South Downs Way

[goody]

Hello,
I am hoping to have a go at riding it in one day I've got memory map on my laptop and was going to trace the route and print it off. I am a bit confused which route to plot down at the Eastbourne end there seems to be a SDW marked along the coast by Beachy Head and one which enters Eastbourne without going near the coast, the route seems to split at Alfriston. Anyone know whats the correct route? How well marked is the SDW the other end near Winchester seems to have a lot of paths and byways.
Cheers Steve.

 

[rich p]

I've only taken the inland route from Alfriston up Windover Hill and through Jevington. It's the best route for biking as you can't ride the Beachy Head bit off road.

The route at the Winchester end was tacked on more recently and isn't a good old drover's path. I'd recommend followingthe SDW cycle rote there and don't do what I did. The walking route is up narrow gullies on severe rocks and may involve pushing. The road substitute sections are fairly short.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

eastbourne end; the coast route is a footpath the inland route a bridleway, stick with the latter.

winchester end ditto, where it splits one route is footpath other is bridleway, stick with the latter.

watch out for temporary diversions en route useful information on same here

Only unridable bit on the bridleway route, that is the only bit I've never managed to ride up, is at old winchester hill.

Of course I've fallen off all over it.

 

[goody]

Cheers Fellas, Just had my weeks leave moved so can't do it next week now hopefully the week after.

 

[rich p]

p.s. I wouldn't recommend it if it's wet; the chalk can be lethal when wet but you may be made of sterner stuff!

 

[Ticktockmy]

Well its a hard days ride, that for sure, and depending on the weather the chalk exposed on the trail can make it quite exciting at times. lots of lovely chalky mud.
If you are heading Westwards, the track down from Burton Down to the A285, can get a little exciting on the ziz zag when wet or icey, also the slurry from Littleton Farm can cover the track making it unwise to fall off..LOL

The track from the A284 marked as the SDW can be hard work at times of rain, I tend to at Houghton, stay on the road then the Bridle way which is along side of the road and comes out at the whiteways roundabout car park and then use the track marked as the Denture through Houghton Forest to Glatting Beacon.

I would also check if the Bridge over the Ouse at Southease has been reopened yet as they had closed it to replace it a few months ago. If not its best to drop down from Beddington Hill following the bridleway into Newhaven to cross the river there, then take the Rodmell/Southease minor road back to pick up the SDW.

Hope that helps, there many other slippy slopes when wet but that enough for now to cheer you up.
Bob G.

 

[plainlazy]

Your find some excellent info on this site http://www.bikedowns.co.uk/

You may even beat this bloke ? http://www.southdownsdouble.net/reports/2009/ian/

As others had said be careful if it's wet.

Let us know how it went, enjoy.