South downs way logistics; transport, camping/B&B's …. and err vineyards?!

planning a bit of a trip with some of my girlfriends who ride, we are dotted all over the country but are thinking of doing the southdowns way.

Inspired by the vineyard pic in Wheeliegoods thread i wondered if we could combine our ride with a couple of visits to places en route. We may end up going on one of the girls birthday weekends so it would be a good excuse for a glass or two

Anyone have any recommendations?

Im local to the Eastern end of the route. I would definitely deviate off the SDW for a day in Friston Forest. There is some great singletrack in there. Drop me an email if you require some info.

There’s the English WIne Center near the Eastbourne end. You can also get an excellent dinner at Bistro 27 in Steyning (5 mins descent from SDW, about 60 miles from Winchester) – also great singletrack there.

You can also try a bunch of vineyards near Pulburough – a short ride north from the West Sussex section of the SDW, like this one null

have fun

Many many more breweries en route , some even staffed by bikers.

If you are from all over the country then why not make a long weekend of it.

You could do Winch – QECP , ride around QECP for abit then off into Petersfeild for B&B and dinner.

QECP – Whiteways for some more milage and ST in the woods, stay overnight at Amberly = 1/2 way.

Amberly – Brighton , another 25 miles completed and some choice ST in Stanmer Park to play on.

Brighton – Eastbourne last day . Friston Forest has some ST and more downhill oriented trails.

Train home.

That last post sounds great fun!!

We could have a “STW shows you round the SDW” couldn’t we?!

I’ll lead from Amberly to out of Steyning – can stick to the route, or deviate for fun stuff!!

DrP

make your trip coincide with this?

http://www.spinupinabrewery.com/%5B/url%5D

not far off the sdw and I think they organise a coach in from Brighton if you want a break from pedalling…

Oooh, a relay??? Pub to pub!! And he said “girls” too!!!

I could do Firle Beacon to Eatbourne via Friston forest!!

In fact – I’ll cycle out to Winch, meet you there, and carry your bags back to, ooh, erm, Itford Hill. But no further.
It’ll be good training….

DrP

Loving the sound of all of it – but we will probably be fitting it in a long weekend.

will grab some maps on my way home – i can see a lot of eating and drinking establishments being plotted 🙂

dantsw13 And he said “girls” too!!!

Who’s he!?

Misread your name – currently sitting in the dunces corner!! 😳

Common mistake 🙂

I dont suppose anyone has a gps file of the south downs way?

I dont suppose anyone has a gps file of the south downs way?

Got a gpx somewhere, I’ll fire it over later.

I do too….wait till I’m at a proper computer and I’ll post the drop box link…

DrP

You need to go onto the Southdownsdouble webpage for alot of useful info on the SDW.

Thank you ff 🙂

Did you bivi? Presuming you’ve done the route of course. I would likento but the chances of getting all the girls to agree to that is pretty slim (non existent) but its always good to have details of good spots.

thank you all, sorry reading the thread quickly whilst on my phone i missed some replies – but all helpful will give me something to start with later

ping me your email please wench

DrP – Member
In fact – I’ll cycle out to Winch, meet you there, and carry your bags back to, ooh, erm, Itford Hill. But no further.

googled it and found this

it doesn’t look that bad – you’ll never make sherpa tensing status if you can’t get a few bags up there DrP 🙂

Its one of the bigger ones , with a draggy grassy climb for the second half.
You will be probably push some of it .
There are 2 false crests to make you think you have reached the top, but it keeps on climbing up to the masts.

it doesn’t look that bad – you’ll never make sherpa tensing status if you can’t get a few bags up there DrP

Wait until you’ve got 80-odd miles of the SDW in your legs before you pass judgement 😉

Seriously though, I’ve ridden most of the route from QECP to Eastbourne (in short bits) and am planning to do a 2/3 day trip with some friends later this year, so would be interested to hear how you get on.

Will keep you posted but judging by the diary clashed so far it may end up being the end of august or September. If you get there first please report on how you get on

Here you go… The whole route…

DrP

Cool, thanks 🙂

Can anyone recommend B&B’s preferably near the middle of the route. Singletrackminds suggestion sounds good but any other recommendations of places gladly accepted.

Truleigh hill hostel….
A place in Amberly (fox? Not sure)….

Or somewhere in Washington (about halfway)

DrP

oooh if we did 25ish miles on a friday afternoon, followed by 50 on a saturday we could have saturday night in brighton and then crawl the remainder to eastbourne on the sunday

As you said DrP

deviate for fun stuff!!

This mob are just south of lewes (You’ll pass pretty close just before you close on itford hill). Frankly getting blotto may help ease the pain of the false crests.

http://www.breakybottom.co.uk/mainindex.htm

As long has Itford hill doesn’t conceal any freezing cold Welsh bogs I think I’ll be fine 🙂

However I would love to arrange an impromptu visit for wine tasting just to take the edge of the climb slightly – I wonder what kind of reception we’d get!

I should warn you the last 2 climbs out of Alfriston and Jevington might not be a lot of fun with a hangover!!!

We’ll take it steady 😉

Wise!! If the Alfriston climb kills you, there is a nice pub in Jevington to drown your sorrows! Sadly the Hungry Monk (home of Banoffee Pie) has closed down :-((

I have to say we aren’t total p!ssheads – just like to make the most of our girly weekends away 🙂

You’ll have a ball!! If the weather is clear , the views up on the Downs are stunning. Doing it over 3 days makes it much more pleasant than a 13 hr 100 miler IMHO.

Although I would love to give that a go – I wouldnt get many takers out of our group if I suggested that.

I stayed at Truleigh hill YHA when I did it, they were about to get a licence 😉 I also booked Sheppenstrete b and b last year, about half way along. These threads always make me want to ride SDW again, a great couple of days out on a bike.