SOUTHERN BELLE

To mark 10 years of the South Downs National Park, Vern Pitt thought he’d ride from one end to the other, all 164km of it

"The South Downs are a critical green lung for the South-East, providing millions of people with unparalleled access to open countryside in a way that has incalculable benefits for their health, well-being and their appreciation of why the natural environment matters,” said Poul Christensen, the acting chairman of Natural England, when the Downs were awarded National Park status in 2009.

If you’ve ever cycled round the Downs, you’ll know it’s virtually impossible to disagree with this sentiment. The National Park was established the following year, 10 years ago now, though the bureaucracy behind the park was only fully operational from 2011. Covering 627 square miles, it has hosted top-level races and holds in its palm the enduring off-road challenge of the South Downs Way. While the Downs are best known for the climbs, it’s a varied terrain that changes as you travel along it from exposed hilltop traverses, to wooded lanes and arteries through open farmland.

Ten years of all that being officially a National Park seemed like a good reason to ride from Winchester in the west, to Eastbourne in the, well, east and experience all the South Downs have to offer. Racking up miles for the CW5000 seemed a good idea too.