General info

CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY


Home General info FAQ SDW SECTIONS 1. Winchester 1 / 2 Meon Valley 2. Warnford 3. QEP 4. Harting 5. Cocking 6. Bignor 7. Amberley 8. Washington 9. Devils Dyke 10. Southease Westwards Water Taps Profile All Where to stay Food, equipment Visitors Rides Video SDW Panorama photos Aerial photo map Distances SDW Double Alternative routes Circular rides Links Things of Interest Updates My Diary Photo of me! Site info & stats Contact me

 

General information

Planning trip

see following useful links

general http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/text.asp?PageId=74

 trail news eg closures, events etc http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/news.asp?PageId=3

faq  http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/faq.asp?PageId=75

code of conduct  http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/text.asp?PageId=77

leaflet, has distances etc  http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/uploads/SDW_MBG_122009.pdf 

Following site has useful info on timings, distances, GPS data: http://www.southdownsdouble.net/routeinfo.html

Profile, height climbed

Many people do not also realise that over the 100 miles, the total of the ascents is approximately 3,555 metres or 11,660 feet,  that's over '3X' three times higher than Snowdon (3560) from sea-level ! Below is a profile from west to east. The two dips to 'sea-level' are at River Arun, Amberley and the River Adur. See 'Profile' page for more detail.

Section Climb Descend
  metres metres
1 331 313
2 357 302
3 285 206
4 249 343
5 321 220
6 82 275
7 258 163
8 477 380
Total 2360 2202

Now added to Eastbourne.

Devils Dyke to Eastbourne 1195 1394
     
     
Total 3555 3596

So Winchester must be 41 m above sea level !

Highest point on SDW is Ditchling Beacon (248m) , though Butser Hill (270m) is highest point on South Downs, but SDW does not quite go over summit.

SDW Route

Below, I have tried to show the outline (reddish line) of the route to give an indication of whereabouts it is. It starts outside Winchester, and extends eastwards to Eastbourne.  

I have cycled all of SDW except a few miles between Devils Dyke and Ditchlng. Note 'elevation profiles' now added for whole of SDW.

 

MAPS

Do you need a map? I like to take a map so I know where I am ! also if take wrong turning. Recently, eg at Gander Down (just east of Cheesffot Head, nr Winchester) group of cyclists and group of walkers did not do the 'dog-leg' in the field'.

Harvey's map covers whole of SDW.

I have put digital route on Tracklogs website rides.

Ordnance Survey Maps: Explorer series 1:25,000, 4 cm: 1km, or approx. 2 1/2 inches: 1 mile.

Nr.132: sections 1 & 2;

Nr. 133: section 2 (there is only a very short easy stretch on this map, so not essential)

Nr. 120: sections 2 to 5;

Nr. 121: sections 5 to 8.

Nr. 122: section 8.

 

Where does it start?

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/faq.asp?PageId=7&p=2

The following is extract  from the 'nationtrail' website as above.

'At Winchester the terminus is the City Mill, perched over the River Itchen at the boundary of the old city. However for most purposes the statue of King Alfred makes a better landmark and photo opportunity. It's about 100m further west at the bottom of Broadway.  Broadway is the eastern and downhill end of Winchester's main street, and is also where the Tourist Information Centre and bus station are located. 

At Eastbourne the footpath terminus is at the end of the promenade road, where the footpath to Beachy Head leaves the tarmac. The promenade (seafront) road is called "King Edwards Parade" (the B2103) - it becomes Dukes Drive at the sharp bend where the SDW leaves the road. There is a seasonal cafe and very small (usually full) car park at the start/end point of the Trail. To get there from the town centre (bus and railways station etc) just head to the seafront, turn right (west) and keep walking along the road. The SDW starts after about a mile. The bridleway route ends at Paradise Drive. '

Which direction ? eastwards or westwards ?

Generally, as prevailing wind is westwards, better to travel eastwards. I have now added a page re traveling westwards. See below.

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/faq.asp?PageId=7&p=2

GATES

There lots and lots of gates to open, go through and shut behind you ! See Section Info page ; from memory and map, think about 80 gates between Winchester and Eastbourne

Car parks

CAR PARKS: There are photos of some in the various Sections. Please email if you find now 'PAY'; also send info re other car parks.

Cheesefoot Head, (2mile east of Winchester), FREE; Old Winchester Hill FREE; Butser think FREE; QEP PAY; Buriton FREE (height restrictor), Harting PAY £2 (meter now), Cocking FREE; Bignor FREE, Chantry Post FREE, Washington FREE, Devils Dyke PAY £2; Ditchling PAY £2; Alfriston 4hrs £2, all day £4.

Below is a link to a map on Google 'my maps' that I have created showing location of car parks. They are approximate due lack of detail of map, so consult OS map for better placing. Hope helpful any how.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&q=&msa=0&msid=118318116678995638080.0000011232f9e7b5e5114&hl=en&z=13&ll=50.974967,-1.056404&spn=0.043019,0.105743&om=1.kml

BENCHES TO SIT ON: Near HMS Mercury looking to East Meon, (photo); near Buriton Hill (photo); Harting Down; tree trunks Didling.

Link below to 'My Google Map' of location of benches (also shows water taps).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&om=1&msa=0&msid=118318116678995638080.000001121fb5dffff4bc2&ll=51.057365,-0.879593&spn=0.165729,0.4216&z=11.kml

 

PUBS

see 'pubs & where to stay' etc pages

Milberry, (Section 1)

Royal Oak, Hooksway, (just south of SDW near Beacon Hill, Harting.)