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Name:Ditchling Beacon
Hill number:2912
Height:248m / 814ft
RHB Section:42: South-East England & the Isle of Wight
County/UA:East Sussex
County (CoH):Sussex, East (CoH)
County (CoA):East Sussex (CoA)
Catchment:Ouse (Newhaven), Catchment Boundaries
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Tump (200-299m), Historic County Top, Current County/UA Top,
Administrative County Top, Clem
(Ma,Hu,Tu,2,CoH,CoU,CoA,Cm)
Grid ref:TQ 33161 13075
Summit feature:no feature: ground 4m N of trig point
Drop:214m
Col:34m  TQ338217  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 198
(1:25k) OL11 122
Observations:ground is 0.3m higher than trig point; ground in field to S is 0.4m lower
Survey:Abney level
Change log:show changes for this hill entry
GPS data:show GPS entries for this hill
Notes:
  • East Sussex (1974) administrative county top
  • Sussex, East historic county top
  • East Sussex current county/UA top

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Logged Descriptions  (logged by 669 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all)ByDate of Ascent
Walk w/Devon. Parked Ditchling Village Hall car park. Ditchling Beacon loop.ZacField24/02/2024
A 3 night pet-sit in Lewes gave a chance for a catch up walk up the Beacon form Ditching Village Hill with Henry -an old teaching colleague. Lots to talk and reminisce and laugh about - hardly noticed the walking up the Nye and down Sledge Hill! Henry going well despite his new hip (at age 40) and having his 3rd child born just a week ago. Amazing that he got a pass out for the afternoon, although once home he will also probably need to spend the same time as the walk took in cleaning the mud of his new trainers? Mine are always muddy. My 110th ascent.Chris Pearson17/02/2024
https://www.strava.com/activities/10745429543/Graham22b10/02/2024
Solo. Parked for free at Ditchling Village Hall. Did a 4 miles circular walk clockwise by following the signs to the Downs from Ditchling. Walked to the Beacon on the South Downs Way and then descended on the Sussex Border Path back to Ditchling. Cold wind but very sunny day. Cows in field at top of the Border Way, but very docile. Lower down in farmland the path was very wet and muddy - probably better to use lanes.gbeniston18/01/2024
Originally passed close by here in September 2008 walking the South Downs Way so great now to at last finally get this one bagged properly with a very enjoyable wander up to the trig beneath stunning winter skies and a fantastic twilight glow backdrop out to the west.Alex C11/12/2023
On day three of South Downs Waynickywood129/09/2023
May in Sussex -all green and warming up to 18 degrees today, yet the long grass across to Westmeston only yet half the height it will be in July. With L up the quiet way to the Beacon and along the crest for a mile or so. The dozen ragged sheep sun sheltering under the lone tree by the dew pond water hole looked for all the world like a pride of lions. Two were sipping at the murky water's edge and we fully expected a crocodile to come thrashing out grabbing one! Down the tank track and back through the village and home for lunch.Chris Pearson21/05/2023
With L and friends Mark & Susan for a good old catch up.Chris Pearson30/04/2023
Unexpectedly back in Ditchling to help out at my old school for a term. Good to be back on our familiar outings up and down the Beacon - me still just walking in post op recover mode.Chris Pearson29/04/2023
On south downs wayemily29/03/2023
With Joe n Tom. Parked in car park and were at top in 5mins, then a quick 1.5 mile loop to enjoy the views, also went into the adjacent field to be sure of summit. Good views, easiest hill ever,fnem25/10/2022
Just the one quick visit with the sheep to the trig point, from nearby NT car park at the top of the road.richard6906/10/2022
A so long and thanks for all the fish moment on my 106th and final ascent of Ditchling Beacon as we move back home to Cumbria in 2 days after 10 months based at L's family home in lovely Ditchling. With L & joined by friends Mark and Susan for an early evening ascent in the still high 20s of a boiling hot day (29 degrees) with an amber heatwave warning for the next few days. Came down by the revamped Nye path - stunned by the new smooth wide track - will it be surfaced to stop the sandy soft surface being washed away? Stepped outside after dark to view a bright Supermoon over the Beacon - a magnificent site in the warm summer night.Chris Pearson10/08/2022
Early Sunday morning round in glorious sunshine with L. A puffing cyclist at the road top heading for Brighton was doing well being here at 9 having left London at 6am. Hellish morning followed in Shoreham buying curtains then PC World who did not have my desired new computer available to buy -despite availability on web - turns out, after both the initial youth/ assistant, then the manager(at my request) hunted in their storeroom they had 2 but both on display which they could not sell me. So I attempted to buy one to be delivered but their payment tablet wifi would not connect to the card machine as their wifi is maxed out by all the hundred of wifi connected computers on display all around us - I ask you. Went home to order one online using the meagre £5 discount code the manger had given me as a sorry -which.. didn't work. First world problem. Time to re-focus on the calming beauty of this morning's walk up The Beacon.Chris Pearson07/08/2022
L cycled to Hassocks station for 7.30am to meet Tina over for Ireland to London and squashing in a morning with us. They walked back via Jack & Jill whilst I went up via Westmeston to meet them with perfect timing on the summit where they where taking it in turns to stand on the trig , with an awkward mantle-shelf move and knee up first. Lovely sunny morning gain - hosepipe ban now announced. Morning of tea, cake and chat in the garden, followed by... an afternoon of tea, cake and chat in a neighbour's garden!Chris Pearson05/08/2022
Alpine blue sharpness to the morning with that crisp feel as the dazzling morning sun starts to climb in to a crystal clear sky. Inspiring. If only every morning was like this. Back in time for Dave the handyman and a list of house improvements to work through in-between chatting about his life working as the electrician on the Bluebell Railway and his continuing voluntary role as a signalman.Chris Pearson04/08/2022
East Sussex Highways had just arrived to begin repairing the steep eroded / channelled Nye public bridleway. £70,000 has been found from somewhere. (I would have done it for £60,000). Should make it more useable for mountain bikers and horse riders. Will be interesting to see how they repair it to last. Today's initial task seemed to be cutting back the overhanging brambles to get at it properly. Another morning round with L leaving D to deal with the combined early arrival of new patio door workmen and window cleaner.Chris Pearson03/08/2022
The morning after the night before as England Women won the European Championships beating Germany 2-1 in front of a crowd of 86,000 at Wembley. They whole country must of had a hangover today as nobody else up here taking in the humid still morning air. Today's book from from the Westmeston phone box free book exchange - Healthcare Economics made easy! Later for full English brunch with L & D to Age Concern in Hassocks -including an unfortunate incident with brown sauce and a chair and the carpetChris Pearson01/08/2022
100th ascent of Ditchling Beacon.(21st just this month) With L on our regular morning circuit from Ditchling. No fuss, no fanfare, no photos, no strava, nor tik tok, facebook or instagram posts - just butterflies, birds and the whispering long grass and beautiful summer flowers with green Sussex in our eyes and breeze on our faces. Philosophical chat today -trying to understand Stephen Hawkins great answers to big questions that the universe has a defined start point and age that there cant be a God? If only he too had been able to enjoy 100 ascents of The Beacon he might have revised his thoughts on this? Inscribed on his gravestone is his famous (genius) equation - Hawking's radiation temperature equation -relating to black holes.Chris Pearson31/07/2022
Fascinating long chat in car park with Steve and Phil from Sussex Wildlife Trust doing one of their consultation meets re. the future management of The Beacon - extended managed grazing to promote diversity (sheep in the winter, cattle in summer (cattle don't eat the flowers apparently just the scrub). Turns out that as we live in Ditchling (for now) we might have commoners rights to graze our sheep up here (if we had any!). Got an encyclopaedic naming of all the wild flowers around us. Phil an avid birdwatcher - could name the year (1990) when an Ancient Murlret by mistake got off track from the Pacific and visited Lundy whilst I was there climbing -drawing in thousands of birders. Never been seen in Europe since. An uplifting chat listening to two enthusiasts discussing nature. Nice prelude to my moving onto 99 ascents of The Beacon (Good to know Steve & Phil and friends are looking after it).Chris Pearson28/07/2022
Return of early morning sun (after yesterday's grey) for a lovely circuit enjoying the long grasses and wild flowers. Straight up Sledge Hill direct and along to trig -disturbing a perched crow. Down Westmeston weaving through the snagging bramble thicket. Plums now out of reach on our secret tree as we have picked all those we could. L & I keeping last night's successful 4-0 England Women's Euro semi final football win over Sweden a secret from each other -thinking the other didn't know pending watching it on i-player with her dad -who also knew but pretended he didn't so not to spoil it for us!Chris Pearson27/07/2022
Our usual post breakfast Westmeston - Sledge Hill round. Met the vet's wife on the hill just back from a 2.30am airport run to Stanstead and now out with her two barking rescue dogs on their long leads. The dogs sound vicious but it's all bluster - once you dare enter within their lead stretch radius all they want is to be stroked and made a fuss of and to lick you in return. Later L took Sky the cat for a ride in her bicycle basket! and then we braved the gloomy on / off showers to watch cricket on the rec with D. Unusually both opening batsmen were on 97 at the same time - which coincidentally is my current number of ascents of Ditchling Beacon. Sadly there was no room on the scoreboard to add this fact. Happily both batsmen went on to make a century - hopefully I will follow suit in 3 days. Meanwhile in over-preparation we each sampled a huge slab of blond bourbon biscuit cake from Bang's van.Chris Pearson26/07/2022
Around with L once again for our morning perambulation in the now standard shorts, t-shirt, sunhat and sunglasses already by 8am at the start of another 24 degrees blissful summer day of blue skies. Came back with a found water bottle, replacement haul of plums (having to stretch high for them now) and a kind offer to pet sit for a neighbour next April for 2 weeks looking after her 4 dogs and 9 horses -probably not -days of poo picking and worried the horses might die of missed colic does not sound that relaxing. Another Sunday -another 'ultra' something or other along the SDW with arrows cable tied to every gate for the severely myopic and navigationally bewildered who cant follow the crest of the Downs on a huge path already adequately marked with frequent SDW sings. Back home for tea and toast and Wordle, with D-staying with us for 3 weeks.Chris Pearson24/07/2022
Not at out best today as I had a strapped up swollen ankle and L had spent last night vomiting impressively. Another lovely warm morning. Chap from Tasmania over visiting his mum out for a bike ride grateful for our reassurance that the SDW was OK for cycling to Lewes. Noticed a lone apple tree near summit and another by Underhill car park - possibly from discarded apple cores by picnickers in times past?Chris Pearson22/07/2022
Early outing this morning -a lovely 17 degrees with a nice breeze at 8am rising to 20 during our 3 mile outing. signs up that Sussex Wildlife Trust are consulting on future of Beacon - Their main aim is to get the grazing of the scrub right to encourage the beautiful grassland summer flowers and nectar and hence butterflies. Livestock also provide microhabitats for plants and invertebrates through creating patches of bare ground and swards of different heights. Visitors in their survey (of 200) also want less dog mess, less litter, more benches, better paths (?) and inevitably better car parking. Cheaper ice creams would get my vote.Chris Pearson21/07/2022
Only a pleasant 25 degrees today for our post breakfast loop after a welcome 10 degree drop overnight from yesterday's furnace where the nearest met station at Charlwood, Surrey - hit 39.1 -breaking the previous UK record of 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019 at Cambridge - before later in the day Connigsby melted into the UK record with 40.2 As of 5pm, 34 weather stations had exceeded the previous UK temperature record of 38.7C, and five had equalled it.The Met Office measure temperature in shaded slatted Stephenson Screens at 1.5 m above the surface. There are @420 such stations(both automatic and manuel) across the UK - typically 40k apart. Something else to bag? Interesting to see where they are. Kew Gardens & Heathrow are well known -but less so Keswick Sewerage Works which sounds not so fun -especially on a hot day.Chris Pearson20/07/2022
Was today the final global warming wake up call we could all feel and which we all ignored as usual as The UK Met Office announced that for the first time ever in England temperatures have gone above the 40 Celsius mark, with Heathrow seeing a high of 40.2C today. Got to an overpowering 35 down here bringing back memories of sweltering to a standstill in similar temps in India and Pakistan. Out early with L at 8am up the Nye to maximise tree shade then extended our walk for a mile along the wide smooth crest of the Downs to come down the V. Surprised by 2 D of E groups out despite the killer temps later - though they were out admirably early and sun hatted and one had an umbrella for shade - but even so - SAS and Marines maybe -but D of E groups out for a prolonged time on a day this hot? We enjoyed the cool interior of Westmeston church then ate our fill again at the plum tree and brought another hatful home. L spent the day trying to keep the poor cats cool.Chris Pearson19/07/2022
35 degrees forecast this afternoon so out in the 'cool' of 25 degrees at 9am with L for 1 and half hr loop. Went up the Nye to maximise the tree shade. Too early even for the ice cream van which was presumably busy re-stocking its freezers full for bumper sales today. Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke advice from Govt today. A mad runner was out following the shade-less crest on the SDW . Down Westmeston and the butterflies to get another hatfull of plums.Chris Pearson18/07/2022
90th Ascent-with L. Out with L at 8am to avoid the increasing heatwave -with tomorrow forecast to beat the UK all time recorded high temp -maybe topping 40 degrees for the first time ever near London. Big Butterfly Count is on nationwide for 3 weeks to gauge range and no of species -added 2 dozen common blues in a favoured patch mid-slope. Came back with another hatful of plums - should see me though the 1 day England v India cricket decider today.Chris Pearson17/07/2022
Talked to a stranger about dope! All legal as this was a model glider enthusiast flying his 40+ year old radio controlled glider with its huge wingspan to create the lift.- just like one I helped dad build as a child. Dope being a type of resin used to brush onto the tissue paper covering the balsa wood frame which would dry and shrink and tighten the paper drum tight over the frame. Wind too weak today to produce much uplift in the scorching high pressure-and the prospect too exhausting for our friend to trudge to the bottom of the hill and back up again to collect it from the limited appeal of a watching a simple gliding descent.Chris Pearson16/07/2022
Kestrel watching today...a pair can be regularly seen hovering over the upper Westmeston slope. We were surprised how we have never seen one darting down for prey -yet it seems hovering /floating on the air currents can be regarded as a sit and wait approach to hunting. Its favoured diet of voles apparently dribble a constant urine trail which is florescent and easily points the Kestrel to the hapless vole (wonder if that's why our cats catch so many?). Kestrels have done so well to avoid decline by pesticides etc by being to some extent r strategists - producing lots of offspring so that some will survive an unstable and unpredictable environment (similar to the example of rabbits and dandelions). Fascinating stuff.Chris Pearson14/07/2022
With L as usual. Beautiful delicate butterflies today dancing among the summer chalkland flowers and tall grasses. Mesmerising. Whilst in awe of nature - L supporting Attenborough's view that weeds should be seen as pioneers-growing in the most unlikely of places. Humid and sweltering even at 9am -went shirtless - a fineable offence in Turkey and parts of Spain & Italy according to Martin Lewis travel be-aware tips today -along which peeing in the sea in Vigo in Spain - and rightly so!Chris Pearson13/07/2022
Into a morning routine now. Breakfast then our hour plus circuit over the summit as I try to recover form post virus fatigue - before leaving L to do a few more ascents as I plod home down the Nye trying to convince myself I will be better at some point. More delicious early plums sampled o'hanging the f'path but the bumper crop needs a few more weeks of sunshine. The Amex stadium in view from the top where England Women beat Norway 8-0 last night. Signs around the ground stated it is Women play Football not Women's Football. L relating how Radio 4's Women's Hour meanwhile discussed insults & swearing and how today it is all around sexual vulgarity whereas it used to be around religion and afterlife with the likes of Go to Hell, God Damn You and May a Pox be on you!Chris Pearson12/07/2022
A taste of paradise today with ripe plums on the bountiful plum tree that overhangs the footpath - rich pickings to be had. Glorious heatwave continues. met friendly barking Lolly the terrier at Westmeston and friendly owner, then up out of the shade and through the wild flowers to the top. Stuck in the shady woods coming down to join the Nye.Chris Pearson11/07/2022
Glorious heatwave sizzles on. Out before 9 with L for our circuit - a forced march for me . Met our neighbours near top with their young family on a walk with teddy -ticking through list of 50 things to do before I'm 5! Met a SOTA chap on summit with his antennae set up on the trig (on a Sainsbury's baking tray to increase its effectiveness!) He kindly gave us a good explanation of how it all worked amazingly without droning on for hours. High pressure today meant a good chance of bouncing the VHF radio waves off the lower atmosphere and making contact with someone way down in France -earning good points for the league table. L dragged me away before I swapped hill bagging explanations in return. L continued for 3 more ascents armed with podcasts (American Neuro-Psychology) as otherwise terrified on this Sunday morning of only having the 1hr 15min Arches Omnibus on Radio 4 to listen to.Chris Pearson10/07/2022
Early to Tesco then out for our lovely circuit, but 1 and half hours and I'm done in with post viral fatigue. A day of resting in the garden in the sun and coming of milk and dairy to see if that helps.Chris Pearson09/07/2022
Start of a summer heatwave -sweltering by 9am. Walk up with L via Westmeston -stunning array of chalk grassland flowers - such vibrant colours and butterflies galore. Emotional walk as dad had died last night - anticipated but terrible when it finally happens. A day of phone calls and bursts of sobbing ahead. I'm also fighting the weariness of a post virus fatigue so nature and L had their work cut out to lift my spirits.Chris Pearson08/07/2022
Term just finished for summer. Celebratory walk with L. Nice chat with Christopher who lives at Westmeston - history of his cottage and surrounds, tour of his orchard and a polite rant about vet bills. Warm & humid sweat up then down Sledge Hill -stile and steps repaired this week . Home for tea in the garden -too hot for the cats to leave the shade.Chris Pearson06/07/2022
80th ascent. 3.5 hr walk with L on a sunny breezy day . Up the Nye -along SDW to Jack & Jill windmills- Jill's sweeps were turning. Down to Clayton - Hassocks back via Oldlands windmill (revisited next day for another inside tour whilst its sweeps were turning). Weary still from post virus fatigue -3.5hrs was a bit too much!Chris Pearson02/07/2022
School Exeat Monday. 3 steep ascents up and down Sledge Hill with L (twice up 'the steps'). A beautiful sunny morning then along to the trig.Chris Pearson20/06/2022
A busy Ditchling weekend. Yesterday the fair -with a marshalling job leading the horses at the front of the parade! All despite getting back in a taxi from London at 3.30am after a delayed train down from Cumbria then woken by the wizard walking round the village at 7am doing his wake up calls! Today it was the London to Brighton bike ride. With L we walked up the closed to traffic Beacon road amongst the throng of cyclists -most of them pushing. One lady was pushing two bikes - her own and one for her 14yr daughter who was by now too weak even to push. They grateful accepted our help to push one and a supportive chat. Then on our own to the trig then along SDW and down the V.Chris Pearson19/06/2022
As part of the SDW. Almost missed it though - I expected the trig to be a little more prominent and well visited.milimana15/06/2022
Morning circuit with L -beautiful summer's day. Sussex at its best. Met Susan on her morning run. Friendly couple with a large friendly bounding dog at the summit. Back out in the eve through the lower fields with Sky the cat following us bounding entertainingly through the long grass.Chris Pearson12/06/2022
With L -through the woods and wet long grass to through across the fields after overnight rain. Continued up the main Westmeston path for a change. Toying with idea of applying for the Foula teaching job - would be an adventure! Sun out later for a long lunch and afternoon of chat with Nick & Ann in the garden.Chris Pearson04/06/2022
My 75th ascent on the occasion of the The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 4 day weekend marking 70 years of service on the throne. 3500 beacons across the UK lit last night at 9.30pm, but in Ditchling it was on little Lodge Hill behind the church -much more accessible than on Ditchling Beacon itself -despite its name. A lovely warm summer day with L through waist high cow parsley and grass and buttercups in lower fields. Bit sleepy today though as I got up at 4:30 am to view the 5 planets alligned before dawn - but was too late! - will try again earlier tomorrow - almost like a planetry celebration for the Queen.Chris Pearson03/06/2022
Our usual lovely circular from the house up via Westmeston with visitors Tim, Marta and their dog Archie -who enjoyed being chased around the garden by Sky -our fearless cat! Rain shower at summit but sun soon came back.Chris Pearson29/05/2022
A couple of weeks since my last ascent -still feeling weary post covid and back at work. But a lovely sunny day with L via Westmeston -all so green. Up the V (aka Snowman Bostal as it features in The Snowman book by Raymond Briggs who lived here on Underhill Lane). SDW relay happening - busy with running clubs. L has done this before for Chi Runners -ran well- doing 3 legs but hated the minibus transfers on twisty roads - felt sick - and vowed nevef again. 1st day of half term - Queen's Platinum Jubilee coming up - Ditchling is having a scarecrow competition - we passed a great scarecrow of HM complete with corgis!Chris Pearson28/05/2022
With Debzlinzd20/05/2022
My first walk after 2 weeks laid low ill with a chest infection bug - I had all 8 of the possible Covid symptoms -but no testing kit! A bit wheezy and once up was enough for me today whilst L carried on with her Life Scientific podcasts for company. I rallied after lunch to wander around a couple of open art houses and gardens in the village -lovely in the sunshine.Chris Pearson08/05/2022
Out again for a killer 5 ascents of different ways up the scarp slope with L in 3 hours. Easter Monday. Same 5 ups as 3 days ago - running the downhills trying to build up our hill legs for our return to the Lakes in the summer. Soaked through with sweat on another lovely warm morning. Last day of my Easter hols.Chris Pearson18/04/2022