Blackcap
Lewes, East Sussex
Photo: Chris Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Chris Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0
A 623-acre stretch of the South Downs ridge just west of Lewes, with views north across the Weald and south towards the coast. Sunken droveways, burial mounds and the route Simon de Montfort is said to have taken to the Battle of Lewes in 1264 give it plenty of history. Bracky Bottom, a secluded coombe, is a lovely spot on a summer evening.
Highlights
- Ridge-top views over the Weald
- Bracky Bottom, a quiet bracken-filled coombe
- Wild marjoram across the hillside in summer
- On the South Downs Way
Good to know
- Dogs welcome but must be under control
- Buses 166 and 824 stop at Offham, with a walk up from the Blacksmith's Arms
- No postcode is given; use the B2116 lay-by west of Lewes
Getting there
Blackcap, Lay-by on the B2116, west of Lewes, East SussexParking: Small free lay-by on the B2116 (not National Trust, open 24 hours), with the entrance to Blackcap opposite.
Get directionsChecked on 16 October 2026 against nationaltrust.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Image: National TrustDitchling Beacon
At 248 metres, Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex, with views to the sea in one direction and across the Weald in the other. The South Downs Way runs along the ridge past the remains of an Iron Age hillfort.
Image: Sussex Archaeological Society (Sussex Past)Lewes Castle and Museum
A Norman castle built after the Battle of Hastings, with steep steps up to the keep and panoramic views across Lewes and the Sussex countryside. The museum covers prehistoric to medieval Sussex, which makes it a handy rainy-day add-on.
Image: The Sussex Archaeological SocietyAnne of Cleves House
A 15th-century timber-framed house in Southover, given to Anne of Cleves when her marriage to Henry VIII ended, although she never lived in it. Rooms are set out to show Tudor and Elizabethan home life, and there is a Tudor-style garden to wander afterwards.