A small cache hidden near the upper station of the historic Devil's Dyke Steep Grade Railway
The coordinates are the location of what remains of the upper station of the Devil's Dyke funicular railway. Search around here for a small cache.
LOCAL INFORMATION
The Steep Grade Railway
Built in 1887, a funicular railway ran 256m down the north face of the slope from Devil's Dyke to just outside Poynings, the village you can see before you. The railway consisted of two carriages that ran on narrow gauge railway tracks, powered by an oil engine that was housed near the upper station. Unusually for funicular railways, the gradient of the track was not consistent throughout its length and so the two carriages had to be run independently. At its steepest, the gradient of the track was 1:1.5, and the carriages travelled at approximately 3mph. Despite the obvious allure of making it far easier to ascend the Dyke from the north, anticipated passenger traffic never materialised and the railway was closed just over 11 years after it opened.
Iconic Views From the Dyke
Few views capture the landscape of the South Downs, or are as iconic and well used as the view west from the north of Devil’s Dyke. Looking along the Fulking escarpment, on a clear day you can see Chanctonbury Ring; a ring of beach trees originally planted in 1790, which surround an Iron Age hill fort. Folk law tells that the devil could be summoned by running seven times widdershins (anti-clockwise) around the Ring, after which he would offer you a bowl of soup for your soul. Others have taken inspiration from the Ring in a different way. Take comfort from the fact that the mathematician and logician Bertrand Russell once said ‘Any view that includes Chanctonbury Ring is a good view.’
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY
Catch the number 77 bus up to the top to explore this area. This is a regular bus service seven days a week.
You can cycle to this geocache, access to the area is via the South Downs Way and tarmac road up to the top car park. You'll need to walk the last 80m to the cache - take the time to admire the view as you walk.
PERMISSION
Thank you to the National Trust for permission to place this cache.