Devil's Dyke near Brighton

[Dee Sa]

We plan to go there by car over the next bank holiday but I once went "the pretty way" from Essex on to M25 then off again and through lovely small villages for most of the way, but cant remember the route, can anyone help ?
many tks Dee

[ChuckFickens]

you can do that route in so many different way, it is possible to leave the m25 at pretty much any point on the south side of it or any where off the m23 and work down through the countryside. and it's all lovely countryside down that way, you probably want to be heading towards haywards heath and Burgess hill and then down to brighton through ditchling to get to the right area.

Worth stopping at dichling beacon for some good views over the south downs, you've also got the clayton windmills on the same route.

I used to do that route coming of the m23 at the junction 10a and following the b2036 down through Balcombe into haywards heath then taking the b2112 from haywards heath through ditchling and clayton where it re joins the a23 a couple of miles outside brighton.

[Buenchico]

There are loads of routes which you might have taken but, assuming that your previous journey didn't involve a lot of route-planning on a road atlas, the most likely way that you'll have gone is probably along the A281:

Continue, on the M25, past the normal Brighton turn and then leave the motorway at Junction 9. Follow the signs for 'A24 Dorking'. Stay on the A24 for about 20 miles then (on the edge of Horsham) turn left onto the A281. This passes through attractive countryside and eventually brings you within a mile or two of Devil's Dyke, which you'll see signposted.

Chris

[gen2]

Dee Sa, You will have to be very careful here with your terminology and definitions. Contrary to the popular belief held by many of the modern generation, the 'Devil's Dyke' is a VALLEY. It was supposedly dug by the Devil in an attempt to dig through the South Downs and flood the Weald. Unfortunately, morning came too soon and he had to stop before it was completed. The HILL above the valley is wrongly also referred to by the same name. Given the right weather conditions, you can frequently observe (or even join in, if that is your sport) hang-gliding and paragliding along that part of the escarpment. I also saw hot-air ballooning near there last October.

[sp1214]

As you come off the M25 near Sevenoaks turn off the A21 and head for Ashdown Forest (of Pooh sticks fame) then after stopping for a while head in a SE direction to rejoin the A22. Then divert once again unitl you reac the A23 the Brighton road and quite close to Devils Dyke. Allow much greater time for your travel though.

[Dee Sa]

many tks to all, yes it is the hill above the valley we are aiming for, but it is signposted as Devils Dyke I believe, just happy to picnic and watch others hang glide.