South Downs
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The South Downs is one of the two areas of chalk downland in southern England. The North and South Downs run parallel to each other, and would once have formed part of the same dome-shaped chalk outcrop. (See Southern England Chalk Formation.) Erosion, however, has removed the chalk between the two ridges, forming an area called the Weald.
The South Downs extend about 70 miles (100 km) through East Sussex, West Sussex, and part of Hampshire. The South Downs Way is a bridleway that follows the South Downs. Settlements include Eastbourne with its 164 m high headland Beachy Head, Lewes, Clayton Windmills, Wolstonbury Hill, Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea, Washington, Arundel, and Midhurst.
The most famous cliffs of the South Downs, apart from Beachy Head, are the Seven Sisters, between Eastbourne and Seaford. The highest point on the South Downs is Butser Hill, just south of Petersfield, Hampshire. At 270 m (886 ft) high, it qualifies as one of England's Marilyns.
Many parts of the South Downs have been designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England.
A national park in the South Downs is proposed, and received support from the government in September 1999. As of 2004, a public inquiry is being held to decide the boundaries of the proposed national park. The designation process is expected to take another two to three years.
The fictional character Sherlock Holmes retired to the South Downs, where he took up bee-keeping.
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| National parks of England and Wales |  |
|---|---|
| Current: Brecon Beacons • The Broads • Dartmoor • Exmoor • Lake District • New Forest • North York Moors • Northumberland • Peak District • Pembrokeshire Coast • Snowdonia • Yorkshire Dales
Proposed: South Downs |
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