Dyke Railway Easy Access Trail
A lovely outing with sea and country views, but absolutely no facilities!
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Getting There / Parking:
The trail starts from Hangleton, north of Hove, and goes towards Devil’s Dyke.
You can get to the beginning of the trail by bus – nos. 5B, 16 and 66, all from Central Brighton. The bus stop is in Hangleton Way, opposite Poplar Avenue. It’s probably best to ask for the Downs Man Pub. The entrance to the trail is between the pub and a little row of shops.
If you’re coming by car there is a small car park here.
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Getting Around / Facilities:
Having been a railway track the trail is pretty level with no steep bits or steps, and is tarmac all the way. The first part is through trees (see picture) until you come to a bridge over the bypass, and is noisy for a while until you get away from the traffic noise. The rest of the trail is open - golf course and countryside with great views of downs and sea. At 2 points there is a type of gateway consisting of 2 wooden posts sloping in towards each other. I got through without difficulty in my standard size power chair but I’m not sure a really large wheelchair could make it.
I did roughly a mile and a half, to the point where the trail crosses Devil’s Dyke Road, where I turned round and came back. The further part was a rough surface, and it doesn’t go all the way to Devil’s Dyke, but I‘ll explore that another time.
Bus no 77 which goes to Devil’s Dyke can be requested to stop from the road. I don’t know how possible it would be to get on with a wheelchair where there is no kerb.
The trail is used a lot by cyclists.
There are no loos!
At the beginning the Downs Man pub has food and the parade of shops includes takeaways.
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Additional Comments:
The Dyke Railway Trail follows part of the route taken by the old Dyke Railway Branch Line. The line opened in September 1887. It was built to carry passengers from the seaside town of Hove to the beauty spot of Devil's Dyke where there was also what would be described today as an amusement park. When the railway finally closed in December 1938, the line lay unused until the Dyke Railway Trail was created in 1988.
From the trail, you can enjoy the fine views of downland, farmland and sea. Benfield Hill Local Nature Reserve to the west of the trail contains nationally rare chalk grassland which is rich in wildlife and depends on grazing for its survival.
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Reviewed By:
Pat
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Review Date:
August 2010, updated 17/3/2011 by Pappya
Published in
Parks and Walks - Hove
