At the top of Firle Beacon

Location: Near Firle, East Sussex, UK (GR 486059)
Height:  217 metres (711 feet)

For this ascent I started in the village of Alciston, which is a good access point for the beacon (unless you want to cheat of course and start at the Bopeep Bostal car park near the top of the hill rather than from sea level).  From Alciston it is a short but stiff climb up the side of the escarpment to reach the top of the South Downs and join the South Downs Way. You can then follow the South Downs Way to the west along the ridge to reach the trig point at the top of Firle Beacon.

Although Firle Beacon is not particularly high as far as hills go, because most of the surrounding landscape is at sea level it provides fantastic views to both the North, across the Sussex Weald and South, towards the English Channel.

At the top is a cluster of Stone Age barrows, although little remains of them now other than a few mounds showing the location of the original earthwork.

The trig point marking the summit of Firle Beacon

It is possible to descend from here on a path that runs down the distinctive broad shoulder of Firle Beacon that can be seen and distinguished for miles around. At the bottom a cinder track leads directly back to Alciston.

This is probably one of the more dramatic hills situated on the South Downs way and well worth a visit if you are in the area and have a couple of hours free. It is quite exposed up on the top though, so probably best saved for a day with good weather.

Video: Firle Beacon