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Blackcap Summit and Trig Point – Ditchling Beacon Climb loop from Lewes

Blackcap Summit and Trig Point – Ditchling Beacon Climb loop from Lewes

Moderate

5.0

(2)

riders

Blackcap Summit and Trig Point – Ditchling Beacon Climb loop from Lewes

01:47

23.4km

330m

Gravel riding

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

Last updated: March 22, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 15.2 km for 261 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

3.83 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

5.55 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

7.41 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

7.41 km

View Over Plumpton from Streat Hill

Highlight • Trail

This area of the South Downs saw running battles during the Battle of Lewes in 1264, and in more recent history these hills were used by the army as training grounds during WW2. The hard concrete surface descending the scarp slope at Plumpton Bostall was laid at this time as a tank trap.
This ridge with views across the Weald towards the High Weald and beyond that the North Downs is part of the Clayton to Offham Escarpment. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its woodland and chalk grassland. Here you can find many types or orchid including burnt tip orchids, fragrant orchids and frog orchids.

Tip by

9.67 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

11.8 km

Bluebell MTB Trail, Stanmer Park

Highlight • MTB Park

This is the beginning of a nice downhill track through Bluebells in Stanmer Park which is a designated MTB trail park.

Tip by

12.3 km

Ditchling Road Stanmer Mountain Bike Trails

Highlight • Trail

expect some drops and jumps!

Tip by

13.3 km

Stanmer Park Trails

Highlight • Historical Site

Stanmer Park is a large park in the north-east of Brighton and is a local nature reserve. There are a variety of things to see and do in the park, including visiting its diverse woodland, the historic church, village, and pond, the walled garden, and Stanmer House. There are lots of varied cycle tracks there, ranging from a variety of good-quality single-track to family-friendly trails.

Tip by

14.2 km

Grubbings

Forest

23.4 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.5 km

4.25 km

4.17 km

2.48 km

1.38 km

634 m

Surfaces

12.5 km

9.32 km

1.27 km

379 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (240 m)

Lowest point (10 m)

Weather

Saturday 23 May

29°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Blackcap Summit and Trig Point – Ditchling Beacon Climb loop from Lewes

Cuckoo Bottom Track

Blackcap Summit and Trig Point

View from Plumpton Bostal

View Over Plumpton from Streat Hill

Ditchling Beacon Climb

Bluebell MTB Trail, Stanmer Park

Ditchling Road Stanmer Mountain Bike Trails

Stanmer Park Trails

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