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Ditchling Beacon Climb – Firle Beacon summit loop from Plumpton

Ditchling Beacon Climb – Firle Beacon summit loop from Plumpton

Hard

5.0

(6)

116

riders

Ditchling Beacon Climb – Firle Beacon summit loop from Plumpton

06:45

79.6km

1,520m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 19, 2026

Tips

Includes very steep uphill segments

You may need to push your bike.

After 27.9 km for 90 m

After 65.2 km for 300 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

3.11 km

Brocks Wood

Forest

6.98 km

Ditchling Beacon Climb

Highlight • Climb

Ditchling Beacon is the third-highest point on the South Downs, with spectacular views - it's a great climb to test the legs on.

Tip by

11.1 km

Blackcap Summit and Trig Point

Highlight • Viewpoint

Blackcap is a National Trust owned area of countryside on the peak of the South Downs, just south east of the village of Plumpton in East Sussex, England. It is also mainly part of the Clayton to Offham Escarpment SSSI. The reserve contains the hills of Blackcap 206 metres (676 ft) in the parish of East Chiltington, Mount Harry 196 metres (643 ft) in the parish of Hamsey and the wooded area of Ashcombe Bottom in the parish of St John Without.

Some wonderful views over the Weald to the North and it is also next to a wonderful forested escarpment. You can also see the beacon at Mount Harry to the East and the Downs at the back of Newhaven to Brighton to the South.

Tip by

12.8 km

Cuckoo Bottom Track

Highlight • Viewpoint

This is a wonderful stretch of track running just below Mount Harry, and it continues below Black Cap too before it joins the South Down Way at the Beeches. A great biking section overall.

Tip by

33.3 km

Firle Beacon summit

Highlight • Summit

Standing at 712 feet (217 m) tall, Firle Beacon affords extensive views over the South Downs. There are many ancient burial sites on and around the summit, many of which are visible today. According to folklore, a giant who lived on Firle Beacon killed the giant of nearby Wilmington Hill, whose body is marked by the Long Man of Wilmington.

Tip by

36.0 km

South Downs Way: Alfriston to Lewes

Highlight (Segment) • Natural

This section has recently been resurfaced-there’s a lot of loose fine gravel.

Tip by

38.3 km

Alfriston Village

Highlight • Settlement

Alfriston is a village community surrounded by the Wealden South Downs. We sit near the eastern end of the South Downs Way where this national path splits three ways, going east, west and south, from the very centre of our historic village.

Around the village, visitors can enjoy the famous St Andrew's church (the "Cathedral of the South Downs"), the clergy house (the National Trust's first property) and our wide range of galleries, cafés, pubs and shops.

Tip by

41.3 km

Old Coach Road (Firle to Alfriston)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Gravelly, undulating road which folllows the foot of the Downs from Firle to Alfriston

Tip by

74.2 km

View from Plumpton Bostal

Highlight • Climb

Plumpton Bostal is a particularly tough climb and descent, as the road surface is a mixture of broken tarmac, concrete and some areas of just rubble. This, combined with its steep gradient, make it one of the more challenging of the Sussex bostals.

The Half Moon pub at the bottom is well worth calling in at!

Tip by

79.6 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

42.5 km

15.9 km

14.0 km

4.26 km

2.17 km

699 m

148 m

Surfaces

50.7 km

13.7 km

10.9 km

2.56 km

1.67 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (220 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Wednesday 24 June

33°C

19°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

April 12, 2025,Glorious Gravel - South Downs

A lovely sunny day to tackle the South Downs. Some familiar and some new climbs, with great food stops!

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Ditchling Beacon Climb – Firle Beacon summit loop from Plumpton

Ditchling Beacon Climb

Blackcap Summit and Trig Point

Cuckoo Bottom Track

Firle Beacon summit

South Downs Way: Alfriston to Lewes

Alfriston Village

Old Coach Road (Firle to Alfriston)

View from Plumpton Bostal

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