South Downs View - South Downs National Park Authority

enjoying the national parkThe South Downs Waycelebrates 40 years15 July 2012 marks the 40thanniversary of the SouthDowns Way, but did you knowthat:• the South Downs Way was amongthe original routes proposed for aseries of long distance paths acrossEngland after World War II and wasoriginally suggested to stretch fromEastbourne to Salisbury Plane• the South Downs Way finally openedon 15 July 1972 as an 80-mile routerunning from Beachy Head to ButserHill• the trail was England’s first longdistancebridleway• in 1991 the trail was expanded tocross the East Hampshire AONB,spanning 100 miles from Eastbourneto Winchester• when the South Downs becameBritain’s 15th National Park in 2010the South Downs Way became theonly National Trail to sit entirelywithin a single National Park• the South Downs Way receives about20 million visits each year, with manypeople coming back to enjoy it againand again• around 20,000 people follow the trailas a long distance path each year. Themajority of these people are walkersalthough around 25–30% of all usersare mountain bikers.Discovernew walkingand cyclingroutes in theNational ParkThis summer we have launcheda new series of walking andcycling guides for areas acrossthe South Downs NationalPark, including the Chattriand Woodingdean walks nearBrighton; the Rowlands Castleride in Hampshire and variousroutes near Amberley.The guides include detailed maps,route instructions and information aboutaccess points as well as offering advice onwhat public transport is available.The free guides will be available at allour events and from selected TouristInformation Centres across the NationalPark.Olympian inspired by the South DownsSally GunnellSally Gunnell, gold medal winner in the 400 metre hurdlesat the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, lives with her husbandand three sons in Steyning on the edge of the South DownsNational Park. She says, “It’s fantastic having the South Downson my doorstep – it’s a great place to get out and about torun or cycle in. I also enjoy keeping fit and active with mychildren in the beautiful countryside.”Sally retired from athletics in 1997 and went on to work asa BBC Sport presenter until 2006. She is now a motivationalspeaker and promotes health and well-being in the workplaceand for families. She is patron of the Point Foundation, a charitysupporting orphans in Africa, and this July will once again behoping to join the Southdown Charity Chase, a two-day bikeride along the South Downs Way to raise funds for the project.The Olympic Torch comes to theSouth DownsAs part of its 70-day tour around the UK, the Olympic Torchis set to travel across the South Downs National Park on the16 and 17 July.The route will bring the torch into the National Park twiceas it makes its way from Portsmouth to Brighton on Monday 16July and then on to Eastbourne on Tuesday 17 July.Look out for the torch at the following places:Monday 16 JulyAfter leaving Portsmouth the torch will head up to Petersfield,arriving at 8.30 in the morning. It will then travel to Rogate,through Midhurst and on to Easebourne, Tillington andPetworth, before leaving the National Park through Duncton ataround 11.00.Tuesday 17 JulyAfter leaving Brighton and travelling through towns north ofthe National Park the torch will return to the South Downs atLewes shortly after 14.00 before travelling on to Eastbourne.www.southdowns.gov.uk south downs View 17