INTRODUCTION About the South Downs Way History 9 - How difficult is the path? 10 - How long do you need? 12 When to go 12 - Seasons 13 - Festivals and annual events 14 Temperature 16 - Rainfall 16 - Daylight hours 16 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK Practical information for the walker Route finding 17 - Accommodation 18 - Food and drink 21 Money 23 - Information for foreign visitors 24 - Other services 25 - Walking companies and baggage transfer 26 - Mountain biking 27 Taking dogs along the Way 28 - Disabled access 28 Budgeting 28 Itineraries Town and village facilities 30 - Which direction? 32 - Suggested itineraries 33 - Day and weekend walks 34 What to take Keep your luggage light 35 - How to carry it 35 - Footwear 36 Clothes 37 - Toiletries 38 - First-aid kit 38 - General items 38 Camping gear 39 - Money 39 - Maps 39 - Sources of further information 40 - Recommended reading 41 Getting to and from the South Downs Way Getting to Britain 42 - National transport 42 - Local transport 44 Public transport map 45 - Public transport services 46 PART 2: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE Flora and fauna Butterflies 48 - Flowers 49 - Trees 51 - Mammals 52 - Reptiles 52 Birds 53 - Geology 54 Conservation of the South Downs Government agencies and schemes 57 - Campaigning and conservation organisations 58 PART 3: MINIMUM IMPACT WALKING AND OUTDOOR SAFETY Minimum impact walking Economic impact 60 - Environmental impact 61 - Access 63 The Countryside Code 64 Outdoor safety and health Avoidance of hazards 66 - Footcare 67 - Sunburn, Hypothermia and Hyperthermia 67 - Weather forecasts 68 - Dealing with an accident 68 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS Using this guide 69 Winchester 71 Winchester to Exton 77 (Chilcomb 78, Cheriton 78, Exton 84) Exton to Buriton 86 (East Meon 88, Buriton 93, Petersfield 93) Buriton to Cocking 98 (South Harting 100, Cocking 102, Midhurst 104) Cocking to Amberley 106 (Heyshott 106, Graffham 106, Sutton and Bignor 113, Bury 116, Houghton Bridge 116, Amberley 118, Arundel 119) Amberley to Steyning 123 (Storrington 125, Washington 128, Steyning 130, Bramber and Upper Beeding 132) Steyning to Pyecombe 134 (Truleigh Hill 137, Fulking 137, Poynings 137, Newtimber Hill 137, Pyecombe 140) Pyecombe to Southease 140 (Clayton 142, Ditchling 142, Plumpton 144, Lewes 146, Between Lewes and Kingston-near-Lewes 152, Kingston-near-Lewes 152, Rodmell 155, Southease 158) Southease to Alfriston 158 (West Firle 158, Alciston 161, Berwick 161, Alfriston 161) Alfriston to Eastbourne (coastal route via Cuckmere) 165 (Litlington 165, Westdean and Exceat 166, Seven Sisters Country Park 166, Birling Gap 170, Beachy Head 170, Meads 170) Alfriston to Eastbourne (inland route via Jevington) 172 (Milton Street 172, Wilmington 172, Jevington 174) Eastbourne 178 APPENDICES A: GPS waypoints 183 B: Distance chart 184 C: Taking a dog along the Way 188 MAP KEY 190 INDEX 191 OVERVIEW MAPS AND PROFILES 194
