Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill
Saddlescombe, West Sussex
Photo: AndyScott, CC0A working farm hamlet on the South Downs Way near Devil's Dyke, recorded in the Domesday Book and once held by the Knights Templar. Look for the well-preserved donkey wheel that once drew water from a 50-metre well, then climb Newtimber Hill for ancient woodland, chalk grassland and views to the sea.
Highlights
- Donkey wheel over a 50-metre well
- Farmhouse dating partly from about 1630
- Newtimber Hill butterflies and orchids
- A 1,000-year-old lime tree and spring bluebells
Good to know
- Dogs on leads are welcome
- It is still a working farm, so some areas are closed
- The 77 bus to Devil's Dyke stops about 20 minutes' walk away
Getting there
Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, Saddlescombe Road, near Brighton, West Sussex, BN45 7DEParking: No parking on the farm. Use the car parks at Summerdown (BN45 7FH), about a quarter of a mile away, or Devil's Dyke (BN1 8YJ), about 1.5 miles along the South Downs Way.
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 TrustDevil's Dyke
The longest, deepest and widest dry valley in Britain, cut into the South Downs just north of Brighton. Walk the Iron Age ramparts for the view Constable called the grandest in the world, then drop into the valley itself.
Image: Albourne EstateAlbourne Estate
A family-owned vineyard and winery overlooking the South Downs, about eight miles from Brighton, making still and sparkling wine from its own grapes. In season you can book a vineyard tour with wine and cheese, a guided tasting or a self-guided walk through the vines.
Image: Tates of SussexMuseum of Gardening and South Downs Heritage Centre
A free museum of gardening history at Tates' South Downs Nurseries in Hassocks, set up by the Budding Foundation and named after Edwin Beard Budding, who invented the lawnmower in 1830. The heritage centre also houses The Cube art gallery, the Sussex Food Hall and a craft studio, so it pairs easily with lunch and a browse.