Leg 17

[Tracey]

Has anyone else recently reccied leg 17??

I did yesterday and found myself running a completely different route for the first half of the leg to previous years. I know the route over the top of Winchester Hill has been changed but following the signs at the bottom of the hill also took me a completely different way (missing the rooty path through the woods). I am now very confused!

Any advice welcome!

[Mary Nightingale]

Hi, my friend and I ran this leg on 8 may and clocked up about 8.7 miles.we hadnt run it before but it seemed to be further than suggested and very tricky to follow the route. someone we met told us to run under the bridge and along dry river bed? we stuck to the route, as far as we were aware. but certainly longer distance than stated on instructions.

crowb runners

[Richard Carter]

I know Jonathan has been in touch with those who have had problems navigating this leg. Do get in touch with him if still unsure.

[jonathan]

This is a bit of a fiddly leg, but the route along the dry river bed (or the path that runs along the right hand side if it's a wet river bed) is the right one. This leads you to the road into Exton. The confusion comes from a split between the SDW for riders of horses and bicycles (which heads off along the disused railway line) and the route for runners and walkers. If anyone has any concerns about this, or indeed any other, leg then email me: [e-mail]

[Steve Roberts]

Has 17 actually changed from the year before last then? I'm running it this year & did it in 2010...i was hoping to get round it with my inate route-remembering ability! The dry river bed & horse/cycle/walker/runner bit rings a bell!

[Andrew Bishop]

The river bed is definitely wet at the moment, below a fairly full stream/river but the path that runs alongside it is easy to run along. It is a bit disconcerting when you get to the disused railway bridge, effectively a cross-roads, and every sign in all 4 directions says South Downs Way! However, caryy straight on on the "walkers" path and, as said above, you get to Exton.

Recceied this this morning and missed the right hand turn onto the path just after Exton Church (also on your right). Keep an eye open for it, only about 100 metres after Exton church. If you miss it you'll end up running the road which is a bit longer.

I was 10 miles out and 8.6 back so definitely one worth checking out.

Andrew