Walking Tours in united-kingdom

The South Downs Way

*  Coastal Walking Along Beachy Head and Seven Sisters

*  Historic Towns of Alfriston and Winchester

*  8 or 10 day Itineraries

Exactly 100 miles of chalk downland walking separates the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne and the ancient Saxon Capital of Wessex and England – Winchester. Stretching over a rare large area of Outstanding natural Beauty in crowded Southern Britain, the walk generally follows the chalk (soft limestone) ridge just to the North of the popular seaside towns on the Sussex and Hampshire coast. Most of the route is ancient, made up out of the old droving roads that took animals and goods between the market towns of the region. On the way “Dew Ponds,” ring forts, cross dykes and tumuli reflect a history stretching back into the mists of time.

You have two options, the classic 80 mile (8 day)  original route to Buriton, or the extended 100 mile route (10 day) to Winchester. Your first walk introduces you to some of the finest coastal scenery in Britain, climbing past wind swept junipers up to the 500-foot Beachy Head chalk cliff with great views over the English Channel. After a rollercoaster walk over the ‘Seven Sisters’ cliffs, the way follows the lazy Cuckmere River to The beautiful Saxon town of Alfriston. Next you are back up on the high downs until you meet the River Ouse at Rodmell. The Way climbs over its highpoint on the Ditchling Beacon (248meters), before dropping passed the twin ‘Jack and Jill’ Windmills and then over the ‘Devil’s Dyke’, claimed to be the deepest chalk dry valley in the World. After the River Adur, you climb up to the embankments of the Chanctonbury Ring Fort familiar with druids and Midsummery rituals. The way follows a hilly balcony high above the towns of Steyning and Storrington, before dropping headlong into the stunning Arun Valley and the quaint village of Amberley. The route continues over Bignor Hill and Cocking Down past a group of large burial tumuli called ‘The Devil’s Jumps’ and the shorter tour ends at Buriton. The extended route  avoids this village and continues undulating along until it reaches the site of another great hill fort – Old Winchester Hill with views extending as far as the Isle of Wight on a clear day. You descend by the clear chalk streams, gliding with Trout, down into the broad Meon Valley. The last section of the walk takes you into an arable landscape before your journey’s end in Winchester.

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