Stage 3: Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Cocking

Life has somewhat got in the way of the South Downs Way of late, but on Saturday 29th October 2022 we finally resumed our walk and headed off from Queen Elizabeth Country Park at around 8am. It was a stunning autumnal outing and we were treated to wonderful skies once the clouds cleared, and rich seasonal colours.

Before the clouds lifted


Our destination was Cocking, and we covered fifteen miles, of what felt mostly like incline but can't have been, across the stunning Harting Down and beyond.


View from Harting Down

We had a nice, unexpected treat near the start of the walk, when we came upon a bunting-clad trolley offering slices of homecooked flapjack for £1. It was heartening to see an honesty box still in use, and we made the most of an early morning snack.


Flapjack sustenance

As ever, the signage was confusing at times, but we have learned that it isn't a South Downs Way walk without a moment of directional hesitation here and there. My favourite signs are the ones which give the mileage in each direction from Winchester to Eastbourne; though it seems we still have some way to go to reach our destination. 

Eastbourne 69 miles



This one was situated at the foot of Beacon Hill, on one of the highlights of this walk: a verdant field of grazing sheep.


An inquisitive sheep

The walking felt tough today; partly because Lady Lloyd and I have both had a bit of a break from long walks, partly because there was a lot of uphill climbing and plenty of hemmed in paths, and partly because the toilets at the park weren't open when we left and the first we found where at the end of the walk at the Cadence Cafe. The relief, by that point, was great indeed.


Our lunch spot


We were blessed with great weather; it was astonishing, in fact, for late October. After bemoaning a tiny bit of drizzle first thing, I spent a good few hours of the walk in only a vest top, and sunglasses were important for most of the day.


Sunshine and no sleeves

We must have crossed a motocross event going on somewhere: vans and motorbikes were certainly gathering in numbers. Another unexpected point of interest came as we traversed a steep slope up Phillis Wood Down where we encountered a memorial set into the verge to the side of the path. The tribute commemorates a pilot shot down in the Battle of Britain and reads:

In Memoriam Hauptmann Joseph Oestermann Pilot 1915-1940.

Oestermann's Junkers JU-88 was, apparently, shot down by a pilot from RAF Tangmere on the very first day of the Battle of Britain, 13th August 1940. 

In Memorian Hauptmann Joseph Oestermann Pilot 1915-1940



Oestermann's two fellow crewmen bailed out, survived and were captured. There were recent flowers and wreaths on display, and metal poppies hanging in the trees around the site. 


The view from our lunch stop


What larks!


Our walk finished with a welcome pint at the Blue Bell inn in Cocking. After 14.92 miles and more than 36,000 steps, it felt well-deserved. Now that we're back on track, the next leg of our journey is planned for a month's time - which should just about give enough time for stiff limbs to recover. 


Well deserved refreshments at the end



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