The South Downs Way
Newtimber Hill towards Pyecombe
The first thing you notice is the noise. Like it or nor you are going to have to put up with this for the next couple of miles. It's as if the timelessness of the Sussex countryside is being temporarily interrupted by the brashness of twenty first century man.
The BP petrol station, the all weather jumping ground of Brendon Stud, the farm buildings and above all the non stop traffic racing at high speed from London to Brighton and all points between grate after an hour or two's walking on the South Downs.
If you can isolate your senses from this affront to them after so many miles of beautiful countryside there are still plenty of rewards to be had in this section of the South Downs Way.
On the descent into Pyecombe, look to the south where you will see an extraordinary hillside of terraces cut into the north side of a periglacial combe.
The countryside beyond is massive.
Rather than a succession of smaller hills such as you have just enjoyed in the section from Beeding to Devil's Dyke, the countryside sweeps towards Ditchling Beacon 7 kilometres to the east in a wavy roll, not quite a plain, not quite a slope.
It's as if the entire hillside has been made out of a flexible substance which has been shaken by giant unseen hands.
This view contains the remains of the lost Saxon and Norman village of Pangdean by the way.
Places to visit close to the South Downs Way
Amberley | Arundel | Ashington | Bepton | Bignor | Bramber | Bramber Castle | Burpham | Bury | Chanctonbury Ring | Charlton | Chilgrove | Clayton | Cocking | Compton | Cootham | Devil's Dyke | The Devil's Humps | Didling | Duncton | East Dean | East Harting | Edburton | Findon | Graffham | Harting Down | Heyshott | Houghton | Hurstpierpoint | North Marden | Parham House | Poynings | Pyecombe | Rackham | Singleton | Slindon | South Harting | South Stoke | Stedham | Steyning | Storrington | Torberry Hill | Treyford | Trotton | Truleigh Hill | Uppark | Up Marden | Upwaltham | Upper Beeding | Washington | West Dean
You might also like
- A guide to walking, riding and cycling the South Downs Way in Sussex
- Some walking and hiking equipment shops in Sussex
- The Downs Link - a flat walk from Shoreham-by-Sea to the North Downs in Surrey
- Best places for West Sussex walkers
- New LIPCHIS Way - a footpath from Chichester to Liphook
- A flat family-friendly walk from Chichester to the Beach along Salterns Way and Chichester Harbour
- The historic Monarch's Way in West Sussex
- West Sussex mountain biking guide
- West Sussex Horse riding resources
- Cycling and Horse riding on the bridleways of West Sussex
- B&B Midhurst
- Hotels Midhurst
- B&B Chichester
- Hotels Chichester
- Hotels Petworth
- B&B Arundel
- Hotels Arundel
- B&B Worthing
- Hotels Worthing
- B&B Haywards Heath
- Hotels Burgess Hill
- Butser Hill to Harting Down
- Harting to Cocking
- Cocking to Upwaltham
- Upwaltham to Amberley
- Amberley to Washington
- Washington to Upper Beeding
- Upper Beeding to Devil's Dyke
- Devil's Dyke to Ditchling Beacon
- Devil's Dyke viewpoint
- The Devil's Dyke
- Saddlescombe Farm
- West Hill
- Newtimber Hill
- Newtimber to Pyecombe
- Pyecombe Village
- Pyecombe Church
- Pyecombe Golf Course
- Clayton Windmills
- East Sussex Border
- South Downs Way Tips
- Cycling in Sussex
- Bike repairs
- Bicycle hire
- Mountain Biking
- Sussex Walking
- The Ramblers
- Other trails
- Horse riding