Devil's Dyke , Newtimber Hill and Wolstonbury Hill
Today was our first ride since the end of November. We decided on a local loop from Devil's Dyke around the bottom of Newtimber Hill and then over Wolstonbury Hill. Every year we do the same thing, a local ride following one of our summer routes that inevitably turns into a mud hell during the winter. Yet again the familier pattern was repeated, the memories of dry dusty single track tempting us onto trails that at this time of year are miles of uninterrupted mud of the worst kind. The deep chewy mud and fine slurry are not too bad; however the South Downs produces a viscous mud made from chalk with just a touch of clay and leaf detritus. This stuff is a killer. At the point the photo was taken the wheels of the bike would no longer rotate due to the tyre width 'growing' to approximately 4.5 inches with the extra mud. The Rohloff hub was fautless and was changing gear smoothly bang on the button everytime long after my buddie's LX/XT set-up had been strangled to death by the mud.
Directions: (OS Explorer Map 122)
From Devil's Dyke carpark we headed down the dyke itself using the narrow twisty bridleway that clings to the southside of the hill. The deep mud made this more than a little scary and caution over speed saw us get down without any mishaps. From the bottom of the dyke we headed to Saddlescombe farm. At Saddlescombe Farm take the gate immediately on the left where the South Downs Way heads up hill through the trees. Stay on this for a slog of a climb across and to the top of Newtimber Hill. At the top of Newtimber Hill find the bridleway that runs east/west, turn left to head west through a gate a down a belter of a descent to emerge on the A281 just west of Pyecombe. Turn right towards Pycombe and cross the A23 via the footbridge. Over the A23 keep going east past houses on your left to climb the chalky track and take the first bridleway on the left. Continue along here until you reach the first gate on the right, go through the gate to come out onto the north side of Wolstonbury Hill. This section is narrow, very muddy and badly rutted, get stuck in. Turn right to go straight over Wolstonbury Hill (hellishly muddy) to the bridleway intersection just west of Rockrose riding school. Take the brildeway on the right for a excellent blast down to Pycombe. Turn right in front of the church and go down the tarmac descent to cross the A23 on the fly-over bridge. Follow the bridleway that runs down the side of the A23 towards Brighton. After crossing the railway line on the old bridge climb to the tarmaced road and turn left to loop around the edge of the playing fields and rugby club at Waterhall. At the small carpark close to the clubhouse take the trail around the edge of the gate and climb up through the golf course. At the road turn left for 400 metres and then right to take the bridleway parallel to the road all the way back to Devil's Dyke.
Directions: (OS Explorer Map 122)
From Devil's Dyke carpark we headed down the dyke itself using the narrow twisty bridleway that clings to the southside of the hill. The deep mud made this more than a little scary and caution over speed saw us get down without any mishaps. From the bottom of the dyke we headed to Saddlescombe farm. At Saddlescombe Farm take the gate immediately on the left where the South Downs Way heads up hill through the trees. Stay on this for a slog of a climb across and to the top of Newtimber Hill. At the top of Newtimber Hill find the bridleway that runs east/west, turn left to head west through a gate a down a belter of a descent to emerge on the A281 just west of Pyecombe. Turn right towards Pycombe and cross the A23 via the footbridge. Over the A23 keep going east past houses on your left to climb the chalky track and take the first bridleway on the left. Continue along here until you reach the first gate on the right, go through the gate to come out onto the north side of Wolstonbury Hill. This section is narrow, very muddy and badly rutted, get stuck in. Turn right to go straight over Wolstonbury Hill (hellishly muddy) to the bridleway intersection just west of Rockrose riding school. Take the brildeway on the right for a excellent blast down to Pycombe. Turn right in front of the church and go down the tarmac descent to cross the A23 on the fly-over bridge. Follow the bridleway that runs down the side of the A23 towards Brighton. After crossing the railway line on the old bridge climb to the tarmaced road and turn left to loop around the edge of the playing fields and rugby club at Waterhall. At the small carpark close to the clubhouse take the trail around the edge of the gate and climb up through the golf course. At the road turn left for 400 metres and then right to take the bridleway parallel to the road all the way back to Devil's Dyke.
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