South Downs Way Day 2

Sunday morning, and not enough sleep what with the clocks going forward.  Still, I reason that as a result sunset won't be until around 7.30, so I can justify a 9am breakfast - a full English has to be a good preparation for a long day of walking.  I'm feeling just about ready for it, my brand new boots (made in the Ukraine!) seem good, only a couple of fairly benign back-of-heel blisters have appeared.  So, onwards - firstly retracing my steps for 3 miles or so out of East Meon and up to the ridge where I left the Way last night.

Back on the ridge, looking North West

Before long I'm heading down to cross the A3, and somewhat surprisingly it is really rather scenic, the way passing through Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and then on over Butser Hill.  It is actually quite steep at times too - the ridge that the route runs along dipping down now and again, it is vaguely reminiscent of Hadrian's Wall albeit much more gentle.  I have a lot of company too on what is another glorious day, plenty of mountain bikers and a lot of teenaged walkers.  The latter tend to have massive packs, and presumably being on an organised trip, they all rather amusingly are wearing hi-vis clothing.  Rural Hampshire being a wild and dangerous place after all...

Pretty hard to get lost up here

I have no time to linger though, and the Way leads on along the ridge, past more burial mounds, a trig point, and along a Roman road.  Being a bridle path and cycle track, there is generally a stony or metalled surface rather than a grassy footpath, and even with proper boots on this is hard on the feet, particularly as I really need to keep up the same 3mph plus pace as yesterday.  Good thing I brought a couple of ibuprofen tabs really.  No pub for lunch today, I could have gone a mile off route to one but that would have pushed the mileage for the day over 30, so, instead I sit in a sunny field for half an hour and eat mini baby bels.  There are worse ways to spend your time.

Amberley and the Arun valley.

Eventually the path starts to slope downhill, and I can see the river Arun winding through its valley up ahead, and my destination for the day, Amberley, nestling below a cliff.  Just in time as the sun sets, and I'm able to put my feet up with a refreshing pint in the Bridge Inn.  Actually several pints - my watch has managed to lose 10 minutes during the day, or maybe I messed up moving it forwards, either way the result is I miss the 8.04 train and have to wait 'til the 9:19.  Ah well, having walked 28 miles, a personal record I think, a few beers are surely a reasonable reward.  It's not much past 11 when I finally get home, time to start planning the second leg then :)

South Downs Way, Part 2 is here.

Photos to go with this post can be found here.