South Downs Cycling is an Open Resource Hub for all visitors, residents, commercial and non-commercial organisations relevant to Cycling in the new South Downs National Park. We are attempting to collate all bike related resources located in or near the South Downs National Park Let us know about your Shop/Club/Businesses or Charity. We want everything from established companies to your 1 man trail mapping efforts. E-MAIL US HERE please include: your e-mail, organisation catagory, location (in terms if village/town) a brief description, your Web address and your Postcode - or use the form link below. If your a new visitor and planning to go off road Biking - have a look at our Local Tips |
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January 2012 Updates |
The South Downs has been nationally recognised for its natural beauty & the space it offers for people to enjoy the countryside. This is why in March 2011 the South Downs became Britain's newest National Park and the 10th to be designated in England. It has hundreds of miles of paths & trails to be explored, world famous scenery in an area rich with historic and cultural sites. For more information have a look at: |
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| south downs society | association of national park authorities | ||
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Bike Hire - Bike Tours - Cycle Clubs - Bike Shops - Charities - Cycling Organisations - South Downs Park Information - Mountain Biking - MTB - Cycle Friendly Pubs - B+B - Cycle Friendly Accommodation - South Downs Tracks and Trails - Local Bike Events - Guide Books - Cycle Holidays - Off Road Routes - South Downs Way - National Bike Organisations - Campsites - Cafes - Bed and Breakfast - BandB - Tourist Information - South Downs News - Sussex - East Sussex - West Sussex - Hampshire - Brighton - Lewes - Eastbourne - Winchester - Chichester - Arundel - Worthing - Midhurst - Shoreham - Eastbourne - Newhaven - Seaford - Alfriston - Petersfield - Guides Hove - Pulborough - Liss - Haslemere - Meon Valley - Petworth - Fulking - Cuckmere - Steyning - Maps - Books |
South Downs Maps and Guides
The following are OS Explorer (Active Range) The Scale is 1:25 000 (4 cm to 1 km, 2½ inches to 1 mile) |
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OS Explorer 120 |
OS Explorer 121 |
OS Explorer 122 |
OS Explorer 123 |
OS Explorer 132 |
OS Explorer 133 |
The following are OS Landranger Maps. The Scale is 1:50 000 (2 cm to 1 km, 1¼ inches to 1 mile) |
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OS Landranger 185 |
OS Landranger 197 |
OS Landranger 198 |
OS Landranger 199 |
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South Downs Cycling Directory...So far
Name
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Description
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Category | Location |
Link / Address
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Cycle Clubs | Brighton | brightonmtb | |||||
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Walking, cycling and angling | Bike Hire |
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southdownvelo.org. | |||||
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Cycle Clubs |
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southdownsmtb | |||||
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Cycle Clubs |
Brighton |
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| Geared Bikes |
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Bike Shop | Chichester | gearedbikes.co.uk | |||||
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Brighton | freedombikes.co.uk | |||||
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Cycle Clubs |
Bexhill |
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| Whiteways Cafe |
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Cafe | Houghton | whitewayscafe.com | |||||
| Exposure Lights | High quality light makers | Manufacturer | Petworth | exposurelights.com | |||||
Rayment Cycles
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Premier Bike Shop - London Rd |
Bike Hire / Bike Shop |
Brighton
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lewesroom.co.uk | |||||
Shepherd and Dog
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BN5 9LU - Nice Garden
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Cycle Friendly Pubs |
Fulking
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Naked Bike Ride
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Annual summer protest
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Local Events |
Brighton
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| i-ride | High spec bikes and gear | Bike Shop | Ditchling | i-ride.co.uk | |||||
| VC Jubilee Cycling Club |
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Cycle Clubs | Shoreham | www.vcjubilee.co.uk | |||||
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Cycle Friendly B&B - London Rd |
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beaconlodge.co.uk | |||||
| Ocklynge Manor |
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Bed and Breakfast | Eastbourne | ocklyngemanor.co.uk | |||||
Brighton Big Dog
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Stamner Park annual August event
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Local Events |
Brighton
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Cycle Clubs |
Seahaven
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Cycle Clubs |
East Sussex |
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London to Brighton |
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Local Events |
Brighton |
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| Buncton Manor |
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Bed and Breakfast | Steyning | bunctonmanor | |||||
| M's Cycle Hire | Hire bikes to your doorstep | Bike Hire / Bike Repairs |
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m-cyclehire.co.uk | |||||
| MSG Bikes | Specialising in Ergonomic Bike Fitting | Bike Shops | Lancing | msgbikes.com | |||||
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Bed and Breakfast |
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www.complyns.co.uk | |||||
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Brighton | bike360.co.uk | |||||
| Green County Repairs |
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Bike Repairs | Shoreham | greencounty.co.uk | |||||
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dowercottage | |||||
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Bed and Breakfast |
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copperbeeches | |||||
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Stoner Hill, Steep, Petersfield | Bike Shops | Petersfield | owenscycles.co.uk | |||||
| The Tri Store |
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Bike Shops | Eastbourne | tristore.com | |||||
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Bike Shops | Eastbourne | phoenixcycles.co.uk | |||||
SRS Events
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Cyclosportive Road Races
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Local Events |
East Sussex |
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Brighton Explorers Club
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Cycle Clubs |
Brighton
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| Meon Springs |
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meonsprings | |||||
Bricycles |
Brighton & Hove District Cycle Group |
Charities / Cycling Orgs |
Brighton |
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Cycle Lewes |
Cycle Lewes Promoting Local Cycling |
Charities / Cycling Orgs |
Lewes |
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Camp Sites | East Meon | sustainability-centre | |||||
Sussex Nomads
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Based in Burgess Hill/ Ditchling
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Cycle Club |
Burgess Hill
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Cuckmere & Friston Forest
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Bike Hire / Bike Tours |
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CycleShack
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Bike Shops |
Lewes |
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Mr Cycles
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Good, old-fashioned customer service |
Bike Shops |
Seaford
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Baker Street Bikes
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Baker Street Bikes - Central Brighton
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Bike Shops |
Brighton |
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Quest Adventure
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Inspiration and equipment
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Bike Shops |
Worthing
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Bike For Life
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Promoting Cycling for all
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Charities / Cycling Orgs |
Brighton
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Brighton Bike Forum
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For Sussex based cyclists
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Charities / Cycling Orgs |
Brighton
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Southwater Cycles
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Fairbank Road - Southwater
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Bike Shops & Bike Hire |
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The Argus Newspaper
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Local Cycle Routes
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Local Tracks and Trails |
Brighton
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South Downs Mountain Biking |
Guiding & Skills |
Guided Tours & Training |
Storrington
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gps routes - Hampshire
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Local Tracks and Trails |
Hampshire
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gps routes - Sussex
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Local Tracks and Trails |
Sussex
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Campsites |
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County Sports Partnership |
Charities / Cycling Orgs |
Sussex
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Lewes Wanderers
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Cycling Clubs |
Lewes
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Haslemere Cycles
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Bike Shops |
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Petersfield Cycles
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Bike Shops |
Petersfield
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Cycle Friendly Pubs | East Dean | beachyheadinfo | |||||
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Worthing | worthingrevolutions | |||||
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sosussex.co.uk | |||||
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Cycle Friendly Pubs |
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the ram inn | |||||
| Patching Holidays | Bike Friendly B+B Cottage | Bed and Breakfast | Patching | patchingholidays.co.uk | |||||
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Hove | dutchbikeshop | |||||
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Outdoor Activity Centre |
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Horndean | QEcountrypark | |||||
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Road and Mountain Biking | Cycling Clubs | Fareham | Farehamwwheelers | |||||
Future Bikes |
Quality specialist bikes |
Bike Shops |
Lewes |
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Liphook Cycles |
Shop and repairs
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Bike Shops |
Liphook
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South Downs Bikes
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Large stock & online shop
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Bike Shops |
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Lewes |
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| Gumbar Bothy | Independent Hostel - Close to the SDW | Accomodation | Slinden | ||||||
Peter Hansford Bikes |
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Bike Shops |
Winchester |
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Bike Hire |
Meon Valley |
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corhamptonlanefarm | |||||
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Cycling Clubs | Cheriton | ItchenMTBriders | |||||
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Local Events | Eastbourne | www.visiteastbourne.com | |||||
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Burgess Hill | burgesshillbikeride | |||||
| Excelsior Cycling Club |
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Cycling Clubs | Brighton | brightonexcelsior | |||||
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Bike Hire | Hassocks | 07521 961909 | |||||
| Beach to Beach Bike Ride | Bournmouth to Brighton May 2012 | Local Events | Sussex | asthma UK | |||||
Hargrove Cycles |
City Road & online shop |
Bike Shops |
Winchester |
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Local Tracks and Trails |
Brighton
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Local Off Road / Mountain Biking Tips
1. South Downs = Chalk - wet chalk can be suprisingly slippy but its not as "heavy" to get through as clay mud or peat bog. 2. There are sharp flint seams in the chalk that are a puncture hazard. 3. There is a lot of livestock and horseriders in the park - be aware. 4. If doing South Downs Way for 1st time I would get a guide book - maps aren't detailed enough. 5 .There are not a lot of pubs food places on the South Downs Way itself you may have to drop down off the track to a vilage. 6. It can be windy on the South Downs ridge, try and go with the wind - check the forecast and take jumpers. |
South Downs Way Information Links
| The South Downs Way is a historic long distance footpath and is one of Britain's National Trails. It runs for about 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne, passing through the heart of the South Downs National Park, there are regular walks and rides to join. | ||
Good Unofficial Website |
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National Trails Website |
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| Bike it twice in a day - Good South Downs Way cycle route maps |
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| The Official South Downs Public Transport Guide (pdf download) | www.nationaltrails.co.uk/south downs/public-transport | |
| The Official SDW Mountain Bike Guide leaflet - (pdf download) | www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/MBG | |
| The Official SDW Accomodation leaflet - (pdf download) | www.nationaltrails.co.uk/south downs way accommodation | |
| The Official SDW Camping and Hostels Guide leaflet - (pdf download) | www.nationaltrails.co.uk/south downs way camping and hostels | |
Annual South Downs Way Walk(June) |
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A. Beggs' site. A wealth of info about cycling the South Downs Way |
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Public Transport in the South Downs National Park Area
All UK national parks encourage residents and vistors to use Public Transport whenever possible. This reduces carbon emmissions, noise, air pollution, traffic congestion and improves the environment for everyone to enjoy the peace and fresh air that are such a fundemental part of the National Park experience. There are various Train & Bus companies covering the South Downs Area you an download an Official South Downs Public Transport Guide here: South Downs 2010 Public transport Guide (.pdf) |
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Cyclists should be aware that the train companies below operate some restrictions on carrying bikes on certain routes / periods. Its worth checking with each company for their specific arrangements. There is some information here at A-B Bike Rail but recommend double checking. It is also worth noting that train services can be disrupted by engineering work on weekends and Bank Holidays check at National Rail Enquiries. This can create problems because the replacement bus services will not carry bikes. Dont get me started on the stupidity of this! |
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| National Rail For further UK wide travel info or ring 08457 48 49 50 | |||||
| www.showbus.com for Bus companies in the South East Region. Hampshire Public Transport East Sussex Bus Services West Sussex Bus Services |
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| Downlander A new bus and rail ticket, gives travel across the Southern Railway network and onwards on specific services provided by Brighton and Hove Buses, Eastbourne Buses, Cuckmere Community Bus and also Rider bus services |
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| Traveline | Provides journey planning information about all public transport services –buses, coaches, trains, ferries, | ||||
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South Downs - Local Tourist Information Links
South Downs National Park Facts and Figures
Area = 1648 square kilometres. Population =107,929. Largest settlements: Lewes (16,000), Petersfield (13,300), Midhurst and Liss (4,900) and Petworth (4,500) |
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Visitors: An estimated 39 million visitor days are spent in the South Downs each year (source: Tourism SE, 2003)
Land Use: Approximately 85% of the land area within the South Downs National Park is agricultural (Grade 1-5), 14% is non agricultural (eg woodland), and 1% is urban. (source: Agricultural Land Use Classification) Key habitats: Key habitats within the South Downs National Park include chalk grassland (6,617ha or 4% of the National Park area, and 76% of the resource in the region), lowland heath (1,595ha or 1% of the National Park area), and floodplain grazing marsh (2431.07ha or 1.5% of the National Park area). (source: Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre & Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre 2010) Woodland:Woodland covers 20% of the South Downs– approximately half of this is ancient woodland (17,427 hectares (ha) or 10.5% of the South Downs) (source: Local Accord between FC and SDJC, 2006) Highest point: The highest point in South Downs National Park is Blackdown in Sussex at 280 metres. In Hampshire, the highest point in the Rights of Way: There is approximately 3,282 km of public rights of way within the South Downs: 1813 km of footpath; 1213km of bridleway; 53km of restricted byways; 77km of byways open to all traffic (BOATS); and 176km of road used as a public path River:There is 321km of main river within the South Downs National Park. (source: Environment Agency 2010) |
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Historic Environment: (source: English Heritage 2010) Number of Scheduled Monuments 600, Number of Conservation Areas 165, Number of Registered Battlefields 2 |
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Number of Listed Buildings: grade I 150 grade II* 220 grade II 4783 Total 5153 |
Number of Parks and Gardens: grade I 2 grade II* 14 grade II 14 Total 30 |
South Downs National Park and southdownscycling.com News and Events
| Jan 2012 - Vote for the South Downs Way in the 2012 coastal path Awards |
| Dec 2011 - Added: Sign the DierctGov e-petition For Increased Rural Access for Mountain Bikes and friston Forest and Arun Vally cycle leaflet pdf links and new entries for the South Downs Way section |
| Oct 2011 - Hopefully this site will getting a serious makeover soon, also hoping to introduce the first South Downs Weather Widget in the next few months |
| Sept 2011 - Added new South Downs National Park facts and figures section. |
| Aug 2011 -
The South Downs National Park Authority have produced a new official South downs welcome leaflet you can download it here (PDF) |
| June 2011 - Added 2 new sections to the website which I hope will be useful: Maps and Guides and local off road and south downs cycling way tips |
| June 2011 - Unfortunately there a no current plans from the SDNP or National Trails to install weather stations or web cams. They have no funding in place for the hardware or website development that would be needed. So lets do it oursleves and lets start with devils dyke - it may be possible to get some costs refunded by the time it gets set-up. I am happy to set up the website - if anyone else can help then please get in touch on: public1@southdownscycling.com |
May 2011 The South Downs National Park and Authority officially launched at the beginning of April with a fair bit of national and local media coverage: more here Now they are up and running when can start bothering them with our requests. |
| March 2011 - The BrightonMTB bods have been busy establishing a Southdowns MTB user group and a new South Downs MTB Hub website they are really commited to developing quality Mountain Bike tracks and specific cycling areas / technical trails. |
| Jan 2011 - Park authority relocating to new heaquaters in Midhurst. SDNP awarded £11.4 million for next financial year |
| Sept 2010 - Follow our Blog and join us on Facebook |
| Aug 2010 - see below for the The South Downs National Park Authority "Mission Statement" |
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is the organisation responsible for promoting the purposes of the National Park and the interests of the people who live and work within it. As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995. |
National Bike and Cycling Organisations
Bicycle Association of Great Britain |
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Brithish Cycling - Sport Recreation Travel Trade |
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For everyone in the Bicycle Business |
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BBC Weather Page |
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Bike Ability Cycling Proficiency for the 21st Century |
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The essential cycling resource |
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It's so much nicer than riding alone! |
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Share knowledge of good bicycle routes. |
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19th-27th June 2010 |
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CTC - the UKs national cyclists organisation. |
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Create and view routes in O.S. and Google |
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Tax Free Bikes For Work |
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The Cumbria Coast to Coast cycle website |
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Cycling Holidays |
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Online home of Mountain Biking UK, Pro Cycling & Cycling Plus |
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CTC - maps and routes |
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Cycle Campaign Network |
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Route Information with Accomodation guide |
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Lots of cycling tips and info |
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Magazine Website |
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Cycling England (Archive) |
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Use others - Add you own |
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| Helping people take up cycling |
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The International Bicycle Fund |
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The Voice of Road Safety |
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Trans Pennine Trail - Home Page |
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UK's leading sustainable transport charity. |
National Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Links
| www.nationalparks.gov.uk |
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England's official tourism website |
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| www.ramblers.org.uk | Ramblers Association | Youth Hostel Assciation YHA (UK) |
FAQs Before You Ask! Q) Why dont you have a nice search thingy? A) Because its still in development - and I really some help with that. Anyone who can help me / show me how to database integrate update & do nice drop down search bits. If that's you please get in touch ASAP at public1@southdownscycling Q) Why are your listings / locations Off Road and Brighton centric? A) Thats all I know - I had to start somewhere - I need your help to make sure the site is balanced in terms of content & geography. Q)Is it free? will you e-mail me c**p? A) Yes its free. No we won't spam you or sell your details to anyone. If you have a website we will be contacting you at some point for a reciprocal link |
As said at top, just trying to make a useful site. Visitors to the new park should be increasing year on year so it its a good opportunity and couldn't see any other sites that pull all this together. I will need your help to keep it up-to-date, spread the word, let me know if your links / e-mails change, & tell me what else would be good on the site. I will also be publishing e-mails and news from the South Downs Park Authority on any cycling related matters - such as there strategies for developing cycle facilities and routes, or vistor number data etc. The commercial emphasis of this site is to promote south downs small businesses and strengthen the local economy. We are also trying to promote sustainable tourism by enabling the South Downs visitors to access all the information they need in one place which should make cycling too and in the park a simpler process. This obviously applies to residents and communites bordering the park also. |
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Contact Info: You can contact us at public1@southdownscycling.com |
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www.southdownscycling.com Bike Resources for the South Downs National Park UK |
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