I live at the start 🙂
It’s currently underwater (the parking / start) as we pump out the school and lower houses of groundwater. I’m no expert but I think it’ll be a couple of months before the water gets down to normal levels, been like this for nearly a month now.
Riding wise, the South Downs are steeper in general, the North Wessex Downs are a lovely place to ride (and live!) though with plenty of good riding if you know where to look. The TVT is slightly constrained by having over 300 riders of all abilities doing the route (and associated permissions with the woods), but it’s a good day out regardless.
Forgot to add: Under foot it’s very South Downs, chalk with a bit of clay to add that slippery element, with some old unmettalled but good surfaced tracks making up the byways. The odd bog, but in the main rideable throughout.