The South Downs In Winter

In 1972 The Countryside commission designated the South Downs Way as the first long distance bridleway in the United Kingdom. The way runs approximately 100 miles in length from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Alfriston in Hampshire. The route is now managed by the Sussex Downs Conservation Board throughout Sussex and by Hampshire County Council for the portion that runs within Hampshire. The history of the South Downs Way, however, goes back a long way before 1972.

It is clear that centuries of man's habitation and management have created the Downs that we enjoy now. The large number of Hill Forts, cross-dykes and tumuli along the way are testimony to this earlier habitation. The way itself is believed to have been an important Bronze Age trade route but sadly little evidence of this is left as the area was heavily ploughed during the war for the production of food.

Items of particular interest in the Washington area are Chanctonbury Ring a ring of beech trees high on the downs and a dewpond to the west of the ring. The 'Chanctonbury' dewpond was restored with the Support of the Wiston Estate (the landowners) by the Society of Sussex Downsmen in 1970 and has been maintained by them since. Sadly, in 1989  damage was caused by a 4 wheel drive vehicle that was driven into the dewpond so the society erected a post and wire fence with a stile for access to prevent any similar incident.

The South Downs Way is popular with walkers and mountain bike riders alike and many people break their journey along the downs by dropping down the hills into Washington Village to eat and drink at the Frankland Arms or stay at the Washington Caravan and Camping Park or one of several Bed & Breakfast houses in the village.