5 Best Hikes Near Brighton
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The South Downs Way clips Brighton’s northern edge, so a proper chalk-downland hike is a bus ride away, not a day trip requiring a car. Five routes below cover everything from a flat afternoon stroll to a full coastal day out, all doable on Brighton & Hove Buses. Book a room near the station or North Laine if hiking is a priority, check rates on Booking.com before your dates fill up, that side of town puts you closest to the northbound buses.
Five hikes at a glance
| Hike | Distance | Difficulty | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ditchling Beacon to Devil’s Dyke | Moderate, several miles | Moderate | Bus 79 out, bus 77 back |
| Devil’s Dyke loop | Short loop | Easy to moderate | Bus 77 |
| Stanmer Park to Wild Park | A few miles | Easy | Bus 78 |
| The Undercliff Walk | ~3 miles / 5km | Easy, flat | Walk from Marina |
| Seven Sisters cliff path | Several miles, exposed | Serious | Coaster bus 12/12A/12X |
Is the bus to Devil’s Dyke worth planning around?
Yes, but it needs planning. The 77 Breeze bus climbs from central Brighton, near the Palace Pier, through Prestonville and Westdene to open downland in about 30 minutes, and it’s the only realistic way to reach Devil’s Dyke without a car. The catch: it runs weekends and bank holidays year-round, plus weekdays in summer only, so a random Tuesday in March won’t have a bus. Check the current timetable before you plan a specific day, this is the one scheduling trap that catches first-timers here.
Ditchling Beacon to Devil’s Dyke, the signature walk
This stretch of the South Downs Way, linking Ditchling Beacon to Devil’s Dyke, is the classic Brighton hike: open downland, sea views on one side and the Weald on the other, moderate difficulty. Ditchling Beacon itself is 248 metres, the highest point in East Sussex and the third-highest in the South Downs National Park, and the Way’s bridleway runs directly through its car park. Take the 79 bus out to Ditchling Beacon (Sundays and bank holidays year-round, plus Saturdays in summer) and walk to Devil’s Dyke, then catch the 77 back into town, or do it in reverse. Either way it’s a linear walk, not a loop, so plan your bus timing around the direction you’re heading.
Devil’s Dyke on its own, if you’re short on time
If you only have a half-day, Devil’s Dyke supports its own shorter loops without the walk to Ditchling Beacon: a rim walk around the dry valley for the views alone, or a longer route into the valley and back. The Devil’s Dyke pub sits right at the bus terminus if you want a pint before heading back, and the site is a popular hang-gliding launch, worth ten minutes of just watching if the wind’s up.
Stanmer Park into the open Downs
For an easier, woodland-first option, Stanmer Park (bus 78 direct from Old Steine, daily except Christmas Day) has footpaths that link through the historic village and up into Wild Park and the open Downs beyond. It’s a gentler climb than Devil’s Dyke and a good pick if you want tree cover for part of the walk rather than open chalk grassland the whole way.
The Undercliff Walk, for an easy flat day
Not every hike here needs hills. The Undercliff Walk runs about 3 miles from Brighton Marina to Saltdean along a flat, paved promenade beneath the chalk cliffs, passing Ovingdean Gap and Rottingdean. It’s easy enough for anyone, genuinely quiet compared to the central seafront, and a good option if the Downs buses aren’t running that day. We cover more of the parks and reserves along the way in our Brighton nature spots guide .
Seven Sisters, the serious option
If you want a real day-long hike rather than a half-day walk, the cliff-top path from Birling Gap or Cuckmere Haven toward Eastbourne is it, several exposed miles along the chalk cliffs with no shade and no shortcuts back. Take the Coaster bus (12, 12A or 12X from central Brighton, roughly 75-100 minutes) to Birling Gap to start, and decide how far to walk before turning back or continuing on to Eastbourne. Bring water and proper footwear, this one isn’t a stroll. Full transport details are in our Brighton day trips guide .
Book ahead for the trickier logistics
If a hiking day depends on the 77 or 79 bus, check buses.co.uk the night before, the weekday-summer-only rule on the 77 catches people every year. For a longer South Downs Way route done properly with a guide, browse South Downs walking tours , and see southdowns.gov.uk for official trail maps and any path closures.
One concrete tip: if you’re only doing one hike, make it Ditchling Beacon to Devil’s Dyke on a Saturday or Sunday, that’s the day both buses run on their full schedule, so you’re not stuck waiting for a service that only shows up on weekdays in July.