Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill

Saddlescombe farm is a hidden gem on the South Downs Way. Near Devil's Dyke in West Sussex, the hamlet is only five miles from the seaside city of Brighton.

Documented in the Domesday Book, this unique example of a Downland farm recounts what life was really like throughout the last 1,000 years. Intriguingly, it was, even once home to the Knights Templar.

Newtimber Hill, one of the finest examples of chalk grassland in the country, borders the farm and offers walks with superb views of the sea and the South Downs. In early autumn, the hill is covered in a purple blanket of Devil's bit scabious. It is also a real hot spot for rare flora and fauna like the silver spotted skipper butterfly, burnt orchid and juniper tree.

The north face of Newtimber Hill is home to woodland which has stood the test of time for thousands of years. Here you can discover truly ancient lime trees, bluebells galore and beech trees with graffiti dating back to 1880.

The Hiker's Rest tea-room at Saddlescombe, provides the perfect spot to re-energise and reflect after an invigorating walk.