Bucket List to Spreadsheet

I have lived and loved in Sussex for more than three decades, close to the magnificent South Downs. The Downs are a place that I 'know' from views from the road and short walks around the famous bits, but for some time now I have been contemplating walking the entire South Downs Way - 100 miles in total from Winchester to Eastbourne.

What finally prompted me to make this a reality was being taken on a 15 mile looping walk from Chanctonbury Ring and around Steyning, Wiston and Sullington by Strictly Lady Lloyd (SLL) earlier this month. 

Early morning view of Chanctonbury Ring

The weather, for mid-October, was astonishing: blue skies and sunshine caused unexpected vest tops and sunburn (partially caused by pub garden break).

SLL and HM: Cheers!


But what was even more astonishing was how much the terrain changed along the walk. Every rounded corner or hill summit provided a new vista, and served to whet my appetite for venturing further afield.

Glimpse of Wiston House

Path towards Steyning

Start of woodland trail

View from Steyning back up to Chanctonbury

View from Chanctonbury Ring

Walking in the Downs means that history is never far away, and there was time for an afternoon stop at Sullington to enjoy the shade of the 1200-year-old yew tree, the cool of St Mary's Church and  the cream tea of The café at The Old Workshop inside Sullington's Tithe Barn. The church, which has itself stood for more than a millenium, contains an effigy of a 13th century knight in chain mail, partly worn away so that the face seems monstrous.






The only cloud to darken the day took the form of fairly intimidating cattle on the final leg of the walk - but we lived to tell the tale.

Threatening cows

So, the bucket list idea of 'doing' the South Downs Way has become a spreadsheet with actual dates and times and locations. If there's a spreadsheet then it's got to happen, right?

The idea is to complete the walk eastbound from Winchester in nine stages over nine months; catching the end of Autumn, through Winter and Spring, and finishing in glorious high Summer at Eastbourne. 

SLL and I hope to be joined by walking friends along different stages of the journey, and will document our adventures here.


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