The South Downs Way: Cocking to Winchester
|
menu
|
|
Home
|
|
SDW index |
|
|
|
Download Adobe Reader free to read the logs |
Click here to go to the log page (Acrobat
Reader required)
4 August 2001: Cocking to South
Harting
The walk, nearing the end of Sussex now as Matthew
nears 13, continues through one of the least populated parts of south-east
England. There are a few hamlets at the foot of the downs, and a few more
hidden away to the south, but none more than a few houses until the Way
comes close to the village of South Harting - big enough to boast two pubs
and a few shops.
3 June 2002: South Harting to
Buriton
A short step in which Matthew, now
13, showed off how fast he could walk. Nothing his dad couldn’t cope
with though. We stayed overnight at the Master Robert Inn (pictured)
so we would be well placed for tomorrow's long day.
There was a big village celebration at the squire’s house - just like old
times. It wasn’t for us, alas.
4 June 2002: Buriton to
Exton
At
Matthew’s age I knew the West Sussex downs
well, but barely strayed over the border. So this was new country to
me. The county boundary is in the right place, for the Hampshire
downs have a different feel to those of Sussex.
The clear scarp
slope is gone, after some seventy miles. This stage still has its unity
though: it is essentially three hills, first Butser Hill, then the ridge
around Wether Down, and finally Old Winchester Hill. Different to Sussex,
but equally as good.
19 July 2003: Exton to
Winchester
Matthew, 14, has spent half his life walking the
100 miles from Eastbourne; now, on a sunny summer’s day, it is all
over.
There's a sharp climb soon after Exton, where Matthew
is still some way behind in the heat, but that quickly passes. With a
fairly late start that day thanks to the infrequency of the bus from
Petersfield, the Millbury's Inn comes at the right time for lunch; it is
perhaps the best pub on the whole Way.
Oil drilling
(near right) is a surprise, but it it is nothing to the great
despoilation of the motorway driven through Twyford Down, so apparent at the
last. But the green by Winchester
Cathedral is a place of resort on a day like this, and it’s all smiles for
the final photograph (far right).