Devil's Dyke is a v-shaped chalkland dry valley that’s home to wildflowers and many species of butterflies. Unique and picturesque, it's a popular destination for hiking or relaxing in nature.

The name comes from a legend: the devil, furious for the conversion of the Kingdom of Sussex to Christianity, dug a dyke through the South Downs to allow the water from the sea to flow through and drown the villages of the Sussex Weald.

The site was a hillfort in the Iron Age. You can still see some earthworks and burrows in the surrounding area. Apparently it was a very popular destination in Victorian times, with a funfair and even a railway line from Brighton!

It gets busy on the weekend but it's a paradise if you manage to hike here on a weekday.

Steve, Sasha and Poppy

June 5, 2021

Lovely v iews, but (unlike me) choose a clear day!

mark hewitt

June 14, 2023

great views plenty of walks around this area

Details

Informations

Elevation 190 m

Weather

Today

Friday 26 December

6°C

1°C

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Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

Most visited during

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Poynings, Mid Sussex, West Sussex, South East England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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View of the Sussex Countryside

Bridleway Through South Downs Farmland

View from West Hill

Keymer Post Viewpoint

Devil's Dyke Road

The Shepherd & Dog

View of Devil's Dyke

Devil's Dyke Trig Point

View of Fulking from Fulking Hill

Edburton Road

Stanmer Park Woodland Footpath

Devil's Dyke

1. Devil's Dyke loop — South Downs National Park

2. Devil's Dyke, Edburton & Polynings loop — South Downs National Park

3. Fulking loop from Devil's Dyke — South Downs National Park

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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