And its so incredibly comfortable! A big section of the South Downs is privately owned farmland which you shouldnt be camping on without permission. Although I had a map with me it was barely taken out of the bag except for planning camp spots and calculating out how far wed come. I, however, recommend staying in as many pubs and B&Bs as possible the accommodation was one of the highlights of our walk! And if there werent? Most people spend 7 or 8 days walking the whole South Downs Way. My shoes! But now added to that list are wheelchair users and off-road buggies. We ended up feeling envious of the riders on every downhill then smug during every climb! The Shoe Inn, the village pub, is a friendly welcome on the South Down's Way. Counting every gram and dont want to over pack if i dont need to. Walking the South Downs Way is a great option for anyone wanting an easy/moderate long-distance trail in the UK that can be completed in under 10 days, at a very chilled pace - or a week if you want to move a bit quicker. You'll find some of the best stargazing spots in England in places like Old Winchester Hill, Harting . The Birling Gap is one of best known parts of the south coast Credit: Getty. It looks beautiful. Kingston near Lewes:Airbnb in Kingston Another wonderful place to stay! If hiking in peak season you will be able to make use of the occasional pub and cafe (although youll be expected to buy something if you do use the facilities). ), the South Downs Way is an adventure you definitely don't want to skip! Dig a hole at least 6inches deep and then cover it up when finished. Three winter walks on the South Downs. Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! Best wishes. Hi! Far more importantly, we fundamentally disagree over his handling of the pandemic. At the weekend, the trail gets crammed with visitors and dog walkers. Located in East Meon, 23 km from Jane Austen's House Museum, South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant. The many hundreds of miles of single track and bridlepaths spurring from the South Downs Way the trail and National Park means it is not only a haven for horse riders but a mecca for Mountain Bikers. Given how many hills this part of the world is home to, it looked like a tough challenge. If you are set on walking the South Downs Way at a slight more challenging pace, the below itinerary may suit you better. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . The rooms are comfortable, if a little dated, and the large TVs were great for watching England beat New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup sucks to be Dave. Hadrians Wall is a little easier in terms of walking surface, so you could also do a few days of that. If you have any questions, please do use the comments box below. 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. 5. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. Takes around two hours to get there :-). For the end, you will be catching a train from Eastbourne. They undulate like a grassy spine from Winchester to Eastbourne, encompassing some of the most romantic, accessible walking trails in Britain, a welter of heathlands and peaks, grazing sheep and pounded footpaths.Kissing gates punctuate the chalk hills, the fields beneath the ridges a patchwork of farmland, green or . Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. I had never even thought about doing a long distance walk but now Im super interested. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! It runs from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex.. Although the relentlessness of the hills shouldnt be underestimated, Id say this is a good trail for hiking and backpacking beginners. You do still need to be able to complete a long day hike comfortably with a day pack (or more if you are planning to camp). The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. Thats always an added bonus in this country! As the trail is well used this means really following the pitch late and leave early rule so you arent disturbing anyone else on the trail. The first part of a delightful walking break takes the hiker from England's ancient capital city to East-Hampshire's border, just beyond the market town of Petersfield. One of my highlights of this year has been successfully walking the South Downs Way. Your email address will not be published. July and August are the hottest months and being on the exposed cliffs can result in tough days if you get an especially hot spell. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Buying a 4m bell tent was probably one of the best purchases I have ever made. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. We offer 4 itineraries covering the whole route. Someone who's miserable feels absolutely awful. Budget: Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite Situated just south of East Meon, the Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite offers simple accommodation at reasonable prices. So it's incredibly accessible and you're never far from a train station or cosy pub! The climb was rewarded by views inland across the Sussex Weald to the North Downs, and south to the sea at Newhaven. Dont forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures. Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. I do a lot of camping with my job (running the womens adventure Light was already starting to come through the windows at half four in the morning. The Cicerone South Downs Way guide book is my favourite, although the Trailblazer one is also good. The views are pleasant and consistent. the south downs way is beyond miserable. I couldnt get enough of the scenery on the South Downs Way, and it proved to me that my home country is prettier than Ive always believed. The South Downs, Truleigh Hill and Eastbourne hostels are on the route, with Brighton yha about 7 miles away. Dont stand too near the edges of the cliffs even if you see others do the same. Im on a mission to make getting outdoors and adventures as easy as possible by providing all the information you need to plan an adventure. Day 8: Alfriston to Eastbourne (11 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). This was the first walk where I didnt get blisters on my heels and I believe its from wearing a larger shoe. The rolling hills, fantastic views, great walks and picturesque villages of the South Downs National Park offer a blissful taste of country life and make it a great location for a camping or Glamping Holiday.The fact that it's only an hour from London and within easy reach of much of the south coast are added advantages . I neednt have worried, though there was plenty of options for eating! Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. It made for a fun physical challenge and was a great way to spend a week in nature. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between . Thanks David.I hope you have a great time. This combination is tough underfoot and acts as a meat tenderiser on your soles. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. Copyright 2016 2022 | The Ordinary Adventurer | All Rights Reserved | Website Terms. The route passes by it on the way out of town. The South Downs is fantastic riding country. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. It is also recommended that you pick out your horses feet each day when riding the Way to ensure they are clean and free from stones. Ive done long sections of this walk and Im now going to be completing the final 40 miles (Steyning area to Eastbourne) over two days in 2 weeks time. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. Sign up to my newsletter to hear when that happens. Well.the simple answer is yes. These rocks were subsequently uplifted to form the Weald-Artois Anticline. I also invested in a new backpack for this walk and I freaking love it! Whether youre out for a gentle Sunday hack or prefer to use the bridleways of the South Downs Way to improve your horses fitness, there is something for everyone. I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). Probably the most comfortable backpack Ive ever worn. Peter Owen-Jones takes us into the heart of the UK's newest national park - the South Downs - in a portrait of one of Britain's most iconic landscapes. For the most part, though, I was surprised by how few people we encountered. Total length: 160km. You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! We recommend spraying your horse with fly spray, especially in the Summer months, to ensure both horse and rider are comfortable and safe throughout. There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. I also enjoyed spending a night in Eastbourne after finishing my walk. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. 2. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. I preferred to the Hadrians Wall Walk and my boyfriend enjoyed it more than the Cotswold Way. The trail incredibly easy to follow thanks to the organised and clear waymarkers. Ah, I love that. This is a very manageable trail in so much as the route is easy to follow and the terrain is flat and with very little ascent. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. Awesome website! I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. Thanks! uva scott stadium parking. Ever since I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I thought it would interesting to hike/walk a long distance. / the south downs way is beyond miserable. Winchester is a wonderful city thats regularly voted once of the best places to live in the country; Eastbourne has to be seen to be believed. The South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath that winds its way from historic Winchester to Eastbourne in Sussex. It's the only one of 16 National Trails contained entirely within a national park. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. Plan a cycling adventure today. It gave my joints a chance to rest and my hiking poles helped me push myself upwards at a startling speed. When riding the South Downs Way, you may wish to stop over at a horse-friendly B&B or find a livery yard for the evening. Not all rides need to be on the path . Walking the South Downs Way is a great option for anyone wanting an easy/moderate long-distance trail in the UK that can be completed in under 10 days, at a very chilled pace or a week if you want to move a bit quicker. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. 25. If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. What a great article Im not British and had never heard of the South Downs Way before your recent posts, and I am really enjoying learning about it in so much detail! Lots of people have accidentally fallen to their deaths getting too close or being distracted taking pictures. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. In terms of weather windows from April-October will give you the best weather. Day 2: Cheriton to Petersfield 13 miles Camping at Wetherdown Camping (Droxford Rd, East Meon, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1HR) close to the trail. Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). Because time was short, we opted to not do the full trail in one go and settled on a 50mile multi-day hike, from Amberley train station to Eastbourne. Would you feel safe doing so? Required fields are marked *. As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? There are stunning, panoramic views to the sea and across the Weald as you travel the 100 mile length of the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne, culminating in the impressive chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters. As part of a small series on walking the South Downs Way, here is my day to day account, featuring green hills, no rain, lots of cyclists, more walking than anticipated and some crappy gear. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. It also means you only need to carry a day pack with you. Now even the U.S. Energy Department has come to that conclusion. Heres where we stayed on the South Downs Way: Cheriton:The Brick House B&B What a lovely spot! I settled on the South Downs Way because I knew the navigation was easy and there were no major climbs. Only 1 a week after your trial. The hospices of Sussex are dedicated to providing specialist end-of-life care. Using the Plan Your Visit tool on the National Trail website you are able to locate accommodation offering stabling along the South Downs Way under the Equestrian Information tab. 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