Ditchling Beacon
Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex and a scenic viewpoint on the South Downs. It offers wide views over the landscape with fields, rolling hills, and distant villages, while chalk grassland and open terrain form the surrounding area.
The site once served as a beacon station where fire signals were used to send warnings across long distances. Remains of an Iron Age hillfort lie nearby, showing that people have used this elevated spot for defense and observation for thousands of years.
The name comes from warning fires that once burned here to alert distant communities in times of danger. Today, visitors gather at this spot to connect with the open landscape and experience the quiet that the place offers to those seeking a break from everyday life.
The location is easily reached by car and has a simple car park that can fill quickly on busy days. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare for exposed weather, as the summit is open and wind is often present.
Nearby stand two 19th-century windmills, Jill and Jack, that recall the region's grain-milling past. Jack is the only surviving male mill in England and is now used as a private home for occasional events and filming.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
