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Contact: Ms Louise Anderson, The White House, Church Lane
Pyecombe
West Sussex
BN45 7FE
Phone: 01273 846563
Email: mailto:louloua@onetel.net

From Carl: " I took over a nice B&B/Self catering place in Eastbourne - The Guesthouse East - http://www.theguesthouseeast.co.uk/about 6 months ago and being a keen cyclist myself I've tried to set the place up as bike-friendly (and walker-friendly) as possible, such as with a bike store and drying room.

it'd be great to get some cyclist coming this way to make life interesting and to share a few stories. We're just set back from the sea, west of the pier so there's a nice run along the beach to Beachy Head and the start of the SDW." Please mention my site.

Going eastwards: this is simply a list, not intended as recommendations or guarantee of open, price, quality etc.

Royal Oak, Hooksway: about 1/2 to 1 mile south, but whole diversion slightly shorter than staying on SDW !

Apart from above, I cannot think of any shops, pubs etc on SDW; there are many villages with pubs on north side of SDW, but usually steep descent and climb back up.

NB: Places to stay in West Sussex get booked up around Goodwood Races and Festival of Speed, so book early !

1. Graham, from Woking: Although I have never stayed in these ( too close to home ), I'll get the accommodation rolling with . . . . . .

Wetherdown Hostel - independent hostel on the former site of HMS Mercury. Nearly adjacent to the SDW
http://www.earthworks-trust.com/html/hostel.html

Gumber Bothy - independent hostel nr Bignor hill, north af Arundel
A 1km from SDW
http://www.independenthostelguide.co.uk

2. Adam:

I would like to recommend the B&B at the Riverside Tearooms in Amberley. It is only a few hundred yards off route. There is an excellent pub opposite - the Bridge Inn. The cost is £35 per night. They have a garage in which they can store bikes. They've got three rooms, I think one is twin. The only thing to check is the time they can serve breakfast. We didn't get going on day 2 until 9.15, following an 8 am breakfast which was a bit late. The breakfast was worth it though.

The other thing about Amberley is that it is a pretty good half way point for anyone trying to bike it in 2 days. I think it is 47 miles from Winchester.

We have just done the sdw in two days stopping overnight in Washington. The Long Island B
& B is fantastic. The alternative route through Washington goes nearly
past the door. Pub across the road that does food ( except Sunday) .
Very helpful hosts and huge breakfast that set us up nicely for the
second day. Tel 01903 892237.

We stayed at the Castle Inn in Bramber, http://www.castleinnhotel.co.uk/, they have a number of twin rooms (cost us £35 each), somewhere lockable to store the bilkes, and reasonable food with a beer garden to stretch out in. They were very flexible for when they could do breakfast (from 7am). You also get a ride along the road first thing to help settle the breakfast before you start climbing the hills again. One thing I would say is that is a tough first hill (Beeding Hill) after a full fry up!

Jack & Jill pub Clayton, accommodation basic, but evening food & breakfast excellent.

Stayed Cocking Bluebell Inn, beds uncomfortable, noisy extract fan below window; food good, reasonable price, friendly landlords.

Jack& Jill Clayton, secure store for bikes, good b&b food good but bit pricey; extract fan again.

8. Hannah: campsite Graffam, & Pyecombe; ate Five Bells Buriton, stayed B&B before at Chilcomb nr Winchester (see 'visitors comments' page.

ACCOMMODATION - We stayed at the Running Horse at Littleton near Winchester to start. Very good rooms and very good food. Recommended.

The 2nd night was at The Bluebell at Cocking. I find it difficult to write anything good about this place. Awful rooms and beds, food terrible. If I could find a way of getting it closed down I would and that would repay them for my stomach upset. (think have heard similar comments see John above before about Bluebell at Cocking?)

FOOD - Apart from the Bluebell at Cocking it was great along the whole route. (Note July 2009: Bluebell is shut!) FEB 2010 REOPENED NEW OWNERS www.thebluebell.biz

10. Russell: For your accommodation section I would like to heartily recommend the Four Acres B&B (www.fouracres.org.uk) just off the SDW in Fulking (just past Truleigh approx 65 miles from Winchester ). It is run by Sarah who was very friendly and welcoming even though we were utterly soaked and caked in mud. We were able to hose down our bikes and store them in her shed and dry clothes in her utility room. The house is modern and luxurious and the breakfast superb. All for about £30 per person. There is an excellent pub in the village, the Shepherd and Dog (www.shepherdanddogpub.co.uk) which does suitably hearty meals too.

South Harting early evening. I recommend this town highly. The Ship does great beer and food. We stayed at The Pyramids B&B - £30, 2 minutes from pub. We then cycled all day to Pyecombe where we stayed at The Whitehouse – again £30. Great hosts, very friendly and accommodating. The Plough is 2 mins down road and does excellent food – with an M&S at the BP station next door for riding provisions– it was another perfect place to stay.

Can heartily recommend the Four Acres, Fulking. Very helpful, good breakfast and good local pub.

· Accom – Wetherdown Sustainability Centre, Droxford Road, East Meon, Petersfield 01730 823549. Friendly basic hostel, help yourself to large self-catering breakfast, envigorating shampoos and shower gels, secure bike storage.

· Accom – Moonlight Cottage tearooms b+b. Pricey, outside loo for family room, good food but didn’t live up to previous glowing write-ups.

· Accom – The Sportsman, Crossgates Rd, Amberley. Clean, needed 3 rooms to accommodate family of 5 so was pricey, food good.

· Accom – Four Acres b+b, Poynings Road, Fulking. Very comfortable, very clean, excellent packed lunches ( 2 rounds of sandwiches, fruit and cake )and thoughtful home comforts such as dvd selection. Local pub ( Shepherd and Dog) very good food, huge portions. (Russell above also Four Acres) and pub.

· Accom – Alfriston YHA. Clean, comfy, cosy and good buffet breakfast. Smugglers Inn pub in Alfriston village, good food and served all day eg our evening meal was at 4.30 pm.

Winchester to Eastbourne over three days:We stayed in two excellent B&Bs, Downsfold in Cocking and FourAcres in Fulking; I would highly recommend them.