The South Downs Way | Britain's best bike rides

The South Downs Way may seem tame, but parts of this 99-mile path will test your cycling stamina? Click here to view the route mapDistance 99 miles (160km)Classification DifficultStart The Bishop of the Bridge public house, Winchester, SO23Finish The Pilot public house, Eastbourne, BN20 Duration 2?4 daysRoute NCN route 89Map South Downs Way by Harvey MapsRoute notesStarting from Alfred the Great's capital, this 99-mile path takes you from Hampshire's patchwork farmland, through the steep, wooded scarp of West Sussex, before classic chalk grassland runs down to sea cliffs in East Sussex. Follow 8,000 years of footsteps past Neolithic flint mines, bronze age barrows and fine iron age hill forts, to Charleston farmhouse, spiritual home of the Bloomsbury group. The three-day ride can be broken into day trips or taken on as a longer challenge. Terrain and gradientsWide grassy or flinty undulating tracks with more than 3,000m of ascent or descent in total.How to get there/awayRailway stations along the route at Winchester, Petersfield, Amberley, Hassocks, Lewes, Falmer, Southease, Berwick and Eastbourne. Bikes are allowed, except during rush hour.What to seeOld Winchester Hill is an impressive hill fort dating from the stone age with bronze age barrows within. It is also one of the best places to see chalk grassland alive with flowers and butterflies in summer. The Jack and Jill windmills at Clayton used to grind corn grown on the downs and today give excellent views of the Sussex Weald to the north and the English Channel to the south, while the magnificent chalk cliffs of Beachy Head greet weary travellers at the end of the route.Watering holesPretty villages with fine pubs and cafes can be found along the route. The Milburys near Beauworth has real ales and a huge 17th-century treadmill. The White Hart Inn in South Harting is an attractive detour near the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. The Shepherd & Dog at Fulking, has good food and a garden. And the Sportsman in Amberley is a great stop-off with food and accommodation.Cycling holidaysCyclingFitnessguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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