Sussex

The South Downs Way

Without doubt the highlight for walkers in Sussex has to be this hundred mile plus route -  it extends from Eastbourne in the east to Winchester in Hampshire. The South Downs Way follows the ridge of the South Downs for the majority of their length and the views are, quite simply, magnificent.

The Downs are made of chalk and as such provide good walking terrain most of the year.  From the beacons along the way, signals were sent by way of bonfires to warn the population of the impending Spanish Armada!

The Downs are rolling rather than towering, a reflection of the gentle countryside of Sussex.  The sheep and cattle graze, the birds swoop....... and nowhere along the way is a pub more than three miles distant! What more could you ask for?

Basically the Way goes from Eastbourne through Beachy Head, Birling Gap, along the magnificent Seven Sisters into Cuckmere Haven. From thence to Firle Beacon and round Lewes up to the northern ridge and on towards Ditchling Beacon.  From here you can have a bit of a breather as it is downhill past the Jack and Jill windmills to Pyecombe, just north of Brighton ... but of course what goes down must come up.....

In fact the South Downs Way more or less mirrors the route of the A27 below it...  Devils Dyke, around Steyning, Chanctonbury Ring, around Amberley and then south of Midhurst and out of the county into Hampshire!

There are many many books on this topic - but you don't actually need a book to follow the way - it is well signposted throughout its length. People walk, ride and just thoroughly enjoy the peace and beauty.

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