The South Downs Way
views from the Devil's Dyke
Even before the motor car became commonplace, thousands of people flocked up here to get a glimpse of the world beyond the Downs and to enjoy the fresh air of the Sussex countryside.
Victorian and Edwardian entrepreneurs were quick to spot an opportunity to make a guinea or two.
On the south side, a railway from Hangleton in Brighton ran up to the Dyke between 1887 to 1939.
On the north side of the Downs was the Dyke Steep Grade Railway - a funicular railway that eased the journey up the steep scarp slope from the village of Poynings. The railway only had a short life, it's days being over before the end of the First World War.
There was also a cable car suspended from a cable that crossed the Dyke itself.
A fairground, hotel and golf course added to the gaiety and at one time a motor racing track was planned.
You can still take advantage of the delights of the hotel and golf course, but traces of the rest of these attractions have (almost) disappeared.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Devil's Dyke's history as a playground for Brightionians, then you could do a lot worse than look at Ted Power's fine site about the Dyke.
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
You might also like
- Along the South Downs Way in Sussex - a guide
- Some walking boots and hiking equipment shops in Sussex
- The Downs Link - a flat walk from Shoreham-by-Sea to the North Downs
- Some good places for West Sussex walkers
- Along the New Lipchis Way all the way from Chichester to Liphook
- The Monarch's Way as it runs through West Sussex
- A level walk Chichester to West Wittering Beach along Salterns Way - a good family walk
- West Sussex Horse riding information
- West Sussex Mountain Bike information
- About Horse riding on the bridleways of West Sussex
- 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
- Butser Hill to Harting Down
- Harting to Cocking
- 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
- Devil's Dyke viewpoint
- The Devil's Dyke
- Saddlescombe Farm
- West Hill
- Newtimber Hill
- Newtimber to Pyecombe
- Pyecombe Village
- Pyecombe Church
- Pyecombe Golf Course
- Clayton Windmills
- East Sussex Border
- South Downs Way Tips
- Cycling in Sussex
- Bike repairs
- Bicycle hire
- Mountain Biking
- Sussex Walking
- The Ramblers
- Other trails
- Horse riding