About
At 248 metres, Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex, a South Downs summit 7 miles north of Brighton with views south to the sea, north across the Weald and along the Downs. It takes its name from a warning beacon kept ready to light when invasion threatened. West of the car park the South Downs Way enters Sussex Wildlife Trust's nature reserve, where the banks of an Iron Age hillfort survive near a restored dew pond, while neighbouring Ditchling Down has sheep-grazed chalk grassland and old chalk pits full of wild flowers in spring and summer. Reviewers single out the sunsets from the ridge and the sweeping views. Two Trust trails start at the car park: a steep history loop past old droveways and burial mounds, and a 6-mile walk east to Ashcombe Bottom. Dogs are welcome, on a lead near livestock. One tip: the small car park fills at weekends, when the Breeze bus from Brighton stops beside it.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- CountrysideSee opening notes
Opening times may change at short notice.
Open countryside on the South Downs; NT's opening calendar gives no set hours for Ditchling Beacon.
The car park can close for large events such as the London to Brighton bike ride; check NT notices before travelling.
No toilets on site: toilets, including accessible toilets, are in Ditchling village. A seasonal ice cream van visits the car park in summer.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
Open access countryside, free for everyone. Parking charges for non-members apply separately.
ParkingFree for members
£6 all day
Parking details
National Trust car park on Ditchling Road, BN6 8XG (OS TQ 333130). Free for NT members, who register with the JustPark app or machine. Non-members pay £1.50 for up to 1 hour, £3.00 for up to 2 hours or £6.00 all day, by cash at the machine or via JustPark (location code 80562, or call 07520634455). Rural, part-surfaced car park with no marked bays and limited spaces; it gets very busy at weekends and paying in advance does not guarantee a space.
Driving pin: NT's own published car-park coordinates (50.9008406, -0.1051855), which match Google's 'Ditchling Beacon Car Park' listing within about 10 m. Set navigation to the car park rather than the summit.
JustPark location code
80562Enter this code in JustPark to pay, or at the machine. Members park free after checking in.
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Walking routes2 routes
Walk through history at Ditchling Beacon(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkchallengingDogs, with restrictions
