Day one: Arrive in Winchester
Check in to your accommodation then explore this beautiful, historic city.
Day two: Winchester to East Meon – 17 miles / 27 km
Highlights:
• The cathedral city of Winchester.
• Beacon Hill – it’s a nature reserve and commands outstanding views of the surrounding countryside.
• Old Winchester Hill – great views and there is a fine Iron Age hill-fort site at the top.
• Meon Springs – a beautiful spot where you can get refreshments and fill up your water bottles.
Day three: East Meon to Cocking – 18 miles / 29 km
Highlights:
• Butser Hill – the highest point on the South Downs Way at 270 metres.
• Queen Elizabeth Country Park – a large area of beautiful mixed woodland.
• The picturesque village of Buriton ( half hour (in total) detour from the way).
• Harting Down – fantastic views across the Weald, it’s possible to see the North Downs on a clear day.
Day four: Cocking to Steyning – 23 miles / 37 km
Highlights:
• Heyshott Down – great views inland.
• Bignor Roman Villa – dating back to the 3rd Century AD, with amazingly preserved mosaic floors. It’s 1.5 miles from the South Downs Way and just off the old Roman road Stane Street.
• Bignor Hill – fantastic views right along the Downs.
• Amberley Working Museum – excellent museum of local history, just off the way.
• Amberley village – one of the prettiest villages in the South Downs, just off the way.
• First glimpse of the sea to the south and sweeping views of Amberley Brooks nature reserve after climbing out of Houghton Bridge and Amberley.
• Chanctonbury Ring – said to be haunted, it’s the site of an Iron Age hill-fort dating back to the 6th Century BC. Fantastic views out to sea and along the downs.
Day five: Steyning to Lewes – 19 miles / 30 km
Highlights:
• River Adur – views south towards the stunning hillside Abbey at Lancing College.
• Fulking Hill – spectacular 360-degree views.
• Devil’s Dyke – legend has it that the Devil dug the valley to drown the parishioners of the Weald.
Day six: Lewes to Alfriston – 14 miles / 23 km
Highlights:
• Ditchling Beacon – heading east from here, there are fantastic views inland across the weald and towards Ashdown forest.
• Lewes – this pretty county town is steeped in history• Monk’s House, Rodmell – this was the home of Virginia Woolf, now owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
• Iford Hill – great views inland towards Mount Caburn to the north and the sea to the south.
• The picture postcard village of Alfriston.
Day seven: Alfriston – Eastbourne – 12 miles / 19 km
Highlights:
• Cuckmere Valley – where the river Cuckmere meanders its way to the sea
• Seven Sisters – iconic, glorious coastal scenery, arguably the highlight of the whole South Downs Way
• Beachy Head – spectacular chalk cliff jutting into the English channel with fine views west across the Seven Sisters and east over Eastbourne and beyond.
The spectacular Seven Sisters make a fitting finale to the South Downs Way. You can then either depart Eastbourne in the afternoon or stay over and depart the following day, giving you a chance to explore this elegant seaside resort or just put your feet up!