Walk - Mount Caburn

What defines Mount Caburn from most of the other South Downs is that it an isolated peak, separated from the other hills by the River Ouse and its tributary, Glynde Reach. It is one of the highest peaks in Sussex – hence its grand name – and a natural chalk grassland reserve: in summer marjoram vetch and Sussex rampion flourish. In late summer it is well known as a haven for butterflies. But what makes the place most fascinating is its history. Mount Caburn is one of the most heavily excavated sites in Britain, but what it was used for in prehistoric times remains shrouded in mystery. It is thought that in the Bronze Age the hill, then surrounded by a yew forest, was a taboo site. Despite its important strategic position, and evidence of settlements all around, no artefacts have been found on the site from the Neolithic or Megalithic periods. Afterwards it was used as the base for an Iron Age hill fort. But for what purpose? Was it built for defensive or ritualistic purposes? Most of the more recent theories, based on the shape and contents of excavated storage pits, point to the latter.

It takes about an hour to walk to Mount Caburn from Lewes, up Chapel Hill and past the golf course. It is a steeper climb from nearby Glynde, where today’s ESCC guided walk starts and finishes. Leader Sally Dench will divulge more information on the most mysterious Down of them all. AG