Large group of walkers on the South Downs Way, South Downs National Park

How to get to the South Downs

Train

Major rail stations:

Numerous rail firms serve points along the 100-mile length of the South Downs National Park including

Southern Railway - For trains from London, Brighton, the Eurostar service at Ashford in Kent onwards to Chichester and Portsmouth

www.southernrailway.com

Southeastern - For Kent, South East London and East Sussex

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

South West Trains - For trains to Portsmouth and Winchester from Exeter, Weymouth and Bournemouth and also from South West London

www.southwesttrains.co.uk

First Capital Connect - For trains between Bedford and Brighton

www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk

First Great Western - For trains between Cardiff, Bristol and Bath and Portsmouth and Brighton

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

More train times and journey planning at

www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Local rail stations:

There are rail access points at

Portsmouth
Southampton
Winchester
Petersfield
Pulborough
Haywards Heath
Brighton
Lewes
Eastbourne

The Downlander ticket offers access to Southern Rail's network and the bus network across the South Downs

www.visitsouthdowns.com/downlander

Heritage railway lines

There are two heritage lines just outside the South Downs National Park

Bluebell Line - join this 50-year-old favourite at Sheffield Par Station which is north of Lewes

www.bluebell-railway.com

Lavender Line - this steam line is in the village of Isfield, between Lewes and Uckfield. Call 01273 886200 for timetable details

www.lavender-line.co.uk

Bus

Both National Express and Megabus serve major access points to the park including Brighton and Portsmouth

National Express

08705 808080
www.nationalexpress.com

Megabus

www.megabus.com

Stagecoach also operates buses across south east England. Its Goldrider ticket offers seven days unlimited travel in East Kent, Sussex and Hampshire

www.stagecoachbus.com

Local buses

Local buses operate in

Alfriston
Arundel
Brighton & Hove
Chichester
Lewes
Meon Valley
Midhurst
Petersfield
Petworth
Steyning
Winchester

For Brighton and Hove buses www.buses.co.uk

For East Sussex buses www.countryliner-coaches.co.uk

For Stagecoach Coastline buses in Hampshire and across the Park www.stagecoachbus.com

For buses in the Arundel, Chichester and Worthing areas www.compass-travel.co.uk

For South Hampshire buses www.bluestarbus.co.uk

Cycle

The 100-mile long South Downs Way is open to cyclists as well as walkers and horseriders

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns

www.bikedowns.co.uk

Other National Cycle Routes in the Park include

National Route 2 - Downs and Weald Cycle Route (NB from Worthing to Chichester in development)

www.sustrans.org.uk//downs-and-weald

Regional Route 88 - Centurion Way (along the old Chichester-Midhurst railway line)

www.westsussex.gov.uk/centurion-way

For more routes to suit all abilities, Visit South Downs has a database of trails

www.visitsouthdowns.com/trails

Bike hire

Owens Cycles, Petersfield,
01730 260446
www.owenscycles.co.uk

M's Cycle Hire (Arundel, Brighton, Bognor Regies, Chichester, Littlehampton and Worthing regions)
07852 986 165 / 07852 986 163
www.m-cyclehire.co.uk

MSG Bikes, Lancing Cyles, Lancing, West Sussex
01903 752308
www.msgbikes.com

Shed End Bikes, Chichester
01243 811766, 07946 341685
www.shedendbikes.co.uk

Southdowns Bikes, Storrington
01903 745534
www.southdowns-bikes.com

Cuckmere Cycle Company, Seven Sisters Country Park
01323 870310
www.cuckmere-cycle.co.uk

More cycle hire companies

www.southdownscycling.com

More information

www.southdownscycling.com

Walking

The South Downs Way is a 100-mile long national trail - you can walk the whole path or sections of it depending on ability

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southdowns

West Sussex Council lists a selection of easy countryside trails in the South Downs

www.westsussex.gov.uk/easy-countryside-trails

Literature fans can discover the countryside that inspired Blake, Shelley, Tennyson, Keats and others along the West Sussex Literary Trail. It runs from Horsham to Chichester.

www.westsussex.gov.uk/literary-trail

For more ideas for trails and walks see

www.westsussex.gov.uk/walking

The South Down's Society runs regular guided walks and strolls

www.southdownssociety.org.uk/walkingevents