Stanmer Park to Ditchling Beacon, Black Cap and Back
15 people attending
5 places left
Join me on this circular walk starting in the beautiful Stanmer Park north of Brighton.
We set off from the entrance of Stanmer Park, one of Brighton city's largest parks, and is a unique example of an 18th Century designed landscape. Heading up the newly made path running beside the road leading to the Grade I listed Stanmer House that once housed a mistress of King George. Stanmer has a church, St. Laurence, next to the pond built circa 1838 and features a donkey wheel to retrieve water from the adjacent well.
Walking through Stanmer village we head up through Millbank Wood then Moons Wood both of which played home to secret underground demolition squads during the Second World War. These men were the last resort in dire times and would demolish railway lines and bridges if the country was invaded.
The peak of our ascent is at Ditchling Beacon. The Beacon was an Iron Age hill fort and is the highest place in East Sussex commanding magnificent views across the South Downs. We then head east to Black cap our lunch stop. Black Cap also has far-reaching and impressive views, is part of National Trust land and is a nature reserve.
After lunch we head north and begin our descent towards Falmer. In Falmer village there is a pub and this is where the walk will end. The car park and train station is a five min walk away.
OS map route: Here!
All pictures were taken by the leader.
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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
Lots of water and a packed lunch.