Day 1, Winchester to Exton. Great weather and amazing scenery. I think my actual challenge will be the map reading though because I got lost twice. Saw the sad remains of Twyford Down (now mostly the M3) and reached b&b at 8pm. Chickens in the garden. 12 miles
Day 2, Exton to Buriton. Missed out on views from Winchester Hill and Queen Elizabeth Country Park by walking inside a cloud all day but the misty woodlands were quite atmospheric, spooky in fact! 12.5 miles today and boy did I feel it!
Day 3, Buriton to Cocking. Great sunny morning and spectacular views of the Isle of Wight, Hants, Sussex and Surrey from Beacon Hill. Watched the rain clouds come from miles away before descending to a warm welcome at Manor Farm. 11 miles and really enjoyed it.
Day 4, Cocking to Amberley. Today I walked 12 miles through deer woods, over a Roman road, facing off a Jack Russell... and it didnt rain all day. Saw amazing views of the Isle of Wight and Butlins at Bognor?! (It’s a huge white tent visible from space). Pam Grey met me at the end of the walk and treated me to a cream tea, yum. Couldnt believe my eyes when I reached the Sportsman at Amberley as I had the most amazing view from my room across the brooks to the Downs.
Day 5, Amberley to Steyning. Joined by Team Sally, Debs and Lucas for a grueling 12 miles with some of the steepest climbs so far. The Downs seem to be getting higher each day or is that just my legs getting shorter? Steyning had organised a music festival to coincide with our arrival, which was very nice of them. Chanctonbury Ring is very atmospheric and well worth a visit. Another cream tea and still no blisters! The two may be connected in some way.
Day 6, Steyning to Pyecombe, 9.5 miles. Took a detour for a refuel - Sunday lunch in a nice Sussex pub at the foot of the Downs with Nicola and Mat. Dragged myself back up to the top of the hill even though a lift was offered!! Passed Devils Dyke , heaving with day trippers. Its good to see people visiting the downs at the weekend on their bikes, horses and on foot.
Day 7, Pyecombe to Southease, 14.5 miles. Today is when the South Downs Way heads closer to the coast. With Ditchling Beacon behind me I crossed the A27 and promptly got lost. In fact I may have added a mile to what was already a hard slog. There are some magnificent views around here but I only glimpsed them as clouds cleared for a few moments.
Day 8, Southease to Alfriston, 9.5 miles. A good day and an interesting walk. There are lots of great views across to Lewes, Glynde and Berwick and saw some amazing cloud formations. I even found a bench to sit on and have my lunch and enjoy the view, in fact I think that’s the first bench I have seen on the whole of the SDW. Alfriston is your archetypal thatched-cottaged cobbled-streeted oldey-worldey village. Shame it’s crammed full of Chelsea tractors.
Day 9, Alfriston to Eastbourne, 12 miles. Joined by Nicky for the last leg when I got to Exceat. Now the path follows the cliff edge from Cuckmere Haven along the Seven Sisters to the end of the South Downs Way. It was a wonderful day for a walk; sunny with a nice cool breeze and spectacular views along the coast. We found some huge mushrooms (as big as berets) and all sorts of wild herbs and flowers and after a strawberry mivi at Beachy Head I felt ready to make the descent into Eastbourne, where my public would be waiting...
