England’s newest National Park, South Downs stretches from Winchester in the west to the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters in the east. It is also one of the most accessible national parks, only an hour by train from London and easily reached from Brighton, Portsmouth, Eastbourne and Winchester.
This is a land of rolling green hills, ancient woodlands, lowland heaths and picture-postcard villages, where a slice of Victoria sponge or a craft beer are never far away. There are plenty of opportunities to get active too. You can walk, cycle or horse ride The South Downs Way, which spans the entire length of the park and is the only National Trail that lies wholly within a national park.
The chalk grasslands and woodlands are rich in wildflowers and butterflies. As you get closer to the coast, the gentle hills and bustling market towns give way to dramatic chalk cliff coastlines. The park is home to 11 different orchards, 309 types of butterflies, badgers, weasels and stouts, with yew trees in Kingley Vale so ancient that nobody really knows how old they are.
Area: 1,624 sq km
Coastline: 14 km
Highest point: 280 m (Blackdown)
More information: southdowns.gov.uk