Welcome to the South Downs Park, Ditchling Beacon and Chattri audio described walks which is an alternative to the paper and online versions of the Maps and Walking Guides which have been designed to enhance your visit and can be downloaded as a podcast version, allowing you to pause or skip forward as you prefer. Both audio-described walks are accessible either as a standard MP3 or with Apple or Android accessibility programmes. The features described are intended to facilitate the best inclusive engagement with your surroundings and allow you to plan your route based on any physical or sensory accessibility points that are important to you.
The Audio Walk for the Ditchling Beacon and the Chattri Audio Walk lasts approximately 35 minutes. Both cover accessibility, features of interest, and suggestions to get the best out of the walks for sensory or physically challenged visitors. Each audio tour is divided into sections structured around interesting features, directional markers and terrain considerations.
There is generally an average mobile signal along each walk, for those visitors using assistance apps such as Be My Eyes, AccessNow.com, or Seeing AI.
'Please note Guide and Affiliated Assistance Dogs are allowed on this walk but must be kept on a lead in the areas where livestock are grazing and must stick to the paths between March and September to avoid disturbing ground-nesting birds. Please bag and bin your dog's poo.
If you want to know more about how to get to the start point for each walk, or for any general queries about the park or how to find other audio described walks in the South Downs visit our website at www.southdowns.gov.uk or call us 01730 814810.
Alternatively you might like to explore these links for wider information about the South Downs National Park. These links lead to accessible websites if you are using text to speech programmes.
The Ditchling Beacon and Chattri walks are two of a number within the South Downs National Park which stretches across 140 kilometres (87 miles) of Southern England through the counties of Hampshire, West and East Sussex.
We are the newest area in England to be declared a National Park, on the 1st April 2010, and include areas of chalk land across the South Downs, through to the Western Weald, with its clay hills and heavily wooded sandstone areas. The natural variety of landscape offers you the opportunity to see Southern England in all its shapes and glory, and in this brochure we highlight the Ditchling Beacon and Chattri walk which is an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, towards the southernmost tip of the park approaching the city of Brighton on the south coast.
Ditchling Beacon, a walk of some 5.7 miles (9.2 kilometres) is the highest point in East Sussex, and was once an Iron Age hill fort. The hill is predominantly chalk and has a particularly steep northern face where sheep graze on the open grassland. The 248 meter (814 feet) elevation makes it a popular challenge in London to Brighton events such as the yearly London to Brighton Cycle Race. There are no steps or other barriers on this walk, but the chalk landscape means that paths do have loose stones and can be muddy in Winter or after periods of rain.
The Chattri memorial walk is 4.5 miles (7.2 Kilometres).
For more information please visit us at www.southdowns.gov.uk.
DESCRIBING: Vertical colour image spanning the majority of the front page.
SYNOPSIS: Three people riding different forms of motorized transportation or ramblers in a grassy field.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The front right of the image is an older woman with white hair wearing a blueish-green rain jacket with the hood down and a pink scarf. She is sitting on a silver rambler or a motorized scooter with two wheels in the front. A cane with a blue armband and handle is behind her left shoulder. There are two circular mirrors on either side of the front. On the front of the scooter is the word “Tramper” with a circle around it, and below are three lights in the front (orange, white, orange), at the bottom is a sign that reads “disabled ramblers disabledramblers.co.uk” with a logo on the side. The logo is of a green stick figure of a person in a wheelchair facing to the viewer's right. The figure's elbow is bent back with a hand on the wheel, as if in movement. Above the lap of the person are two simple miniature pine trees, offset from each other, the one nearest the figure's chest is slightly higher.
To her right are two older men sitting on ramblers with one wheel in the front and two in the back, both of these scooters resemble a motorcycle with a full seat with a back. The rambler in the front has a leather bag strapped to the front, the rider is wearing a black puffy jacket with a grey with white stripes driving cap, he has a white mustache that connects to a beard that only covers his chin. His right hand is holding a hand break. The second man in the image is sitting on a similar rambler as the other man, however, this ramble is more scooter-like than motorcycle-like. The man riding has a long white bead with a black rain jacket and a dark baseball cap.
Behind the people are bright green fields, on their left are trees and people walking in the distance. The skies are grey and cloudy.
CREDIT: Alex Bamford
IMAGE 1 of 2: Comment icon
DESCRIBING: Square with a triangle off the bottom creating a speech bubble with three dots in the center. A smaller speech is set behind the larger square off the lower right corner.
CAPTION: Keep up to date with the latest news and events from the South Downs National Park. southdowns.gov.uk/newsletter
IMAGE 2 of 2: Ditchling Beacon
DESCRIBING: Colour horizontal image of a hill filled with grass, trees, and shrubs.
SYNOPSIS: The foreground is a green grass field that is separated from the rest of the image by a wooden post fence. The right side of the fence is covered in a red bush. Behind the fence is an include up a hill or small mountain. The the slope are many green, red, and yellow trees, along with more fields. As the hill plateau the grass and trees become more brown and grey. The sky is a light blue with no clouds.
CAPTION: Ditchling Beacon
CREDIT: Richard Reed
RELATED TEXT:
These two Miles Without Stiles circular routes set in a beautiful area of the South Downs National Park are suitable for off-road class 3 all-terrain mobility scooters.
Enjoy stunning 360 degree views from Ditchling Beacon, the highest point on the chalk in East Sussex, visit the historic Jack and Jill windmills or pay your respects at the peaceful Chattri war memorial. Following these trails also takes you along a section of the famous South Downs Way National Trail – a 100 mile route which runs the entire length of the South Downs National Park, from Winchester to Eastbourne.
DESCRIBING: Small circular yellow and green icon,
SYNOPSIS: Yellow thin circle. The top inside half is green with the bottom being yellow. A yellow figure of a person is standing on top of the bottom yellow half with its legs spread apart and arms by their side.
CAPTION: Open Access Land icon
RELATED TEXT:
Respect other people
Protect the natural environment
Enjoy the outdoors
IMAGE 1 of 2: Butterfly
DESCRIBING: A verticle colour photograph of a green butterfly.
SYNOPSIS: Side profile of a green butterfly with an orange outline on the wings. The wings have many small hairs. The body is brown with longer hairs. Its eyes are black with white outlines. The butterfly's antennae are black and white, The tips of the antennae are thicker segments of black with an orange tip. The butterfly sits on top of purplish-grey flowers. The flower has a wooden-like stem and the flowers themselves are many small peddles with cotton-like bits sitting inside,
CAPTION: Green hairstreak
CREDIT: Neil Hulme
IMAGE 2 of 2: Flower
DESCRIBING:Vertical colour image of a tall purple flower.
SYNOPSIS: The flower is made up of many smaller flowers traveling up a single stem. The petals of the followers are a lighter purple compared to the dark purple that connects the petals to the stem. Surrounding the main flower are other tall green grasses and speckles of yellow flowers in the distance.
CAPTION: Fragrant orchid
CREDIT: SDNPA / Jan Knowlson
DESCRIBING: A text box
DESCRIPTION: On the bottom half of the brochure's left vertical fold below the images of the butterfly and flowers are two columns of text, titled: Points of Interest. The first subsection is titled: Jack and Jill Windmills.
RELATED TEXT: Jack and Jill Windmills: These picturesque windmills stand atop the scenic South Downs with spectacular views out across the Sussex Weald. Jack is privately owned but Jill is often open to visitors and when the wind is blowing she may even be in operation with a guide available to explain the mysteries of milling. Visit jillwindmill.org.uk for more information.
DESCRIBING: Small rectangular color photograph
SYNOPSIS: A modern, color, horizontal image of a white domed marble memorial is situated at the bottom of the page, beneath two short columns of accompanying text. The memorial sits on a hill, atop a gray, stepped concrete foundation, overlooking rolling fields and forests under a mostly cloudy sky with specks of blue peaking through.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Viewed from eye level, with the viewer behind the memorial on slightly higher terrain. The marble memorial is all white and is situated in the image foreground filling the leftmost third. It consists of a large dome resting on eight pillars, which in turn rest on an octagonal plinth, forming a small pavilion. Only four pillars are visible, due to the viewing angle. The dome is topped with a decoration, or finial, which resembles a large trophy. The base of the dome resembles the wide brim of a hat. Above the brim and around the circumference of the dome is a wide octagonal sash, like the sash on a hat. The top of the sash is scalloped, as is the circular trim at the base of the finial. The pillars supporting the dome are square at the bottom-half, up about about one metre and change to an indistinguishable shape for the top-half. The pillars rest on an octagonal base, that is aligned with the octagonal sash around the dome. The left half of the finial, dome, pillars, plinth, and concrete pad are in shadow, while the right half is sunlit.
The memorial rests on a large dark gray concrete pad, about 5 metres wide and 10 metres long, trimmed at the sides with a thin, stepped, dark concrete wall. The pad is surrounded by short green grass and sits below the crest of the hilltop. In the image near background and at a little lower elevation, the left half contains a golden field that gives way to dark green trees on the right. The trees continue to lower elevation as they leave the image border. The far-background continues with rolling hills out to a distant left to right tree line running along the horizon.
CAPTION: The Chattri
CREDIT: Richard Reed
RELATED TEXT:
This beautiful memorial stands on the Downs near Patcham at the place where Hindu and Sikh soldiers who died in Brighton war hospitals during 1914-1918 were cremated.
Around one and a half million members of the Indian army fought alongside British soldiers during the war. The word ‘chattri’ means umbrella in Indian Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and is reflected in the memorial’s style.
DESCRIBING: A large color photograph,
SYNOPSIS: A western view from a hilltop in the evening, across a large expanse of valley, at an orange sunset, under a mostly cloudy sky. MuchThe foreground rises toward the viewers right, with valley of trees, fields, and buildings below to the front and left. Low clouds
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A soft calming image; in the background the burnt orange setting sun shines through thinning clouds in the orange and gray overcast. In the foreground, evening shade and rolling countryside, still provide textures of dark green trees and light green fields, which are mixed with a line of scattered white buildings that cross the image's midsection. Thin wisps of low clouds begin to hug the ground below, nearer the buildings, like smoke. The ground slowly disappears as the white veil thickens, except for the ridges of a line of small hills that poke through in the photo mid-ground. The low cloud layer continues becoming a flat, textureless, grayish white carpet, filling the image width as it meets the horizon.
CAPTION: View from Ditchling Beacon
CREDIT: Sam Moore
RELATED TEXT:
One of the highest points on the South Downs, Ditchling Beacon, once an Iron Age hillfort, has stunning pockets of rich chalk grassland. If visiting in July look for the musk orchid, only found in the south of England, limey-green in colour and honey-scented. Between June and August you’ll also see the marsh fragrant orchid which is dark pink in colour and can be found on the northerly scarp slopes.
Amongst these spectacular flowers keep an eye out for the green hairstreak butterfly. When not in flight they hold their wings closed showing a green underside with a faint white streak. Rival males can often be seen spiralling close to shrubs.
DESCRIBING: A combined image of a rectangular color map above a pictograph of color coded waymarkers and icons
SYNOPSIS: The combined image is titled "Find Your Way." The small horizontal wayfinding and transportation map at the top of the image is an aerial view of the area along the southern coast of the UK from Southhampton to Eastbourne, and north to Godalming. It marks the location of The Chattri and Ditchling Beacon in the South Downs National Park and their location related to railways, rail stations, and larger towns. A legend instructs on symbols for map usage. The image underneath is dark green, somewhat rectangular box containing a pictograph of colorful arrows and rows of white, miniature figures, indicating path usage options and restrictions for vehicles.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF MAP: The map surface is light green, and the National Park area is marked in a darker olive green. The park generally runs east to west and is landlocked, many miles inland at its western border near Winchester. It widens as it passes Petersfield where its footprint is largest. The park footprint narrows and is half the width of its western area by the time it stretches east past Pulborough. The park land area turns slightly southeastward near Lewes and continues toward its eastern terminus, angling toward the coastline. As it nears the coastline, narrow fingers of the park randomly touch the southern coast between Brighton and Eastbourne. The park footprint widens slightly as it meets and terminates along the coastline near Eastbourne. A white, semi-transparent, rectangular legend box, in the upper right, covers about a fourth of the map. A second similarly transparent, but much smaller rectangle below it points to the general location of the Chattri and Ditchling Beacon area, which lies in the eastern end of the park. The railway stations are marked along the railroad lines with red dots, and a few also contain town names.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF PICTOGRAPH PATH USAGE ICONS:The pictograph reads in white letters: "Follow the arrows on waymarkers." Underneath are four rows of images. Each row begins with the mode of transportation written, then a short stubby colored arrow pointing to the right at a row of five simple, white miniature figures. The figures from left to right are; a person walking, person on bicycle, person riding a horse, person in a two-wheeled horse and buggie, person on motorbike. In each line some of the images are slashed through diagonally with a red slash from upper left to lower right. Beneath the pictograph the next line starts with "Open access land" followed by a round symbol, then, in the same line, the words "National Trail Acorn" followed by a white simple figure of an upside down acorn.
Footpath - Yellow arrow, all figures except the walker have red slashes through them.
Bridleway - Light blue arrow; walker, bicyclist, horse rider are unmarked; the horse and buggie and motorbike rider are slashed through in red.
Restricted Byway - Purple arrow, all figures are unmarked, except the motorbike rider, which is slashed through in red.
Byway - Red arrow- All figures are unmarked.
Open access land- Brown and white symbol in the shape of a circle. Inside the circle, against a white sky that is two thirds of the scene, a person arms slightly extended out to their sides stands with legs open, straddling a narrow valley between two small hills.
National Trail Acorn - White vertical image of an acorn. The acorn cap is at the bottom with the tiny stem pointing off to the viewers left. The acorn nut rests in the cap, point facing upward.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular text box with image
DESCRIPTION: A rectangular light green text box dark green trim across the top. In the upper left, just below the thin dark green area, is a simple white profile image of a dog on a leash. In front of the dog, in all upper case, dark green print, similar is size to the dog, the text reads "Take the Lead." Beneath is a paragraph of information in small white print.
RELATED TEXT:
For a safe and fun visit with your dog please remember to keep them on a lead around livestock, horses and wildlife. Always bag and bin your dog poo – any public bin will do!
DESCRIBING: A short section of text
DESCRIPTION: Beneath the title, Getting Here, is brief information about regular and alternative parking.
RELATED TEXT:
Jack & Jill windmills free car park with height barrier.
Alternative car parking is available at Ditchling Beacon (charges apply).
DESCRIBING: A square, color way-finding and cognitive map
SYNOPSIS:The color map defines the various hiking paths, bridleways, and footpaths in the park, and the open access land surrounding it, oriented with north at the top. The two primary paths, Ditchling Beacon and Chattri Memorial are the primary focus of the map, and are sandwiched between the north south roadways; Ditchling Road to the east and A273 to the west. Other shorter footpaths and bridleways connect to the two major paths at various points throughout the park. The map key is midway down the page's left edge, along with a map scale, where 1 inch = ¼ mile.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
Ditchling Beacon and Chattri Memorial trails, both begin and overlap at the car park in the upper left, northwest corner, by the Jack and Jill Windmills point of interest. Neither trail has steps or other barriers.
The Ditchling Beacon trail, marked in dark blue, is 9.2 km or 5.7 miles long and is also a bridleway. The trail is shaped somewhat like a head of broccoli, the stalk beginning at the car park, the crown to the right. Trail marking points are laid out for trekking in a clockwise pattern. Ten points mark the trail and are found at most large trail intersections and major turns. It has some steeper gradients, and the path consists of loose stone and mud, especially in winter. Starting at the car park in the upper left corner, the trail travels easterly and splits in about 500 metres. The Ditchling Beacon trail continues straight, while the Chattri trail veers right. At Point 2, the trail meets turns slightly left, and traces clockwise around the outline of the crown until arriving at Point 10, where the trail turns left, retracing the path straight back to the car park. The Ditching Beacon is located at Point 3, where the trail makes a 90-degree turn to the right, or south, and is also where the long distance path hikers may leave the formal park trail and continue east where the trail leaves the map’s upper right edge.
The Chattri Memorial trail, marked in orange covers 7.2 km or 4.5 miles, has some steep gradients and consists of loose stone and mud, especially in the winter. Starting at Point 1, at the car park by the Jack and Jill Windmills, in the upper left or northwest corner or the map, the trail leads east, overlapping with the Ditchling Beacon trail before dividing after about 500 metres. Staying to the right hand trail, it winds southward past New Barn Farm at Point 2, around a forested golf course at Point 3, and through mostly open land for about 3 km. A bridleway intersects the path from the right at Point 4, and the trail passes through Holt Bottom at Point 5. Just past Point 6 the trail makes a sharp left turn, nearly 180 degrees, before the path terminates at the Chattri Memorial. The return route retraces the trail northward as far as Point 5, where the trail divides. Continuing slightly right, the path joins the Sussex Border Path northbound for 2 km. Just prior to Point 7, the trail turns 90-degrees left as it rejoins with a portion of the Ditchling Beacon path westbound for 2 ½ km, back to the start point and the car park at Jack and Jill Windmills.
LONG DISTANCE PATHS:
Two long distance paths pass through the park are also bridleways. One near the top of the map crosses the map east to west, intersecting and joining portions of both the Chattri Memorial and Ditchling Beacon trails for a few kilometers before exiting at the right edge of the map. The other trail, cuts through the map from northeast to southwest. It crosses the Ditchling Beacon path and joins the Sussex Border and Chattri Memorial Trails, and exits the park southbound before exiting the map sheet.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTIONS:
On the far left edge an west to east long distance path enters the map paralleling A273 and then turns 90-degrees to the right, heading east. A little over a kilometer further, the trail turns 90-degrees left, as it intersects and joins the Chattri Memorial trail Point 2, northbound. In a half-kilometer, the trail turns sharply to the right and then follows the Ditchling Beacon path east to Point 3. Along the route, at the intersection at Point 2, ramblers have an option to turn right on the Sussex Border Path toward Chattri Memorial. For those continuing on to Point 3 which is also Ditchling Beacon, the long distance path exits the park trail at Point 3 and continues straight east, disappearing at the upper right edge of the map. Ramblers electing to turn right at Point 2 follow the Sussex Border path and then the Chattri Memorial path southwest for a total of 2 ½ kilometers toward the Chattri Memorial. Just prior to arriving at the memorial, the trail makes a sharp turn to the right. At that point, the long distance trail doesn’t turn with the Chattri trail, but continues straight ahead, gradually turning southward for another kilometer before leaving the lower left hand corner of the map.
A northeast to southwest path enters as a separate trail from the northeast corner of the map, cuts diagonally across the Ditchling Beacon trail, and joins the Sussex Border path southward. At Point 9 the Sussex Border trail intersects and joins and becomes the Chattri Memorial trail which angles in from the users right rear. After Point 6, where the Chattri trail turns sharply left, the long distance path continues straight southward for a km, before disappearing off the edge of the map.
DESCRIBING: A map guide text box
DESCRIPTION: Underneath the park trail map, in the lower left hand section of the brochure, is a brief synopsis of the 5.7 mile (9.2 km) trail. Beneath the synopsis is a point by point guide that provides brief instructions for navigating the ten points of the trail.
RELATED TEXT FOR SYNOPSIS:
TRAIL: Blue Line
DISTANCE: 5.7 miles (9.2 km)
GRADIENT: Some steep gradients.
PATH: Loose stone and mud in winter. There are no steps or other barriers.
RELATED TEXT FOR TRAIL GUIDE:
1. From the car park head back out of the main entrance and turn left following the main track up the hill.
2. Continue along the South Downs Way (SDW) to Ditchling Beacon. As you continue east along the SDW you’ll pass two dew ponds. The first on your left is fenced in and the second open for livestock to drink from. These round ponds are man-made ponds lined with clay and filled by rainwater to provide water for sheep and cattle.
3. At the crest of the hill you’ll see the trig point on your right. This is the highest point in East Sussex where you are rewarded with 360º views. Now retrace your route some 100 metres down the hill and take the path through a wooden gate on your left. The bank to your left is the remains of the ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort that stood on Ditchling Beacon 3000 years ago. Continue on this track south, over the rise and gently downhill.
4. Continue straight ahead at the path junction – here the track steepens a little and has some loose flints.
5. At the gate continue straight ahead, down the hill. This grass slope is the steepest section of the route.
6. Continue through the gate heading south. Here the route flattens out and may be muddy in winter.
7. Go through the gate on your right and across the vehicle tracks, then head left and gradually up the hill. Do not follow the vehicle tracks along the valley floor.
8. Drop down to the gate and turn right onto the main farm track.
9. At the top of the hill there is a cross road of paths, turn right at this point and follow the Sussex Border path north, where you’ll re-join the SDW at Keymer Post.
10. When you reach the SDW, turn left and retrace the start of your walk to the car park at Jack and Jill windmills.
DESCRIBING: A map guide text box
DESCRIPTION: Underneath the park trail map, in the lower right hand section of the brochure, is a brief synopsis of the 4.5 mile (7.2 km) trail. Beneath the synopsis is a point by point guide that provides brief instructions for navigating the seven points of the Chattri memorial trail.
RELATED TEXT FOR SYNOPSIS:
TRAIL: Orange line
DISTANCE: 4.5 miles (7.2km)
GRADIENT: Some steep gradients.
PATH: Loose stone and mud in winter. There are no steps or other barriers.
RELATED TEXT FOR TRAIL GUIDE:
1. From the car park head back out of the main entrance and turn left following the main track up the hill. Turn right onto the South Downs Way (SDW) heading south.
2. Continue through New Barn Farm and straight over the crossroads of track.
3. Follow the track down into Rag Bottom – this is quite steep with occasional loose flint. Then follow the track back up the hill the other side.
4. Turn left and then right to follow the track along the edge of the field at Middle Brow.
5. At the crossroads of paths turn right onto the Sussex Border Path and continue down to the Chattri war memorial.
6. When you want to continue your walk retrace your route back up the Sussex Border Path, then continue straight over at the crossroads.
7. When you reach the SDW, turn left and return to the car park at Jack and Jill windmills.
Underneath point 7 in the guide, a 1 inch circle contains text that is tilted about 10 degrees right of vertical.
RELATED TEXT:
MAP REF: Find this area on OS Explorer OL11 (was 122)
DESCRIBING: A small, rectangular, dark green box with text
DESCRIPTION: The horizontal dark green text box is in the lower right corner of the map page. It contains a light green title in large font, with all uppercase letters centered across the top of the box. Beneath is a short paragraph of information printed in small white font, split evenly into two columns.
RELATED TEXT:
BREEZE UP TO THE DOWNS, The Brighton area has excellent bus services with double-decker Breeze buses serving the popular Devil’s Dyke daily, (mid June-August), then a weekend & bank holiday service throughout the year for Devil’s Dyke, Stanmer-Park, and Ditchling Beacon. See the website brighton-hove.gov.uk/breezebuses for full details.
DESCRIBING: A small white rectangular symbol
SYNOPSIS: A small white rectangular box with rounded corners is the symbol for the Disabled Ramblers. Within the box, on the left third is a green stick figure of a person in a wheel chair facing to the viewer's right. The figure's elbow is bent back with hand on the wheel, as if in movement. Above the lap of the person are two simple miniature pine trees, offset from each other, the one nearest the figure's chest is slightly higher. In front of the wheel chair, covering the right two thirds of the box reads disabled ramblers in all lowercase print. Disabled is above, printed in black, and ramblers is below, printed in green.
RELATED TEXT:
Disabled Ramblers is a small charity which was set up around 20 years ago to encourage disabled people to access the countryside on their mobility scooters. Members of the charity helped to create the two routes in this leaflet and tested each one to ensure that they are suitable for rambling on an all-terrain Class 3 mobility scooter, or equivalent power chair.
For more information about the Disabled Ramblers and how you can get involved, visit the website disabledramblers.co.uk
DESCRIBING: Green and white rectangular logo for viewranger app
SYNOPSIS: White lower case word ViewRanger, (trademark) along the bottom of the dark green sign. Above the word are two intersecting white triangles representing mountains. The right hand mountain is slightly smaller than the left. A wavy cutout shape (like an inverted s) leads from the middle bottom of the two triangles to their intersection, gradually getting more narrow as if in perspective. This represents a path.
RELATED TEXT:
Download the free ViewRanger app from your app store. Once registered you can search for South Downs National Park to view all of our routes. All our routes on ViewRanger are available for FREE – you do not need to buy any maps to view our walks and rides.
RELATED TEXT:
These circular routes have been made possible due to support from Gatwick Airport, which enabled surface and gateway improvements to be carried out.
Information not found on brohcure:
While there are a range of facilities to help people of all abilities to enjoy the National Park, we’re continuing to add new information for visitors to fully experience the South Downs, regardless of whether you have young children, care for someone with a disability, or have a disability yourself. We’re committed to working with partners to make the South Downs National Park accessible to people of all abilities.
Getting around:
Most bus operators within the South Downs National Park cater to wheelchair and pushchair users.
If visiting the National Park by train, both Petersfield and Lewes train stations have step-free access.
You can find information about Assisted Travel from Southern and Southeastern train companies.
To find accessible toilets in the National Park, you can use the Changing Places toilet map.
Miles Without Stiles are routes that are suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dog walkers and less agile walkers can choose from a list of routes from across the South Downs.
Gatwick Airport is helping the South Downs National Park to create a number of new routes across the South Downs. The work includes removal of stiles, replacing gates and resurfacing rough tracks.
With six routes currently available and further routes becoming available in the near future, our plans are underway to make the South Downs the UK’s most accessible National Park.
For more accessibility information, visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/accessibility/
CONTACT:
South Downs National Park Authority: 01730 814810
TWITTER: @SDNPA
FACEBOOK: /SDNPA
INSTAGRAM: southdownsnp
RELATED TEXT:
Details correct at time of going to print (June 2019). Please be aware that routes are shared with other users (vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, horses etc) and users of this route do so at their own risk. We do not accept any responsibility for loss, damage or injury, however caused, arising directly or indirectly from use of this leaflet.