A South Downs Way Story
Segment:
© 2004 by
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This was one of my favorite segments, offering a varied landscape and some fascinating archeology. It was a misty day, but that just added to the sense of mystery and awe. Taking first a train, then a bus, I arrived reasonably early in Cocking. Then I climbed straight up a hill onto the downs, which hereabouts were heavily wooded on the sides while still being bare on top. Much of the trail went through cropland, although there was also plenty of pastureland. A wonderful moment came just after passing through the woods above Monkton House, where the path turned sharply south and the Devil’s Jumps appeared out of the mist. These Bronze Age burial mounds were in very good shape and appeared to be well protected. Not too long after that, the woods gave way to open hillsides where a series of crossdykes and an iron age fort made their appearance. The weather cleared. A series of farms, woods, and meadows lined the trail, and soon I crossed the border from Sussex into Hampshire. After that there was a fairly rapid descent into Buriton. Unfortunately, even though the train line passed right through Buriton, it lacked service so I had to hoof it an extra two miles into Petersfield to get home. As compensation, however, Petersfield had a beautiful old center and there was a superb tea shop nestled into mews next to the church.
Cocking-Buriton
11.0 (plus 2.0) miles
18 January 2003