Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

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DRIVE 8: Exploring the South Downs

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: Beachy Head to Chichester.

Number of days: 3–4, allowing for

half a day in Brighton.

Distance: Around 160 km (100 miles).

Road conditions: The roads are mostly

in good repair. Prepare for the steep hills

of the Downs, and be ready to squeeze

by other cars on the narrow roads.

When to go: The drive can be enjoyed

at any time: spring brings perky lambs;

in summer the larks are rising, the sea

tempting and the roads at their busiest;

autumn delivers golden harvest days

and winter bracing temperatures, when

pub fires burn bright.

Opening times: Museums and

attractions are generally open 10am–

5pm, but close earlier (or are closed

altogether) Nov–Easter. Shops are

often open longer. Churches are

usually open until dusk.

Market days: Brighton: Big Sunday

Market, Railway Station car park, Sun;

Arundel: Farmers’ Market, 3rd Sat of the

month; Chichester: 1st and 3rd Fri of

the month.

Shopping: Arts and crafts (Lewes),

antiques (Brighton, Arundel, and

Petworth), pottery (Amberley) and

silver and leatherware (Ditchling).

Major festivals: Charleston: Literary

Festival, May; Lewes: Bonfire Night, 5

Nov; Brighton: Brighton Festival, a

major cultural event, May; Arundel:

Music Festival, Aug.

KEY

Drive route

DAY TRIP OPTIONS

Brighton has plenty to enjoy: from

shopping, restaurants and museums to

its beach and famous pier. Then head

to the countryside – visiting Ditchling

for the Beacon’s views and a local

museum. For those interested in art

history, visit Lewes, Charleston and

Berwick for arts and crafts, the work of

the Bloomsbury set and tea in the

garden. Explore Arundel with its

antiques shops and castle, river and

wetlands centre. Head to Chichester

for the cathedral and a Roman palace,

harbour fun or a trip to the beach. For

full details, see p97.

Above Sheep grazing on the upper slopes of the

South Downs, near Steyning, see p94

Below Beachy Head Lighthouse at the foot of

the spectacular white cliffs, see p92