Synopses & Reviews
This 100-mile footpath follows the line of chalk hills stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne. Walking the length of the Downs is the best way to experience this beautiful landscape with its mixture of rolling hills, steep hanging woodland and windswept fields. You'll also pass through picture-postcard villages with welcoming pubs, thatched cottages and quintessentially English country gardens.
'...the Trailblazer series stands head, shoulders, waist and ankles above the rest. They are particularly strong on mapping...' The Sunday Times
- Includes 60 walking maps - the largest-scale maps available At a scale of just under 1:20,000 (8cm or 31/8 inches to one mile) these are bigger than the most detailed walking maps currently available in the shops.
- Unique mapping features - walking times, directions, tricky junctions, places to stay and eat, points of interest. These are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers.
- Itineraries for all walkers - whether hiking the 100-mile route in its entirety or sampling the highlights on day walks or short breaks. Includes detailed public transport information for all access points.
- Practical information for all budgets - what to see, where to stay, where to eat: pubs, hotels, B&B, camping, bunkhouses, hostels.
Synopsis
This 100-mile footpath follows the line of chalk hills stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne. Walking the length of the Downs is the best way to experience this beautiful landscape with its mixture of rolling hills, steep hanging woodland and windswept fields. You'll also pass through picture-postcard villages with welcoming pubs, thatched cottages and quintessentially English country gardens.
Synopsis
Fully revised third edition. This 100-mile footpath follows the line of chalk hills stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne. Walking the length of the Downs is the best way to experience this beautiful landscape with its mixture of rolling hills, steep hanging woodland and windswept fields. You'll also pass through picture-postcard villages with welcoming pubs, thatched cottages and quintessentially English country gardens.
- 5 town plans and 60 large-scale walking maps - at just under 1:20,000 - showing route times, places to stay, places to eat, points of interest and much more. These are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers.
- Itineraries for all walkers - whether walking the route in its entirety over a week to 10 days or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks
- Practical information for all budgets - camping, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs, pubs and hotels; Winchester through to Eastbourne - where to stay, where to eat, what to see, plus detailed street plans
- Comprehensive public transport information - for all access points on the South Downs Way
- Flora and fauna - four page full color flower guide, plus an illustrated section on local wildlife
- Green hiking - understanding the local environment and minimizing our impact on it
About the Author
A keen outdoorsman,
Jim Manthorpe works as a ranger in Knoydart, one of the most remote regions of Scotland.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION (1) PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK - About the South Downs Way (History, How difficult is South Downs Way, How long do you need?), Practical information for the visitor (Accommodation, Food and drink, Money, Other services, Information for foreign visitors, Walking companies), Budgeting (Accommodation, Extras), When to go (Seasons, Temperature and rainfall, Daylight hours, Annual events), Itineraries (Which direction? Highlights, Village and town facilities, Suggested itineraries, Mountain biking, Walking with dogs), What to take (Keep it light, How to carry it, Footwear, Clothes, Toiletries, First-aid kit, General items, Sleeping bag, Camping gear, Money, Maps, Recommended reading), Getting to and from the South Downs Way (National transport, Getting to Britain, Local transport, Local transport map and details) Sources of further information (2) PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT TREKKING Economic impact, Environmental impact, Access, Outdoor safety (Avoidance of hazards, Weather forecasts, Blisters, Hypothermia, Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, Sunburn) (3) PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE Conserving the South Downs Way (Natural Heritage, Campaigning & conservation organizations), Fauna and flora (Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Trees, Flowers (4) PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE & MAPS Using this guide, Winchester, Winchester to Exton (Chilcomb, Cheriton, Exton), Exton to Buriton (East Meon, Buriton, Petersfield), Buriton to Cocking (South Harting, Cocking and Midhurst), Cocking to Amberley (Heyshott, Graffham, Sutton and Bignor, West Burton and Bury, Houghton, Amberley), Arundel Amberley to Steyning (Storrington, Washington, Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding, Steyning to Pyecombe, Fulking, Poynings, Pyecombe), Pyecombe to Southease, Clayton, Ditchling, Plumpton, Lewes, Kingston-Near-Lewes, Rodmell, Telscombe and Southease), Southease to Alfriston (West Firle, Alciston, Berwick, Alfriston, Alfriston to Eastbourne via Cuckmere (Litlington, West Dean and Exceat, Birling Gap, Beachy Head, Meads Village), Alfriston to Eastbourne via Jevington (Milton Street, Wilmington, Jevington) Eastbourne (5) APPENDICES (6) MAP KEYS (7) INDEX