South Downs Way Part 1 (Winchester to Buriton) - July 2024

 Finished the North Downs Way last year so it's off on the South Downs Way! Did my first part in July 2024. In a lot of the guides this is actually 2 stages - Winchester to Exton (12 miles), and then Exton to Buriton (13 miles).

A good online guide here, with a useable map:-

https://southdownsway.org/activities/walking/

However, although it was around 29oC one stage is never enough, being a glutton for punishment. With a little detour here and there for a view etc and a walk to Petersfield to catch the train home after the end of the 2nd stage it was probably around 29 miles.

I took around 4 litres of water and the usual food (tinned food and high energy flapjacks) but supplemented the fluids on the way! A pint of blackcurrant cordial in a pub never tasted better. I also used (again) an Army surplus desert 'boonie' hat with a neck flap once the sun was up, mitigating the risk of any sun stroke etc. It really doesn't come any better, and with the hat and plenty of fluid the heat was not an issue. No blisters to speak of due to about 3 sock changes throughout the day. 

This really is a wonderful walk. You are soon out into the green heaven after leaving Winchester, and I remember thinking to myself 'it doesn't get better than this', no worries or concerns, peace and beautiful views for miles.

If the other parts of the walk are anything like the first 2 stages it will be an excellent experience, done in stages/ parts over the next few years. The SDW is shorter than the NDW at 100 miles, which will likely be 4 days for me with a little luck and future good health!

The guide book I used was "Walking the South Downs Way" (National Trail) by Cicerone. Reprinted in 2023 this will remain current long enough for me, with 3 more parts to do, hopefully finishing in 2027.

Available here and elsewhere:-

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/the-south-downs-way

Having said that I did not use the book much at all. I must confess to finding Google maps on the phone way too easy, and the waymarking was (mostly) excellent. Nevertheless I would not be without the book, possibly more reliable than a phone?

                                   Arriving in Winchester at 0635, walking to the start point.

                                           The official start point, Winchester City Mill.

                                                                And we're off!

                                                Not much visible Roman wall left sadly...

                                             Not all modern builds have to be boring.

                                                                     Pure joy...

                                                         Only 98.5 miles to go!

        The guide book, good to have to be on the safe side, nothing worse than a wrong turn...

Boomtown, quite the event when it gets going apparently, and a lot of prep work beforehand. This was over a week before it started and a lot of work had already been done - https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/

                                                         But this is more my thing...

                                       An abandoned home, something sad about that.

                                 It's an easy route, well signed and often quite obvious!

                                                  Exton, not a big place, but quaint.

                 A memorial for 33 men killed in an air crash on 4th April 1944 whilst training for D-Day.

          An Iron Age hill fort on Old Winchester Hill. Excellent views and well worth a small detour:-                                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Winchester_Hill

                                                        Some views from the fort.

              Always seems to be a bench when you don't want one, and never see one when you do... :-)

           Heading down to Queen Elizabeth Country Park. The runner has got ahead of me somehow!

                                       Someone is following the Olympics no doubt.

      Coming into Buriton, a short distance from the end of the 2nd stage. A bit 'Midsomer Murders' for my liking...

A few more miles after Buriton to get to Petersfield and the train station but by then the '2nd wind' has kicked in and it's all effortless again. A great days walking.

                                                                   Great idea!