South Downs Way an overview of the walking route

An overview of walking the South Downs Way including links to walking information, walking equipment, walking holidays, walking maps and travel related to walking

South Downs Way 162km / 101miles Linear Walk

part of the Walking on the Web guide to walking in England

Start Eastbourne, East Sussex TV600972 Finish Winchester, Hampshire SU483293

Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 120, 121, 122, 123 and 132

Information by Region

Legend		Grading
	Serviced accommodation		gradual ascents or descents along well defined paths or tracks. Suitable for novice walkers
	Unserviced accommodation		considerable ascents and descents over moderate fell type terrain
	Camp site		strenuous sometimes exposed routes requiring map reading and navigational skills
	Bus route
	Shop for provisions
	Cafe / Restaurant
	Public House
	Mueseum or building of historic interest, Castle
	First Aid / Pharmacy
	Train
	Airport

Highest point Buster Hill

Depart	Eastbourne
Arrive	Alfriston
Total time	4 hrs
Distance	17km / 10.5 miles
Altitude change	???
Difficulty
Intersecting Routes
Map	Ordnance Survey Explorer 123 South Downs Way - Newhaven to Eastbourne

From Eastbourne

head for Beachy Head. Belle Tout lighthouse now a private residence was moved away from the edge of the cliff some years ago by placing it on a great big slab of concrete and wheeling it down the hill!

From the Burling Gap

the undulating Seven Sisters spread out along the cliffs in front of you and you undalute with all seven of them!

At the last of the Seven Sisters turn inland through the Seven Sisters Country Park to meet the A259

and the Vanguard Way at Excest

Litlington Plough & Harrow join the banks of the Cuckmere River and follow it north to Alfriston

. The Vanguard Way leaves the South Downs Way at Alfriston.

From Alfriston join and follow the escarpment of the South Downs passing a whole series of tumuli and long barrows ancient signs of the importance of the edge.

Descend to and cross the A26 at Itford Farm taking the lane down to the railway station. Cross the line and continue along the lane taking you over the River Ouse and into Southease.....

Mill Hill,cross the Greenwich Meridian, Front Hill, Iford Hill, Swanborough Hil to the Jugg's Road track leading south west west towards Newmarket Hill. The South Downs Way avoids the ascent of Newmarket Hill by turning north prior to the climb keeping to the escarpment edge through Newmarket Plantation and descending to and crossing a railway line and the A27 at Houseden Farm.

Skirt to the left of the Bunkershill Plantation before heading east up and onto Balmer Down. The way turns left up a ridge that eventually brings you on to a new escarpment at the eastern end of Plumpton Plain. Go west along the edge and you will come to Ditchling Beacon

. The walk along the edge continues crossing the Sussex Border Path just over a kilometre from the beacon. The South Downs Way keeps to its western direction with a gradual descent to Jack and Jill two windmills set on a promentry above the village of Clayton

Drop down to the A273 and the village of Haresdean. From Haresdean go up and down West Hill to Saddlescombe and Summer Down joining the Sussex Border Path again. Fort and

Cross the Shoreham Road (A283) and the River Adur by way of a footbridge and you come to the start of the Downs Link just outside the village of Botolphs. A route that joins the North and South Downs together. Leaving Botolphs up the minor road take the track to the left at the right hand bend in the road. Afterr a couple of hundred metres turn right and climb back up onto the South Downs.....