History
The South Downs Way was approved as a National Trail in March 1963 and officially opened on 15 July 1972. It was the fifth National Trail and the first long-distance bridleway.
It first ran almost entirely in Sussex, from Buriton on the Hampshire border to Beachy Head. In 1987 it was decided to extend it west through Hampshire to Winchester, and it now runs from Winchester to Eastbourne along old routes and droveways on the chalk.
It is the only National Trail lying wholly within a National Park. A team at the South Downs National Park Authority looks after it day to day, funded and guided by a partnership of the Park Authority, Natural England and Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex county councils.
Sources: National Parks UK: Discover the South Downs Way; South Downs National Park Authority: South Downs Way; National Trails: South Downs Way; Wikipedia: South Downs Way
Facts
- Code
- UK 005 (provisional)
- Distance
- 100 miles (161 km). We measure 102 miles
- Sections
- 9
- Type
- Linear
- Opened
- July 1972
- Designation
- National Trail
- Looked after by
- South Downs National Park Authority / Natural England
- Nations
- England
- Total ascent
- Still to be measured