05/09/15 - The South Downs Way Summary

Start - Eastbourne (09/04/15)
End - Winchester (04/09/15)
Distance - 99.7
Geocaches Found - 82

Follow the Signs

2015 has been the year of the South Downs Way.  Chosen as an easy Long Distance Path with good rail links, I completed it in six days, over two trips.

I followed the guidebook and walked East to West.  It would appear from that most people I met in accommodation were going in the opposite direction - which I would recommend.  The walking gets better the further you get away from Winchester.  It starts off merely beautiful and ends up jaw dropping.

Other advice / notes;

1. Surprisingly wild.  A couple of days, no civilisation is passed.  Which means no supplies are available to purchase.  
2. If there is a Tower Mast on a hill, you are probably walking up it. 
3. There are a high number of geocaches
4. You cross hemispheres.
5. Accommodation is available at the end of each day.  Ranging from posh Gastropubs to a YHA.  None are prohibitively expensive. 

This is how I did it, with a link to a blog entry for each day.

Day 1 - Eastbourne to Southease Station - 15 Miles, staying in Lewes
Day 2 - Southease Station to Truleigh YHA, 20 Miles, staying in the YHA
Day 3 - Truleigh YHA to Amberley, 15 Miles, train home.
Day 4 - Amberley to Cocking, 12 Miles, staying at the Bluebell Inn, Cocking
Day 5 - Cocking to East Meon, 20 Miles, staying at Ye Olde George, East Meon
Day 6 - East Meon to Winchester, 19 Miles, train home

Many walking highlights along the way - Alfriston, Ditchling Beacon, Devil's Dyke, Chanctonbury Hill Fort, Harting Downs and Old Winchester Hill amongst them.

Lowlights - Day 5 had nowhere at all to stop for refreshments.  Couldn't even find a visitor centre at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park.  But worse was to follow on Day 6.  I was so looking forward to a pint at Milbury's Pub after 12 miles.  I was served a pint.  Of the most atrocious bilge water.  Made up for it, celebrating in Winchester!

A great starter Long Distance Path, especially when blessed with good weather - as I was.

My flickr photo album below.