Page 71 - demo

The South Downs are a range of chalk hills that extend from Beachy Head near Eastbourne in the
east to Winchester in the West.

At their heart, since its formation in 2011, is the South Downs National Park which stretches from
the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head to the western Weald, with its heavily
wooded sandstone and clay hills and valleys.

The South Downs Way spans the entire 160 km / 100 mile length of the park. It has been a foot
path for at least 8000 years simply because it was easier going than the wetter lowlands . . . and
the magic of it is that you can put your feet in the footprints of those ancient folk – you can walk
the length of the downs if you are so inclined.

You can, for instance, take a walking tour of the Way. There are several operators who offer
tours, or otherwise just do it on your onesome lonesome. For tour operators just search on “South
Downs Way Tours”. More information at the National Trails website . . .

Amberley is one of the most attractive of all downland villages. On the east side there is the scarp
slope of the Downs, rising up to Amberley Mount with a steep climb up to the South Downs Way .
On the south and west sides of the village there's the River Arun and the wild brooks. The South
Downs rise so steeply here that you can often see the gliders from the nearby Southdowns Gliding
Club actually flying below you while you are up there. The gliders use the upcurrents caused by
the steep slopes of the Downs and it's not unusual to suddenly find that a glider has reared up in
front of you as you go walking along the Downs.

More on Amberley from Wikipedia . . .

Chanctonbury Ring is an Iron Age fort capped by a ring of beech trees. They were planted in 1760
by Charles Goring and became a famous landmark. However, the Great Storm of 1987 destroyed
most of the trees and the replanted trees are only now beginning to restore the ring to its former
glory. Local legend has it that the Ring was created by the Devil and that he can be summoned by
running around the clump of trees seven times anti-clockwise. When he appears he will offer you a
bowl of soup in exchange for your soul. The Ring is also rumoured to increase fertility in women
who sleep underneath the trees for one night.

The Wallops. Between Winchester and Salisbury you can drive through three perfectly quaint and
charming Hampshire villages. The curious name comes from “waella” meaning stream and “hop”,
a valley. Hence a valley stream. Dane Cottage, in Five Bells Lane in Nether Wallop, was the home
setting for the BBC’s Miss Marple tv series based on the novels of Dame Agatha Christie.

Petworth To Portsmouth

From Petworth you can head south towards Portsmouth, taking in Amberley, Arundel and
Chichester.

Portsmouth To Winchester

Hambledon is the “Cradle of Cricket” where the laws of the present-day game were formalised in
1770 and early notable matches were played on Broadhalfpenny Down in the 18th C. John Nyren,
the famous cricket writer, was born here in 1764, the son of Richard Nyren who founded the
Hambledon Cricket Club.

He was the innkeeper at the famous Bat and Ball pub. If you want to visit this spiritual home of
cricket, take West St from then village and follow it along East St. The Bat and Ball is on the