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Original poster

Please recommend me lovely places to live in or near the South Downs National Park

51 replies

longcoffeebreak · 30/10/2021 23:11

I'm looking to relocate in 2023 to England and love the look of the South Downs. I love running, don't want to be more than about a half hour drive from these sea and would like to have trails near my house for dog walking and running.

Community is important as I'm from a small place and am used to seeing people I recognise when I'm out and about Grin

I have two teenagers one of whom is autistic - so need a decent FE college not too far away. I'd also like to have access to cultural stuff without a massive trek.

Can anyone suggest anywhere that would fit the bill?

OP posts:
Lushers · 30/10/2021 23:24

Winchester! It's right at the start of the SDW and it's beautiful. Great cultural things in the city, a fantastic 6th form college (Peter Symonds college) and it's about 40 mins drive to coast x

Lived here 25 years and adore it.

Lushers · 30/10/2021 23:25

Oh and lots of great running hilly trails for exercise or dog walking !

TheDogsMother · 30/10/2021 23:28

You could look at Petworth which is a lovely little market town. Great cinema with latest releases and live streaming from opera and ballet. It also has Literary and Fringe Festivals. Nice independent cafes/restaurants and Midhurst Rother College may suit your DCs

PeachesPumpkin · 30/10/2021 23:28

Winchester. All the schools are amazing. Beautiful surrounding area. Gorgeous town.

thingamebob · 30/10/2021 23:35

Petersfield is nice, close to Butser Hill, QE Park, South Harting, you can access the South Downs easily. Also has a mainline train station with regular trains to London.
Chichester is also nice, it has it's own Sixth Form College, a busy town centre, and close to lovely seaside (West Wittering).

Ozgirl75 · 31/10/2021 01:55

I’m from that area (inland from Chichester) and it’s lovely! Lots of nice villages and towns. If you want a town then I agree that Chichester and Winchester are very nice. Petworth, midhurst, Witterings, Bosham (said Bosam not Bosh am). Slightly further but not too far Horsham is also very nice. Basically anywhere in West Sussex and the Hampshire coast is nice. In your shoes I’d probably just pick Chichester as it has good schools and I know it but it’s a lovely area with no “bad” bits I can think of.

Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 20:40

@Lushers thank-you can you tell me if the trails for running and walking start in Winchester or do you have to drive to them? Also the college does it cater for all abilities?

OP posts:
Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 20:43

@TheDogsMother I haven't heard of Petworth will have a look. What are transport links like there?

OP posts:
Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 20:46

@thingamebob ah I went to Petersfield nd swam in the outdoor Lido this summer 🙂

Thanks for the heads up about specific areas. Would South Harting have the best access to trail running?

OP posts:
Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 20:48

@thingamebob @Ozgirl75 Chichester is a front runner as I hear the college is outstanding and gets a special mention for additional learning needs provision. Not sure where to live there to have immediate access to trail walks and runs any suggestions?

OP posts:
Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 20:49

How about further east near Brighton is that as nice as the west?

OP posts:
TheDogsMother · 31/10/2021 20:57

Like many small rural towns the transport links aren't amazing unfortunately. Hourly buses to Chichester/ Worthing. Nearest train station is 4 miles away with regular services to London (1 hr 20) and the coast. Or about 10 miles to a faster, more regular rail service.

It's a very pretty, historic town which has a very close knit community so it would be easy to make friends and get involved in things.

An alternative 6 miles away is Midhurst which is a slightly larger town. It has plenty to offer too, a bit more in the way of shops and buses. Bus services are better though a bit further for trains.

Original poster
longcoffeebreak · 31/10/2021 21:16

@TheDogsMother thank-you 4 miles away to a station sounds fine Smile

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 31/10/2021 21:26

Sorry I don’t know about trail runs but any of the villages around there would have access to lovely countryside. The public transport is fairly dire. It’s ok if you’re in town, but you would need a car for sure.
There are some lovely parts of East Sussex too - Brighton itself is very vibrant and there are also lots of nice villages around places like Robertsbridge and Uckfield.
Chichester is a great spot though, it’s got a good theatre, on the coast, they have loads of fun events at Goodwood as well (especially if you like cars!) and there’s just a lot going on there but encased in a very pleasant town.

Ozgirl75 · 31/10/2021 21:27

Midhurst and Petworth are lovely historic villages - another really good one is Arundel. It’s on the river, has nice cafes and shops, a castle and lots of pretty little old houses.

trumpisagit · 31/10/2021 21:33

Lewes or the villages nearby.
Easy access by rail or bus to Brighton for culture.
Good sized FE college in Lewes.
I don't live there but Lewes has history and I have always liked it.

Lushers · 31/10/2021 21:59

@longcoffeebreak

Re the 6th form college, yes I believe it caters for most abilities.. students come from all over Hampshire to go to it it has such a good reputation...

Winchester is the official western start point for the SDW.
Check this out
www.southdowns.gov.uk/south-downs-way-gets-a-permanent-startend-point-in-winchester/

I used to run and there are loads of running trails accessible from the centre and quick to reach- lots of green and rural places to run and enjoy

A lot of people run from Winchester to Farley Mount / Crab wood area ... it's lovely

Lushers · 31/10/2021 22:01

My eldest DS is at the 6th form college and is of average academic capability and they are really good with him.

Other schools are good too. (Secondary)

Theatre buzzing, lots of fab places to eat, drink, library with lots of events.
Xmas markets. Other markets in high street going on.

Summerrain123 · 31/10/2021 22:18

Chichester also has a good University which scores very highly on student satisfaction.

lllllllllll · 31/10/2021 22:30

I think a lot depends on what your budget is. I just looked up Winchester on Rightmove and the prices are insane! Like £500k plus for a two bedroom cottage Shock. I believe Lewes is similar.

TheDogsMother · 31/10/2021 22:33

@Ozgirl75

Midhurst and Petworth are lovely historic villages - another really good one is Arundel. It’s on the river, has nice cafes and shops, a castle and lots of pretty little old houses.
Don't call Petworth a village, it's a town. You will have the locals after you with pitchforks 🤣🤣
Ozgirl75 · 31/10/2021 23:04

Ha! I haven’t been back in a few years, it was a village last time I went there Grin

Lightswitch123 · 31/10/2021 23:09

I'd avoid Winchester and surrounding. Massively overpriced and a shit tonne of traffic.

Go further east

OldPodge · 31/10/2021 23:13

Seaford in East Sussex. 👍🏻😊

StCharlotte · 01/11/2021 00:09

@longcoffeebreak

How about further east near Brighton is that as nice as the west?
Lewes. Ticks all your boxes.