South Downs Way National Trail Guide
There is the official printed “South Downs Way National Trail Guide” written by Paul Millmore, pub. Aurum Press/The Countryside Commission (£12.99), ISBN 978 1 8453 311 5. It is one of a series covering all the UK National Trails. This guide is written heading east to west. Its 1;25000 Ordnance Survey map extracts are arguably the best map base on offer in a guide if you like the OS map style. It has some good background information and highlights points of interest.
The South Downs Way
Cicerone also produce a guide, “The South Downs Way” by Kev Reynolds, £10, ISBN 1-85284-429-9, revised in 2004, which describes the route in both directions. It has OS map extracts at 1;50,000, again as a narrow strip. It too has background information and highlights points of interest.
South Downs Way
Finally Trailblazer publish “South Downs Way” by Jim Manthorpe, £9.99 (US$16.95), ISBN 1-873756-71-2, revised 2004. This is written west to east and has hand drawn maps at 1;20,000 – very detailed but showing the narrowest corridor of all. On the other hand this guide has the most factual background information about wildlife etc, and arguably the best illustrations, making it a very good option for anyone who is going to get the OS maps for more general orientation anyway.
A Companion on the South Downs Way
The new Companion is written by Peter Anderson and Terry Owen, who help to escort the annual WSCC South Downs Way Walk. Priced at £8.95 (ISBN 0-9549654-1-8) and published by Per -Rambulations www.per-rambulations.co.uk . Not a guide as such, it offers a much more spiritual description of the Downland through which the Trail passes. Full of fascinating snippets of local history and folklore and literary connections, this is a book about the eccentric and personal landscape of Sussex and East Hampshire. It's about the Downs' unique sense of place, which is so very far from the casual image of the anonymous amorphous and overdeveloped "South East". Another excellent adjunct for anyone happy to use the OS maps for navigation.
Sussex and the South Downs; Leisure Walks for All Ages
A book of twenty good walks, generally between two and six miles long, across Sussex. Several walks feature the South Downs Way. All walks have detailed instructions and an OS 1:25,000 map base, illustrated, and with points of interest highlighted. Would be very good for family visitors and others looking for short but interesting walks as part of a trip to the area. Jarrold Short Walks # 24, ISBN 0-7117-2424-5 pub. 2003. About £6.
More Sussex Walks (Pathfinder Guide)
Another 28 walks, four to eleven miles long, across Sussex. Most walks would take half a day or so, but note that the average walk is slightly more challenging than those in the Jarrold Sussex and the South Downs book so this would probably be a better book for more regular walkers. There are some good ideas for Sussex locals as well as for visitors. Similar format of detailed instructions plus OS 1:25,000 map base, illustrated. Pub by Jarrold in 2002, Pathfinder Guide # 52, ISBN 0-7117-2083-5. About £11.
Maps
The UK Ordnance Survey publishes excellent maps, including a 1;25,000 "Explorer" series from which the Guide extracts come, and a 1;50;000 Landranger series that is probably better for cycling. The SDW would be on OS Explorer 132, 120, 121, 122, 123, or Landranger 185, 197, 198, 199. The maps cost around £7.50 each. Also available is a waterproof 1;40,000 strip map by Harvey (01786 841202 / http://www.harveymaps.co.uk) that is excellent for cyclists.
Where to buy your books and maps...
These guides (and OS maps) can be obtained from any good bookshop or via the internet. The OS maps are readily available locally. Note that for reasons best known to themselves Amazon's search system will not find Ordnance Survey maps using the OS number; you need the map title itself which often changes with different editions of the map. For the Explorer series these are currently 132; Winchester, 120; Chichester and the Downs, 121; Arundel and Pulborough, 122; Brighton and Hove, 123; Eastbourne and Beachy Head. If you're visiting the area rather than simply walking the trail you might also want 119; Meon Valley, 133; Haslemere and Petersfield, and 143; Crawley and Horsham.
Or borrow what you need...
UK residents remember you can borrow the maps and guides for free from your local library, although you may need to order them in advance. A small charge may apply if the library has to order them in - ask your librarian about how long it will take to get what you need.
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