South Downs Way Walking Tour

Make your own way to Winchester. Train links from London.

You may wish to spend some extra time to explore this gem of a town - the ancient capital of England and the Kingdom of Wessex before that. The cathedral has the longest nave in Britain and there is a beautiful walk down through the water meadows to St. Cross. Where a “Dole” of bread and Ale can still be obtained from the monastic buildings.

The route ascends out from Winchester, onto the downs at Chilcomb - an old manorial parish. Until the Meon Valley the scenery is undulating and agricultural, a warm-up without being dramatic. You reach the attractive Meon valley via Beacon Hill with its rare spring and summer plant life. The Hampshire Downs then open up and roll on as you pass field after field. At around lunchtime, the necklace of Meon Valley villages: Exton, Corhampton and Meonstoke are all within a mile of each other and are beautiful places to river watch as the Meon River is a real gem. The climb from here up towards Old Winchester Hill is long and steep in its latter stages, so take your time. To start with, ascend beside a beautiful clear chalk stream. The site is a National Nature Reserve and Iron Age fortress, on a clear day the Isle of Wight can be seen.

From East Meon, climb back onto the downs. The route then undulates into some vast arable and wooded countryside passing the strange village of Mercury Park. The Way climbs over Butser Hill with Bronze Age field patterns etched upon it. The path then descends through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. You'll be winding around above the attractive villages of Buriton and South Harting.

Accommodation: The Blue Bell Inn is the village pub and is now owned by the local community.

The route undulates across the scarp slope of the Downs, soon entering dark and sometimes muddy woodland before ascending to the highest point on the South Downs near Crown Tegleaze at 253m. Descending into the dry valley, there is then a steep climb over Burton Down and then Bignor Hill (225m); where there is a footpath off The Downs to the Roman Villa remains at Bignor. Descend very steeply to cross a footbridge over the River Arun and into Amberley along New Barn Road. Here you are in an attractive Triptych of villages: Amberley, Houghton and Bury on the meandering River Arun. This is a beautiful rural setting.

There are many interesting historical features today including a couple of minutes on the Roman Road called Stane Street that connected Chichester with London. You could practice your navigation trying to find the Neolithic Camp just off the route. Chichester Cathedral is also visible seaward at some points.

Walk steeply up to rejoin the route. The trail etches its way with views over the River Arun, fields and through pockets of forest continuing above Storrington before dropping 100m to Washington. The trail climbs once again to reach the fascinating Chanctonbury Ring – a Bronze Age hill fort settlement with one or two ghost stories attached to it. A bit more undulating and you end with a steep descent into Steyning,

From Steyning, ascend back to the downs. Follow footpaths to the east of the town back up onto the downs. Watch out for ancient historical features such as Tumuli burial mounds and cross dykes. Passing another great viewpoint at Edburton Hill, the way undulates to over 200 metres, before descending around the ‘Devil’s Dyke’ – said to be the World’s largest chalk dry valley. There is a modern pub restaurant here which does bar and restaurant food, great views and circular walks that you can do if you want to spend more time on the heights. Via Saddlescombe there is a steep ascent over Westhill bringing you then steeply down to village of Pyecombe.

Ascend out of Pyecombe near Clayton, passing lark-filled skies and the white “Jack and Jill“ Clayton windmills greet you. Today, following mainly grassy tracks, you go over the highest point directly on the route at Ditchling Beacon (248m). You may find an ice cream van up here in summer. There are no real difficulties today, although the climb up from the road is pretty steep. The South Downs Way undulates between large fields and long slopes, until you reach the River Ouse gap near Rodmell, before the trail descends to Southease and into Rodmell.

Fans of the Bloomsbury group of Bohemian artists, will be delighted to know that the “Monk’s House” is where Virginia Woolf used to live.

Today's walk is quite brief, so there is plenty of time to enjoy a late breakfast and spend extra time in Rodmell. Today you cross the valley of the River Ouse and steeply ascend back up the South Downs to the Firle Beacon (217m) and another great viewpoint. As you do have plenty of time, you may consider coming off the hills to visit the villages of west Firle, Alciston and Berwick. These tiny villages all have associations with the Bloomsbury Group and Berwick Church has some interesting paintings.

Accommodation: Riverdale House is an elegant and spacious Victorian property with 3 well appointed rooms, each are ensuite. The house enjoys spectacular views across the Cuckmere Valley.

From Alfriston follow the meandering Cuckmere River firstly along the river bank and then by the village of Litlington. The path then takes you up onto the downs above the river. At Cliff End you turn to the East and follow the roller-coaster trail over the famous Seven Sisters. These are a series of iconic chalk cliffs to Beachy Head, with its famous lighthouse. From here the trail continues on beside the sea before descending steeply off the hills via Holywell. Finally, enter the outskirts of Eastbourne and walk along the Victorian promenade to the Victorian pier which makes an appropriate place to end the South Downs Way.

Arrangements end after breakfast.