnip to allow other native Sussex flora to get a firm foothold.
Once you're at the top of Beacon Hill the views are stupendous and it's worth a little detour to walk around the top of the hill and spend a little time there.
First it's satisfying having a look down from the top of the climb you have just avoided by taking the longer route (as shown in the picture above).
Then it's enjoyable finding the viewpoint at the very top of the Hill, from where you can see for miles in all directions.
Last time I looked at the metal plate which picks out distant points of interest it seemed to have been set a few degrees off kilter, so don't take what it says too literally.
Places to visit close to the South Downs Way
Amberley | Arundel | Ashington | Bepton | Bignor | Bramber | Bramber Castle | Burpham | Bury | Chanctonbury Ring | Charlton | Chilgrove | Clayton | Cocking | Compton | Cootham | Devil's Dyke | The Devil's Humps | Didling | Duncton | East Dean | East Harting | Edburton | Findon | Graffham | Harting Down | Heyshott | Houghton | Hurstpierpoint | North Marden | Parham House | Poynings | Pyecombe | Rackham | Singleton | Slindon | South Harting | South Stoke | Stedham | Steyning | Storrington | Torberry Hill | Treyford | Trotton | Truleigh Hill | Uppark | Up Marden | Upwaltham | Upper Beeding | Washington | West Dean
- B&B Midhurst
- Hotels Midhurst
- B&B Chichester
- Hotels Chichester
- Hotels Petworth
- B&B Arundel
- Hotels Arundel
- B&B Worthing
- Hotels Worthing
- B&B Haywards Heath
- Hotels Burgess Hill
Wednesday February 08
- Butser to Harting
- Harting to Cocking
- Harting Downs
- Beacon Hill
- Pen Hill
- Buriton Farm
- Treyford
- Devil's Jumps
- Linch Down
- Bepton Down
- Cocking Down
- Cocking to Upwaltham
- Upwaltham to Amberley
- Amberley to Washington
- Washington to Upper Beeding
- Upper Beeding to Devil's Dyke
- Devil's Dyke to Ditchling Beacon
- South Downs Way Tips
- Cycling in Sussex
- Bike repairs
- Bicycle hire
- Mountain Biking
- Sussex Walking
- The Ramblers
- Other trails
- Horse riding