South Downs Way

davidmiller

Hi, sorry if this has been posted before. I did search and there was a lot of hits but no quick answer.

Myself and a couple of mates are thinking on doing the SDW this August. I want to do it from Winchester to Eastbourne for wind assistance. I can find quite a lot advice on the web about the route and food and equipment and stuff but not so much on the logistics. I'm particulary interested in how to deal with the two car scenario, leaving one near Eastbourne before starting and then one near Winchester through the duration of the ride and then returning to collect later.

Does anybody have any advice or links?

Anybody done it?

Thanks,

David

astronought

Myself and two mates are going to do the SDW in one day in early July. Our plan is to park in Winchester, do the ride, then catch the train back from Eastbourne:

Eastbourne >> Clapham Junction >> Winchester - takes about 2.5 hours.

http://bikedowns.co.uk has a lot of great info on riding the SDW.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/South-Downs-XT40-Route-Maps/dp/1851374779/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273652763&sr=8-1 - excellent waterproof map of the whole SDW broken down into sections.

Good luck!

anjs

I found a sympatheic wife with a car was the best solution to the logistics problem

amt27

how about leaving one at Falmer (just outside Brighton),
the SDW curves around Brighton at 65-75 miles, you can pass the car and collect supplies if needs be,
then get the train from EB to Falmer on the Brighton line which is about 25 mins,
Falmer is also on the A27 dual carriageway and just off the A23, so good road network both to get it there and get home after,
Train journey is about 2 hrs from Falmer to Winchester (changing at BTN and somewhere alone the south coast, can't remember where)

mikee1979

I did the South Downs way a few years ago, we parked in Winchester in the multi story carpark (it's advised to phone ahead and let them know that the car will be there a few days unless your doing it in one day). We did it it over a few days. The first day from Winchester to Cocking is 35 miles approx a good place to stay is the Moonlight Cottage (http://www.moonlightcottage.co.uk) miles. The second day to Streat staying in this B&B which I can't recommend enough http://www.northacres-streat.co.uk/. The second day is about 42 miles, the last day to Eastbourne was 35 miles and you get the train back to Winchester.

This is a more casual trek along the South Downs but still fairly hard work. God knows how people do it one day!

danseur

If you do it in a day make sure that you check the times of the last trains that will get you from Eastbourne to Winchester. You don't want to get stuck in Clapham Junction overnight!