BWs walk the South Downs Way, Part 3, 12 miles, challenging (BOOKING REQUIRED)

This is Part 3 of a series of walks across The South Downs Way that the Berkshire Walkers are running in 2024. This is a 12-mile linear walk from Petersfield train station to Cocking.

This walk will be led by Robyn.

Advance booking is required for this walk, which is limited to 26 people. This is now handled by marking yourself as attending here on Meetup. Please do not turn up without booking your space by doing so, only sign up if you intend to come, and cancel in good time if you can no longer attend so that someone else can take your place.

Please see our website for more information about the group.

Pace: medium. Ascent: 466m.

Walk details

This is a ridge walk along the South Downs Way. A good path, with some steep ascents in the westerly half of the walk, but only gentle ups and downs east of the Devil's Jumps, and fine 360 degree views throughout the day. Less hilly than Part 2! We will walk past Tower Hill (has a folly), Beacon Hill (242 metres, ancient hill fort), Treyford Hill and Linch Ball (hill, trig point just north of the SDW path).

This walk is quite wooded and with big sections on tracks and lanes and a beautiful descent to Cocking, perhaps the best scenery of the walk.

At the end, we may like to stop for a drink at The Blue Bell pub in Cocking to celebrate finishing the third section of our walk.

Travel details

By public transport

Outward journey: From Reading, take the 08:19 train and change at Guildford (09:04), take the 09:33 train to Petersfield (arriv. 10:04).

Return journey: Please note that there is limited public transport from Cocking at the end of the walk. You may like to organise accommodation to stay locally and continue with Part 4 on Sunday, which will take us to Amberley Station on Sunday afternoon where a train via Gatwick gets us back to Reading. The walk leader will be organising own accommodation for this reason.

If you would prefer to do a day walk, please get a 20-minute taxi back to Petersfield. There is the option of taking the #60 Bus north to Midhurst (half-hourly), then change to the #70 Bus to Haslemere (hourly) to Haslemere train station to get back to Berkshire from here.

By car

Park at Petersfield Train station, charges apply. Please note that this is a linear walk, so you will need to organise a taxi to get back to the car at the end of the walk.

Notes

• Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
• It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
• Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.