Classic South Downs Conquering the Dyke
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A 13.5 mile linear walk from Hassocks to Shoreham-by-Sea with pub finish.
Come and join me on my first solo mission, on this moderately challenging walk across the beautiful South Downs National Park.
Leaving Hassocks heading south through Butcher's Wood we cross the London to Brighton rail line with Clayton Tunnel in the distance, we head up Wolstonbury Hill, which is a scheduled monument under the ownership of the National Trust with its panoramic views.
Crossing under the A23 we head past St John's Church in Newtimber through to Poynings, and we start to make our assent of Devil's Dyke with the Summer Down woods to our left we pass the barely visible old ruins of the the aerial cableway that was in operation 1894-1909, which was designed to boost visitor numbers to the estate and the hotel.
We break for lunch with the southerly panoramic views of the Dyke for 30 minutes. We will press on along the South Downs way, drinking in the beautiful views.
On to Truleigh Hill with its hidden secret nuclear bunker that at one point was repurposed as a nightclub. We begin our descent off the Downs passing the youth hostel that hosted the first ODL Christmas South event back in 2008.
Arriving off the South Downs way on the Downs Link (the repurposed Steyning railway line), we go to the River Adur and head south to Shoreham passing the 1930 art deco airport on the other side of the river with views of Lancing College Chapel in the distance.
The walk will end outside the Bridge Inn pub. Shoreham train station is a few minutes walk away.
Ordnance Survey Route link
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All pictures were taken by the leader.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Packed lunch and plenty of water.