About
Blackcap is 623 acres of chalk downland on the ridge of the South Downs west of Lewes, looking north over the Weald and south towards the coast. Burial mounds and ancient trackways cover the hill, and Simon de Montfort is said to have marched his army along this ridge in 1264 to the Battle of Lewes. The sunken bostals, the Sussex word for a way up a hill, are lined with orchids in spring, wild marjoram scents the hillside in summer, and the coombe known locally as Bracky Bottom holds woodland glades with honeysuckle and white admiral butterflies. Reviewers describe a steep 15 to 20 minute climb to the trig point and praise the views, wildlife and sunsets. One tip from visitors: the lay-by on the B2116 is easy to miss, and the loose chalk needs proper footwear. Dogs are welcome under close control, on leads on the waymarked trail. The four-mile circular walk at Blackcap starts from that lay-by and takes in the bostals, viewpoint and woodland.
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- CountrysideSee opening notes
Opening times may change at short notice.
The National Trust publishes no opening calendar for Blackcap; it is open downland reached on foot from the B2116 lay-by or the South Downs Way.
No toilets on site. Steep ascents on unmade chalk tracks that can be wet and slippery in winter; the waymarked walk has one stile and uneven ground where animals are grazing.
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. There are no dog bins, so take dog waste and rubbish home.
The Half Moon pub in Plumpton and the cafes and restaurants of Lewes (3 miles) are the nearest places for food and toilets; neither is run by the National Trust.
Photo: Blackcap's meadow above Ashcombe Bottom East, covered in wild marjoram, with Kingston Ridge behind. Paolo.oprandi, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blackcap%27s_meadow_above_Ashcombe_Bottom_East.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed. Dogs are welcome across the downland but must be controlled at all times.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the waymarked walk at Blackcap; sheep and cattle graze the hill. Free access, no ticket needed.
Leads: Controlled at all times; on leads on the waymarked trail and near grazing sheep and cattle.
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Walking routes2 routes
A walk at Blackcap(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkmoderateDogs, with restrictions6.4 km distance
