Car parking - The National Trails

Car parking
The South Downs Way is a sensitive open landscape
and as such has very few car parks along the route.
Those that do exist are generally small in size and it
is therefore recommended that wherever possible
you use public transport or car share. For public
transport information see the South Downs Public
Transport Guide at www.southdowns.gov.uk/travel,
or contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or
www.traveline.info.
Many car parks, including Eastbourne Downland and
National Trust car parks, are pay and display – these
are shown by .
OVERNIGHT PARKING
Some people may wish to park their car at one end
of the trail, walk the South Downs Way or part of
it, and then catch public transport back to their car.
This is possible, but should be arranged in advance.
Details to help you plan your overnight parking are
included in this leaflet.
Horse riders
The size of a horse box can sometimes present
problems, so the list highlights locations where
horse boxes can be parked , plus details of those
with a height or width restriction . Regrettably,
as the trail starts and ends in urban areas, you
can’t park at the very beginning or end of the trail.
Wherever you park, please park considerately, be
aware of security issues and take precautions against
theft.
Where an off trail park is listed, the South Downs
Way is directly accessible by bridleway unless noted
otherwise.
Please also be aware of rural car crime and do not
leave anything on display that might tempt thieves.
Parking Facilities
Key:
parking charges apply
height/width restrictions
suitable for horse boxes
Grid References
Some facilities include their Grid Reference e.g.
SU716203, which can be entered into
www.streetmap.co.uk and other online sites to
locate the facilities.
Winchester city centre (Overnight)
All the public car parks operated by Winchester
City Council have a maximum 24hr stay, however
the Council can arrange payment for longer stays
in advance. Chesil Street multi-story car park is
the closest to the trail – parking costs £6 per day.
Larger vehicles can park at either St. Catherine’s Hill
park and ride or Worthy Lane car parks which have
large bays. Contact Winchester Parking Office on
01962 848346.
Chilcomb Village, near Winchester.
SU 508283
On trail. Please park considerately in the village. Best
suited as a setting down and picking up point only.
This is the nearest unboxing place to Winchester.
Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester.
SU 529277
100 yards / 100 m from trail, on A272. Small
amount of parking with narrow access to trail
via grassy verge.
Beacon Hill Beeches, in the Meon Valley.
SU 598228
On trail. Small with some tree roots and overhanging
branches. Note that Old Winchester Hill National
Nature Reserve, on the opposite side of the Meon
Valley, now has height restriction barriers.
OLD WINCHESTER HILL National
nature reserve. SU 645213
On trail.
Butser Hill, Queen Elizabeth Country
Park, Hants. SU 716203
On trail.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park,
Nr Petersfield, Hants.
SU 718185
On trail. Off the A3, past visitor centre to Gravel
Hill Car Park. Toilets and café. A larger car park can
be reserved for special events.
Halls Hill, Queen Elizabeth Country
Park, Buriton. SU 733197
On trail.
2 Car Parking near the South Downs Way