The South Downs Way runs along the extent of the chalk downs of Hampshire and Sussex from the historic small town of Winchester to the blinding white cliffs of Beachy Head overlooking the seaside city of Eastbourne. For a lot of its length this pleasant Countrywide Trail meanders along the crest of the Downs, with far reaching perspectives northwards over the patchwork fields, woods and hamlets of the Weald and southwards to the sea, but the route also dips into the stunning river valleys cutting through the Downs and visits some very pretty hamlets with their friendly old bars, thatched cottages and gardens bursting with flowers.
History is an ever-present companion when walking the South Downs Way. The route follows traditional tracks established some 5000 years back when Stone Age man began to cultivate the Downs and mine for the flint from which he made tools. Later settlers all left their marks on the land in the shape of Bronze Age barrows; Iron Age hill forts; Roman tracks; Saxon churches; Norman churches, cathedrals and castles; deserted medieval hamlets; and the dew ponds made as water holes for the great flocks of sheep that grazed on the Downs in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Highlights of the trail include the beautiful cathedral town of Winchester, the Capital of Saxon Britain; the downland perspectives of Beacon Hill, Butser Hill, Bignor Hill, Ditchling Beacon and Firle Beacon; the 'Jack and Jill ' windmills.
Take in the Devil's Dyke, a vast dry valley said to once have been carved by Satan to let the sea flood the Weald and destroy all the churches found there. Marvel at the beautiful villages of Exton, East Meon, Buriton, South Harting, Amberley and Alfriston and wonder at the thrilling sense of space on top of the Downs.
Vist Alfriston's parish church, the 'Cathedral of the Downs ' , as well as the 'smallest church in Britain ' at Lullington. For nature lovers the excellent spread of wildflowers and butterflies found on the sheep-grazed pastures of the Downs are a great draw to fans.
Consider what it took to build the huge Bronze Age barrows known as the Devil's Jumps! Natural wonders can be found along the spectacular clifftop walk over the 7 Sisters and Beachy Head.
So why not make a call to go to this pretty part of agricultural England, the trail itself is 100 miles along and can be walked at any time taking 3-5 days.
History is an ever-present companion when walking the South Downs Way. The route follows traditional tracks established some 5000 years back when Stone Age man began to cultivate the Downs and mine for the flint from which he made tools. Later settlers all left their marks on the land in the shape of Bronze Age barrows; Iron Age hill forts; Roman tracks; Saxon churches; Norman churches, cathedrals and castles; deserted medieval hamlets; and the dew ponds made as water holes for the great flocks of sheep that grazed on the Downs in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Highlights of the trail include the beautiful cathedral town of Winchester, the Capital of Saxon Britain; the downland perspectives of Beacon Hill, Butser Hill, Bignor Hill, Ditchling Beacon and Firle Beacon; the 'Jack and Jill ' windmills.
Take in the Devil's Dyke, a vast dry valley said to once have been carved by Satan to let the sea flood the Weald and destroy all the churches found there. Marvel at the beautiful villages of Exton, East Meon, Buriton, South Harting, Amberley and Alfriston and wonder at the thrilling sense of space on top of the Downs.
Vist Alfriston's parish church, the 'Cathedral of the Downs ' , as well as the 'smallest church in Britain ' at Lullington. For nature lovers the excellent spread of wildflowers and butterflies found on the sheep-grazed pastures of the Downs are a great draw to fans.
Consider what it took to build the huge Bronze Age barrows known as the Devil's Jumps! Natural wonders can be found along the spectacular clifftop walk over the 7 Sisters and Beachy Head.
So why not make a call to go to this pretty part of agricultural England, the trail itself is 100 miles along and can be walked at any time taking 3-5 days.
About the Author:
Contours Walking Holidays are the specialists in self-guided walking vacations in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. Within our site you will find a unrivalled range of walking holidays and short breaks along more than sixty trails in The UK starting from famous routes like Hadrian's Wall Path, West Highland Way, Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk, Cotswold Way, Offa's Dyke Trail, Cumbria Way, Pembrokeshire Coast Path or the Dales Way to little-known gems like Northumberland's Coast of Castles, Isle of Anglesey Coast Trail, Wild Edric's Way, Cotswolds Villages Trail or the 3 Castles Walk.Come and commence your journey!
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