Devils Dyke, Sussex England
A Complete Guide
Devils Dyke in the South of England is an old favourite of ours. As a local, I’ve been coming here for years. From being a kid to an adult. At 214m you get some awesome views up there. Popular with walks, cyclists, mountain bikers to sunset seekers and paragliders. It’s a great place to visit if you’re in the area.
Check out our guide to what you need to know when you plan your trip and travel here.
How to get to Devil's Dyke
There’s a few ways you can get to Devil's Dyke, whether that’s driving by car, public transport or on foot or by bike.
Car:
The main routes to Devils Dyke are from Brighton area, A23 or A27. Here’s the postcode for the Devils Dyke Car Park BN1 8YJ and the
Google Maps link to the first car park
Public Transport
Train: You can get a train to one of the stations in and around Brighton and either get a taxi or bus to Devils Dyke. This is dependent on where you travel from but some of the closest train stations are Preston Park and Brighton Station.
Bus:
There are several bus stops on the way up to Devils Dyke itself. There’s a bus service that runs from Brighton which is the 77 to Devil’s Dyke. The price is £5, this is the special Breeze up to the Downs return ticket. This is perfect for explorers. Did you know that you can travel to 3 destinations with this one ticket?
For example, you could take the 79 to Ditchling Beacon, then walk the 6 miles along to Devil’s Dyke and return on the 77. Or you could get the 79 to Ditchling Beacon, walk 2 miles to Stanmer Park and then return on the 78.
There are a whole bunch of other deals if you’re coming by train, so be sure to check out the
Brighton & Hove City Council website for more. If you’re travelling with your bike, there’s a 2-bike maximum on each bus. Check the website for more details.
Devil's Dyke Brighton Parking
There are several car parks to choose from. Some are free and some are paid for so make sure you check when parking as things can change. Also, keep an eye out when you’re driving along Devils Dyke Road as there are several car parks that aren’t all on Google Maps.
Devil’s Dyke Picnic Area
Not the nearest to ‘Devils Dyke’. It’s a 37-minute walk to the valley from here. But a great spot to stop and take in the vistas.
- Price - Free
- Google Maps
- What3Words - ///quit.client.glare
Devil's Dyke - Summer Down
Another free car park that you can park on the side of the valley. Then walk onto the South Downs way. Not the biggest of car parks, so don’t be surprised if it’s full on a sunny weekend.
- Price - Free
- Google Maps
- What3Words - ///parts.doctor.roadshow
Devil's Dyke Car Park
This is the main car park at Devils Dyke. When you get here you’ll notice there’s more than one car park around the pub that’s there. At the pub, you can get your parking back if you spend £10 or more on food.
- Price - £3 all Day, you can pay with coins and card
- Free with National Trust Membership
- Mon-Sun - 24 Hours
- Google Maps
- What3Words -
///beanbag.paving.removed
Can you park overnight at Devil's Dyke?
It’s been a popular area to park overnight with a campervan or motorhome. Now it’s not possible to park there overnight as it’s National Trust operated and you’ll get the knock!
Devil's Dyke Entrance Fee
Devil's Dyke is free and there’s no entrance fee. Get yourself up there and take in the views. You won’t regret it.
Devil's Dyke Brighton History
Devils Dyke Valley is the UK's deepest, longest & widest 'dry valley'. The legend says the Devil dug the chasm to drown the parishioners of the Weald.
The story goes that Devil's Dyke got its name from a legend. It says the devil was furious that the people of the Weald were talking about Christianity. He dug a dyke through the South Downs and the sea flowed and drowned their villages.
How did the Devil's Dyke form?
The V-shaped dry valley was born from solifluction and river erosion. Over 14,000 years ago, an icy era gripped the land, as snow-capped South Downs met perpetually frozen chalk.
Devil's Dyke Cable Car
Opening on 13th October 1894, William Brewer designed and built a 230 feet high cable railway over the Dyke. It used 1,200 feet of cable and was suspended with cast metal supports over the valley floor. It carried its last passengers in 1909.
Devil's Dyke Brighton Walk
There’s several ways you could get to Devil's Dyke by walking. If you’re coming from Brighton you can walk along Dyke Road Avenue. Then round the two roundabouts and make your way along to the footpaths. Check out Google Maps and AllTrails for help.
Devil's Dyke Circular Walk
There’s a great circular walk you can take. Start from the car park next to the pub and follow the footpath towards and down the valley. Then at the bottom follow the footpath off to the left and you’ll head up some steps. Follow these and the footpath back to the car park. Checkout the map below for the route. It’s a great pub walk as you can start and end there.
Devil's Dyke Pub
Perfectly placed there’s a pub at the top of Devil's Dyke. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing drink, coffee or full-blown Sunday roast, you’ll find yourself at home here. Dogs are allowed too. There’s also indoor and outdoor seating. Why not catch a sunset there?
- Telephone number - 01273 857256
Devil's Dyke Pub Opening Times
The Opening hours for the pub are below, thank me later!
- Monday 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Tuesday 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Wednesday 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Thursday 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Friday 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Saturday 9 am–9:30 pm
- Sunday 9 am–9:30 pm
Are there toilets at Devil's Dyke?
There used to be public toilets around the back of the pub. These have shut now. The only other toilets available are inside the pub.
What To Pack for Devil's Dyke
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