Walks in the South Downs National Park. Kev Reynolds

      

      WALKS IN THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

      by

      Kev Reynolds

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Kev Reynolds is a freelance author, photojournalist and lecturer whose first guide for Cicerone Press appeared in 1978. Although his work regularly takes him to some of the world’s most spectacular mountains, he is passionate about the more homely landscapes of southern England, and especially the South Downs, which he visits at every opportunity. A member of the Alpine Club, Austrian Alpine Club and the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, Kev has walked, trekked or climbed in the Alps, Bhutan, Nepal, North Africa, Norway, Peru, the Pyrenees, Russia, Sikkim and Turkey. His love of the outdoors was kindled almost before he could walk; it has been his life’s motivation and reward and he regularly travels throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures. Check him out on www.kevreynolds.co.uk.

      The North Downs Way

      The South Downs Way

      The Cotswold Way

      Walking in Sussex

      Walking in Kent

      Walking in the Alps

      Trekking in the Alps

      100 Hut Walks in the Alps

      Tour of the Oisans: GR54

      Tour of the Vanoise

      Tour of Mont Blanc

      Tour of the Jungfrau Region

      Alpine Pass Route

      Chamonix to Zermatt: The Walker’s Haute Route

      Écrins National Park

      Walking in Austria

      Walks in the Engadine

      Walking in the Valais

      The Bernese Alps

      Ticino – Switzerland

      Central Switzerland

      Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees

      The Pyrenees

      Annapurna: a Trekker’s Guide

      Everest: a Trekker’s Guide

      Langtang, Helambu & Gosainkund: a Trekker’s Guide

      Kangchenjunga: a Trekker’s Guide

      Manaslu: a Trekker’s Guide

      Abode of the Gods

      A Walk in the Clouds

      Trekking in the Himalaya

      Trekking in the Silvretta & Rätikon Alps

      Abode of the Gods

      A Walk in the Clouds

      Trekking in the Himalaya

      Trekking in the Silvretta & Rätikon Alps

      © Kev Reynolds 2016

      Second edition

      ISBN 978 1 85284 835 4

      First edition 2011

      ISBN 978 1 85284 618 3

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore.

      All photographs by Kev and Linda Reynolds.

       © Crown copyright 2016 OS PU100012932

      Dedication

      This book is dedicated to all who worked so hard, for so long, to make the South Downs a National Park

      Acknowledgements

      Those of us who walk on the South Downs owe a debt of gratitude to generations of landowners who tended this cherished landscape with loving care; to those who fought for so long to have it recognised as a National Park, among them countless individuals (too numerous to mention by name), as well as the South Downs Campaign, Council for National Parks, The Ramblers, CPRE, and Hilary Benn MP who, as Environment Secretary, finally gave the go-ahead for it to become England’s 10th National Park after more than 60 years of longing. On a more personal note, I am grateful to local enthusiasts and unnamed historians whose booklets and leaflets, often on sale in village churches, provided useful background information to some of the areas visited. Our good friend Maggie Dilley accompanied us on several of these walks to add to our enjoyment, but as ever it was my wife who shared every mile, every smile and every view, and whose loving support made the research and writing of this book such an enriching experience. I’m also grateful to Jonathan Williams for his eagerness to add this guide to the Cicerone list, and to his production team (Lois, Neil, Caroline and Clare and editor James Deboo) whose skills, talents and friendship are all treasured.

      Kev Reynolds

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/835/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: Edburton’s church stands at the foot of the Downs (Walk 16)

      CONTENTS

       Map key

       Overview map

       Introduction

       The Essential Downs

       Plants and Wildlife of the Downs

       Walking on the Downs

       Using the Guide

       Public Transport and Car Parking

       Where to Stay

       The Country Code

       The Walks

       1 Eastbourne to Birling Gap and East Dean (9½ miles)

       2 Butts Brow to Jevington and Friston (7 miles)