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Ditchling Common Country Park

2.49 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Explore 188 acres of lovely parkland near Burgess Hill in East Sussex. The park trails pass oak trees, grassland, a lake and a stream. Many different birds visit the park including stonechats, linnets, woodpeckers, chiffchaffs, and blackcaps. In the spring months the area is a draw for walkers as it's covered in carpets of bluebells. Cycling is permitted through the park along the bridleways but all of the paths are open to walkers.
There is a car park on Folders Lane at the southern end of the site. From here you can pick up the trails heading north across the common. Burgess Hill train station is about a mile to the west if you prefer to visit by public transport.

Postcode

BN6 8SQ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Ditchling Common Country Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Ditchling Common Country Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The common is a nice place to take the dog for a walk so you'll probably bump into other owners on your visit. There are dog bins dotted around the site too. There is cattle and wildlife on the common so it's advised to keep them under close control or on leads.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The Sussex Border Path skirts the south eastern edge of the common. You could pick up this waymarked trail and follow it south to visit Ditchling Beacon on the Burgess Hill Walk. There are great views over the Low Weald from this popular viewpoint.
On the northern side of Burgess Hill there's the Bedelands Nature Reserve to explore. The wildlife rich reserve includes bluebell woodland, wildflower meadows, grazed meadows, a lake and a waterfall.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Sussex Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1450766

Ditchling Common. Looking towards the railway bridge in the southern section of the common now used for pasture but not part of the country park to the north.

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 57519

Looking west from the Bridleway that links Folders Lane East to St Mary's House. The Country Park was set up in 1975 and covers 188 acres.

Trail, Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1446464

Part of a hard trail set up by East Sussex County Council the owners of Ditchling Common Country Park.

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1462153

Small section wedged between the railway, the B2112 and Hopkin's Crank and other houses to the west. The area was once the site of the common's former pound where stray or escaped animals were kept until their owners reclaimed them for a small fee. The building beyond the bracken is Woodbarton Cottage.

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1450759

The section of the common south of Folders Lane East is now used as pasture though it is not part of the country park set up in 1974. The trees in the distance mark the course of Common Lane, the B2112.

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1450781

Looking towards the section once known as Coopers Corner and now containing City Cottages. The cottages would have been constructed there by small farmers to make use of the nearby common to supplement the small numbers of fields they possessed.

Ditchling Common - geograph.org.uk - 1446278

Small section of the common to the west of the B2112 which is now surrounded by ditches to prevent use by travellers. The house partially obscured by trees is Hopkin's Crank named after the field it was built in.

Ditchling Common lake - geograph.org.uk - 1081480

Ditchling Common lake

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Ditchling Common Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Ditchling Common Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)