Castle Hill Nature Reserve in East Sussex is a beautiful spot. Actually, they are both beautiful spots. Because before we go further, it’s important to understand that there are two Castle Hills between Brighton and Newhaven and they are both nature reserves.
Castle Hill at Woodingdean
There is a Castle Hill north east of Brighton in between Woodingdean and Kingston. If you are walking the South Downs Way, once you’ve climbed up from the A27 at Housedean, this Castle Hill is on your right as you walk east along Kingston Ridge.
This is a National Nature Reserve and also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s an area of just under 9 hectares of chalk grassland and diverse flora and fauna. Look out for the Sussex flower, the round-headed rampion, as well as orchids and wartbiter crickets! It is also the location of the lost village of Balsdean. Basldean was first recorded in 1100. There was some habitation there right up until WWII but after the area was evacuated, no one ever returned. All that remains is a farm building.
If you park / start in Kingston, there is a stunning 7 km walk you can do around Castle Hill although it does include some chunky climbs (elevation is 243 m).
Castle Hill at Newhaven
Castle Hill Nature Reserve near Newhaven is to west of the town and is a little pocket of wonder. This is a 16.4-hectare Local Nature Reserve. It is owned by Lewes District Council and managed in partnership with the Castle Hill Conservation Group. It is also part of Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Geological Conservation Review site.
It’s a short climb up from Newhaven Fort or from the car park. There are spectacular views of Newhaven harbour and the coast. The area was once a Bronze Age and Iron Age hill fort and then later, of course, a Victorian fort was built. The fort is the largest work of defence ever constructed in Sussex and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. There are WWII gun emplacements on the top of the cliff.
It’s less than quarter of a kilometer from the car park to the top but from there, walk along the clifftop path towards Peacehaven. There are stunning views and lots of wildlife.
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