17 July 2010 Ditchling Beacon

Photo taken just outside Ditchling Beacon, one of the highest points in the South Downs and site of an Iron Age defensive stronghold. We rode the bus to Ditchling, hiked about 6.5 miles to Devil’s Dyke, had a pint at the pub (of course there’s a pub!) and then rode a different bus back to Brighton. The highlight of the whole trip? (Besides the pint): the Jill Windmill, a 19th-century mill turning steadily in the wind when we passed by. (The Jack windmill, a short distance away, is derelict.) We were fortunate to arrive on a day when Jill was open to the public, and so we all clambered up inside and inspected the gears and machinery, had a go at the manual grindstone they have on display, and listened to the regular creaking of the wood as the blades turned. It was very cool, an excellent mid-point on our hike through English history: from Iron Age hill fort to 19th-century windmill to 21st century pub. Definitely the right direction, even if we did walk into the wind most of the way.