“The Downs…” wrote Virginia Woolf in her Diaries, “too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness…” A range of chalk hills extending across the south eastern coastal counties of England, the South Downs include some truly magnificent landscapes – from rolling hills and white cliffs to steep escarpments and dry valleys.
Devil’s Dyke in Sussex is one such magnificent landscape. Just five miles north-west of Brighton, Devil’s Dyke is a 100-metre deep dry valley on the South Downs. Though a local myth suggests that the valley was formed by a glacier, it was actually carved out by a river at the end of the last Ice Age. With its stunning views across the South Downs and the Sussex Weald, it’s no surprise that Devil’s Dyke became such a popular tourist attraction in the late 19th century, and continues to draw thousands of visitors a year.
This design shows the fabulous westward view from Devil’s Dyke, the South Downs escarpment dropping down onto the Weald – the perfect scene to enjoy as you’re drying the dishes!
