HOW TO GET THERE THE SOUTH DOWNS THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY The South Downs Way (SDW) is easily reached by using NATIONAL PARK the National Park’s extensive rights of way network. Here From rolling hills to bustling market towns, the South are some useful signed routes which are shown on the map: Downs National Park’s landscapes cover 1,600km² of MOUNTAIN Î ÎNational Cycle Network route 23 breathtaking views, hidden gems and quintessentially ÎÎMeon Valley Trail English scenery. A rich tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, BIKE GUIDE ÎÎThe Shipwrights Way tranquillity and visitor attractions, weave together a ÎÎThe Downs Link story of people and place in harmony. ÎÎNational Cycle Network Route 20 FIND YOUR WAY ÎÎThe Egrets Way Follow the Acorn symbol for the South Downs Way. ÎÎCuckoo Trail For other rights of way use the arrows on waymarkers
Within reach of 12 to pick your route. TAKE THE TRAIN railway stations The closest railway stations are Footpath Winchester, Petersfield, Amberley, Hassocks, Brighton, Bridleway Falmer, Lewes, Southease, Berwick and Eastbourne. All train operators carry bikes free of charge outside of rush Restricted byway hour, but space is limited. Pick up a copy of our free Byway Public Transport Guide, visit nationalrail.co.uk or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50 to plan Open access land National Trail Acorn your journey. TAKE THE LEAD LOVE THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY? For a safe and fun visit with your dog please remember to You can donate to help maintain and improve the trail. keep them on a lead around livestock and wildlife. Always Visit nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way/donate to bag and bin your dog poo – any public bin will do! help make a difference CONTACT South Downs National @southdownswaynt Park Authority: @SDNPA 01730 814810 /SDNPA southdownsnp © Ryan Davies
Details correct at time of going to print. Please be aware that routes are shared with other users (vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, horses etc.) and users of this route do so at their own risk. We do not accept any responsibility for loss, damage Please Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013. recycle me SDNPA/Ministry of Design/May 2019 ©SDNPA Crown Copyright after use MOUNTAIN BIKING CODE OF CONDUCT THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY The South Downs Way (SDW) is a 100 mile/160 km long-distance off road National Trail which runs the 1. STAY ON TRACK: Only ride off road on bridleways, entire length of the South Downs National Park. restricted byways & byways. It can be ridden on a mountain bike along its entire length running between Winchester, the Saxon capital of England, and the white cliffs of 2. RESPECT OTHER USERS: On bridleways you must give Eastbourne. way to walkers and horse riders. Make sure they can With a total of 3,800 metres, or 12,600ft of hear your approach with a friendly shout or ring of a ascent, it normally takes 2–4 days to ride, but bell and pass considerately. can be done in a day if you are extremely fit and enjoy a challenge. Alternatively it can be 3. BUNCHING IS HARASSING: If you’re a large group, ride in enjoyed as short excursions with the whole family. smaller groups of three or four. If the leader opens a gate be sure that the last one through closes it. FOR MORE INFORMATION Full lists of available maps and guides, where to 4. PREVENT EROSION: Ride with control and at stay, suggested circular rides, to claim your official a speed where you can stop safely without certificate, to report an issue and much more visit skidding. nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way. For up to date information about route conditions, 5. RESPECT OUR ANCESTORS: Avoid lumps and events and diversions please follow us on twitter bumps next to the Trail, these are probably @southdownswaynt ancient burial mounds or other historic sites. GUIDED TRIPS & HOLIDAYS 6. FOLLOW THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE: Remember to leave gates and Long distance walking or riding is a real adventure, property as you find them, protect plants and animals, take all your but sometimes it can be tricky knowing where to start litter home and keep dogs under close control. with arranging accommodation and for your bags to be carried. For detailed information about holiday providers visit nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way/ holiday-planning 7. TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR BIKE: A well maintained bike is a safe bike that makes your ride easier. Check brakes and tyres before you ride and ÎÎSouth Downs Way Tours – southdownswaytours.com take a small repair kit and spare inner tube with you. ÎÎWalk & Cycle – 01730 266432 walkandcycle.co.uk/cyclehire
8. ENJOY THE RIDE: Make time to stop and take in the views. When resting, please stop to one side of the Trail to allow others to pass. TOP TIPS TAKING PART OR RUNNING AN EVENT? • Always observe the Mountain Biking Code of Conduct SOUTH DOWNS WAY If you want to enter a mountain bike ride on the South Downs Way • Wear a cycle helmet or you’re organising one, visit nationaltrail.co.uk/ • Take enough food and drink • Carry a map south-downs-way/events. Here you can search for or add • Consider carrying a small first aid kit events and download our ‘Events Guidelines’. • Consider carrying a mobile phone • If alone, always tell someone your route and when you’ll be back MILEAGE CHART Winchester Winchester Distances between main The Milburys Inn (Beauworth) 9 The Milburys access points along the Exton Village (The River Meon) 13 4 Exton bridleway route Queen Elizabeth Country Park 23 14 10 QECP
Harting Down 29 20 16 6 Harting Down
Cocking Hill Car Park (A286) 36 27 BA23SING13STOKE7 Cocking Hill REPAIR SHOPS HIRE SHOPS (repair also available )
Bignor Hill 43 34 30 20 14 7 Bignor Hill ALDERSHOT Hargroves Cycles Ltd, Winchester – 01962 840707 – 1 Bespoke Biking, Winchester – 07920 776994 – bespokebiking.com Amberley Village (River Arun) 48 39 35 25 19 12M3 5 Amberley DORKING GUILDFORhargrovescycles.co.ukD 2 Meon Springs, East Meon – 01730 823134 – meonsprings.com/cycle-hire Washington Village (A24) 54 45 41 31 25 18 11 6 Washington Peter Hansford Cycles, Winchester – 01962 877555 – 3
River Adur Alice Holt, Farnham – 01420 521297 – River Adur 61 52 48 38 32 25 18 13 7 peterhansford.co.uk leisurecentre.com/Cycling/alice-holt-cycle-centre Truleigh Hill 63 54 50 40 34 27 20 15 9 2 Truleigh Hill Owens Cycles, Petersfield – 01730 260446 – owenscycles.co.uk 4 All Ride Now, Midhurst – 01730 817563 – allridenow.co.uk Devil’s Dyke 68 57 53 43 37 30 23 18 12 5 3 Devil’s Dyke South Downs Bikes, Storrington – 01903 745534 – 5 Ditchling Beacon 70 61 57 47 41 34 27 22 16 9 7 4 Ditchling Beacon Midhurst Bike Repair, Midhurst – 07765 776454 – southdownsbikes.com midhurstbikerepair.co.uk Housedean Farm (A27) 75 66 62 52 46 39 32 27 21 14 12 9 5 Housedean Farm Giant Shoreham – 01273 463579 – giant-shoreham.co.uk 6 Southease Village (River Ouse) 82 73 69 59 53 46 39 34 28 21 19 16 12 7 Southease Summit Bikes, Selsey – 01243 697547 – summitbikes.co.uk M’s Cycles, Shoreham – 01273 567591 – mscycles.co.uk Alfriston Village (River Cuckmere) 90 81 77 67 61 54 47 42 36 29 27 24 20 15 8 Alfriston 7 Chalkpit Trails – 07921 455303 – chalkpittrails.co.uk
Jevington Village 94 85 81 71 65 58 51 46 40 33 31 28Paintings24 19 by 12Heather4 ShearnJevington Freedom Bikes, Brighton – 01273 681698 – freedombikes.co.uk (mobile, but mainly out of Amberley station) 8 View to Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire Eastbourne 98 East Meon,89 Hampshire 85 75 69 62 55 Little50 Butser , Hampshire44 37 35 32 28 Arundel23 Castle,We st Susse16x 8 4 Eastbourne Rayments,Cissbury Ring, We st BrightonSussex – 01273 697617 Vie–w fromraymentscycles.com Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex Southwater Cycles, BillingshurstSe v–en Sisters 01403, East Sussex 732561 – southwatercycles.com Cycle Shack, Lewes – 01273 479688 – cycleshack.co.uk 9 Cyclelife Shoreham – 01273 596368 – cyclelife.com Wrecclesham M23 Lingfield Mr Cycles, Seaford – 01323 893130 – mrcycles.co.uk 10 Hassocks Community Cycle Hire, Hassocks – 07521 961909 – 3 Godalming Charlwood Smallfield Milford Evolution Cycles, Eastbourne – 01323 737320 – evocycles.co.uk hassockscommunitycyclehire.com ALTON Alice Holt Phoenix Cycles, Eastbourne – 01323 729060 – 11 Let’s Bike Eastbourne – 07875 591648 – letsBike-Eastbourne.co.uk Binsted Shipwrights phoenixcycles.co.ukCranleigh Way CRAWLEY EAST Four The Tri Store, Eastbourne – 01323 417071 – thetristore.com SouthG RDownsINSTE NationalAD Park Boundary Railway stations Marks South Downs Way Countryside sites Hindhead A26 NCN23 A31Chawton M3 New Bordon M23 South Downs Way Footpath Only Settlement
Alresford Selborne Haslemere NationalA22 Cycle Network route (NCN) Visitor Information A31 Liphook Crowborough Selborne A325 A23 Additional cycle route No cycling WINCHESTER Itchen Monkwood Abbas Common Horsham 1 Black Down Northchapel Planned Cycle Route Drinking water taps A31 A264 Railway Repair stations A272 Liss Fernhurst Downs St. Catherine’s Wisborough Link A26 Hill Milland Green 8 A22 PETERSFIELD Billingshurst Cuckfield River Itchen Shipwrights Iping
West Meon NCN20 Way Common Woolbeding Twyford East Meon 2 A29 Haywards A265 M3 Beacon Hill Common A27 River Rother A272 Heath 2 Butser Hill A272 A272 Upham Buriton 4 Old Petworth A272 NCN23 Burgess Uckfield A32 Winchester South Harting 5 MIDHURST A28 3 Heathfield Eastleigh Bishopstoke Hill Shipwrights Way Pulborough Hill Droxford Hurstpierpoint A22 Bishop’s A27 River Meon Harting Down Cocking Waltham Queen Elizabeth 9 Henfield 10 Meon Country Park Heyshott Down 5 A2 A28 5 6 Valley Trail Hambledon Hassocks A267 Storrington 1 A2 Shirrell A28 A283Steyning A2 Ditchling Heath Rowlands Castle Singleton 3 Bignor Hill Ringmer A2 SOUTHAMPTON Fulking Ditchling The Cuckoo 7 7 A2 ) Kingley Vale Goodwood Chanctonbury Beacon Trail Amberley 4 Wickham Country Park A28 NCN90 LEWES NCN2 5 Barnham9 River Arun Ring Devil’s Dyke A2 4 Falmer Glynde Hailsham A3(M A28 Findon Lavant to Bignor Berwick Cissbury Ring NCN82 A2 3 Centurion Arundel Mill Hill 7 M27 A Havant NCN2 River Adur River Ouse NCN90 A22 Way 7 9 A27 A2 Firle Beacon A22 NCN2 FAREHAM Long Man Southease Alfriston CHICHESTER Barnham BRIGHTON & HOVE Egrets of Wilmington NCN2 Way Cuckmere River 11 WORTHING Rottingdean A259 NCN2 LITTLEHAMPTON EASTBOURNE A25 GOSPORT N Newhaven 9 3,800 m Seaford of ascents BOGNOR REGIS PORTSMOUTH 0 1100 kkmm Seven Sisters East Dean ENGLISH CHANNE L Country Park 6 Beachy Head
SOUTH DOWNS WAY PROFILE Ditchling Beacon WINCHESTER Butser Hill Litleton Farm A285 Chanctonbury Ring Pyecombe A23 Firle Beacon Wilmington Hill EASTBOURNE Cheesefoot Head Beacon Hill QECP Harting Down Cocking Hill A286 Bignor Hill Washington A24 Devil’s Dyke Housedean Farm A27 Alfriston Jevington ft ft 600 600 400 400 200 200 0 0 10 The River Meon 20 30 40 The River Arun 50 60 70 80 The River Ouse 90 100 miles The River Adur The River Cuckmere