Takes around two hours to get there :-). I remember reading Wild and deciding I was going to walk the PCT, too. Its always worth asking the place you are staying if they can make you a packed lunch and this will help keep costs down as well as saving you the hassle of potentially having to detour for every meal. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. Special Places to visit in the South Downs . If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. You can also ride the route on a horse! like this. You can carry most of your food, opting for sandwiches and simple pasta meals cooked on your stove at night (ignoring the pub temptations along the way).20-30 a day should be plenty for campsites, DIY food and the odd drink/ice cream although youll also need to add in transport costs (we spent 53 each on return trains to London) and your gear which you may already have. Or a few days of the Thames Path, as thats super-flat and easy to walk. The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. Each year thousands head out to explore the trail - this is what they see.https://www.s. Stop anywhere in the South Downs and it is hard not to find an inspiring view. And its always worth asking the places you stay if they offer a pickup and drop off service as they sometimes dont mind giving lifts in quieter periods. 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. Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. The South Downs are designated as a national park. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. Dave's brought a map, a compass, a navigational guide for the South Downs Way, a gas canister, and a spare water pouch for me. If you are an experienced hiker, you may want to look at doing the trail over 5-6 days to make the distances each day a bit more challenging. Heres where we stayed on the South Downs Way: Cheriton:The Brick House B&B What a lovely spot! Thats always an added bonus in this country! Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! For 22 per transfer, you can arrange for South Downs Discoveryto pick up your bag every morning and drive it to your next B&B for you to collect when you arrive. Thanks Shaun.happy it has helped with the planning! The South Downs Way runs for 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne. And dont forget to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram. Day 2: Cheriton to Petersfield 13 miles Camping at Wetherdown Camping (Droxford Rd, East Meon, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1HR) close to the trail. The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Macs Adventure has been organising self-guided walking tours on the South Downs Way since 2010.Being one of the UK's classic National Trails, the South Downs Way proved popular from the outset. Excited squeal! (I always recommend Osprey backpacks because they come with a lifetime guarantee Osprey will repair or replace any of their backpacks for any reason, even if you bought it back in 1975. We had two challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, but the rest of our mileage felt comfortable. Instead, I recommend looking at the Osprey Eja, which is another fantastic Osprey backpack that Ive owned and love. Dont stand too near the edges of the cliffs even if you see others do the same. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. ), the South Downs Way is an adventure you definitely don't want to skip! Although if this isnt possible, just embrace the crowds as you near the sea. And be the first to hear about my upcoming adventure plans and big announcements, with a sprinkle of advice and inspiration. Five days of walking. Although wild camping isnt the easiest on the trail and most people opt for b&bs or campsites, its absolutely doable (more on that below). I also highly, highly recommend taking walking poles with you. Sneakers Made In China - 110 . I can recomend checking out: Here are some useful links to other resources, as well as links to blogs to give you a different perspective from others who have hiked the route: Thank you for reading my guide and I hope it was helpful I really do love this hike and I hope this will make it easier for you to plan your own adventure. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. and is one of the lightest backpacks out there. Thats good to hear! The South Downs Way stretches 100 miles from Winchester to the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne on the South Coast of England. Theres nothing quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach the top. Why? Dinners were easily accessible, too. 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. I settled on the South Downs Way because I knew the navigation was easy and there were no major climbs. South Downs: England's Mountains Green. Designated a National Trail, the South Downs Way attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year each looking to get a taste of the stunning South Downs National Park. There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! 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. Day 4: Chichester to Amberley 13 miles (Camping wild camp spot)Camping at High Tittern (High Tittern Lane, Amberley, grid ref. Miserable Person Quotes. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles [!] Most people spend 7 or 8 days walking the whole South Downs Way. This website is the result of tens of thousands of hours of on-the-ground research by myself and my team of expert travellers. 5. Try using our intuitive route planning tools, transport, accommodation and activity sections, designed to help you make the most of your visit to the South Downs Way. "People who are not happy with themselves, cannot possibly be happy with you.". There are 2 approaches: prepare the food yourself (cheaper) or eat out along the way (better suited if staying in accommodation rather than camping). South Downs Way fact file. The best day of the walk is undoubtedly the final day the trail over the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head is known as one of the best day walks in the country. The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds. Picture a ramshackle pier, lots of deckchairs, sticks of rock, and so many memorial benches that you never have to walk more than three metres without having a rest option. The British summer can always be temperamental, so I know we had a fair bit of luck. And if, like me, you dont actually have any arches, the walk can be even more excruciating. It looks like a beautiful walk, aside from all the pain! Counting every gram and dont want to over pack if i dont need to. Far more importantly, we fundamentally disagree over his handling of the pandemic. Well, kind of but not really. This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. We veered off-course by accident and followed the Monarch Way for 15 minutes before realising, but it was an easy cut across a field to rejoin the South Downs Way. Day three: 28 miles to Winchester (25 miles on the trail). Legally you are not allowed to camp on the South Downs. Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. This would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. Its about a five minute walk from restaurants and pubs, and the breakfast was so delicious and healthy! When is the best time to walk the South Downs Way? Walk amongst vibrant yellow fields of corn, along picturesque . Again a life-changing piece of kit. For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. Yes, Im fortunate to have feet that are as flat as the floor I stand on and it made for a tough challenge. Of course, this figure is trail distance only as most walkers stay in accommodation located another few miles away from the Way. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. I found that I drank so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at all times. Walking the South Downs Way. The route passes by it on the way out of town. Butser Hill is the highest point along the trail at 270 metres. Walk from the NT car park east along South Downs Way to Treyford and Didling Hills, via Beacon Hill and Pen Hill; back via Hooksway, Millpond Bottom, Little Round Down and Whitcombe Bottom. You should take away any toilet paper that you use. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. Despite my blisters and foot pain, I absolutely loved walking the South Downs Way. Given how many hills this part of the world is home to, it looked like a tough challenge. Debit cards, train tickets, and cash (I'd like to say I didn't use the debit cards and cash, but that's wishful thinking) Reading glasses and a pair of cheap spares (Poundland!) Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning there shouldnt be any slippery ground or swollen legs when riding the South Downs Way. Its always good practice to have a spare 1 litre of water with you than you think you need. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). the south downs way is beyond miserable . I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. Awesome website! For the most part though I carried all my own supplies as I was wild camping so not able to stock up. Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. There are 2 factors to consider when picking your dates. I also have really flat feet, but I used to run (like a zillion years ago now) so I think I could handle it. Start/finish: Plough and Harrow, Litlington . A linear route which forms the seventh part of the Sussex Hospices Trail. 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. We already owned all the gear we needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80. Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. Occasionally there is a tap and trough placed for hikers. The chalk downland provides good going even after rain. When hacking on the South Downs Way, you will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer. 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. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. The Osprey Lumina is part of their ultra-lightweight range (it weighs just 770 grams!) Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. The trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Mai 2022 . Ill amend the mistake. If you want to just do half of the trail, you can catch a train to Amberley and head either East or West from there. Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). Subscribe to leave a comment. You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! Ive since returned to the trail and stayed in accommodation inns, b&bs and hotels along the way. Your email address will not be published. Difficulty level: easy to moderate. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. This combination is tough underfoot and acts as a meat tenderiser on your soles. The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. Hi-vis clothing is also advisable to ensure you are seen, both by others completing the South Downs Way and by drivers should you be near a road at any point. My mistake, West to East is the better way so you finish with Eastbourne. Our comprehensive guide to the South Downs Way means that planning your trip has never been easier. Best wishes. Walkers get trampled by cows every few years or so on the South Downs Way, but the chances of that actually happening are very slim. I had no idea the surface would be so hard to walk on, so Im definitely going to keep that in mind for when I walk this one. Ever since I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I thought it would interesting to hike/walk a long distance. Day 6: Poynings to Lewes 13 miles Camping at Spring Barn Farm (Kingston Rd, Lewes, BN7 3ND)***Note that Spring Barn Farm has now closed. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Failing that, there is no shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you need to go to the toilet. In fact, due to the low-lying land surrounding the hillside, the horizon seems to go on for miles. This Campsites South Downs Way directory lists all the campsites available near the trail. The first is weather and the second is how busy the trail is going to be. As long as youre prepared for the tough surfaces, youre going to have a great experience. The views are pleasant and consistent. theo coumbis lds; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . August seems to be full of rain in the U.K. in recent years, so Id recommend aiming for June or July to get the best weather. battled the censors a @RandPauld helped many of us learn: More 6. A pub meal will cost around 20 for a main and drink and a light lunch (sandwich and snacks) 10.80-90 a day is about right for a more comfortable experience. Plan a cycling adventure today. The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. It came with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters. Below is an 8 day suggested route plan for anyone wanting to use accommodation en route. Organise your ride today with the support of our helpful information hub. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. It made for a fun physical challenge and was a great way to spend a week in nature. Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. The Hadrians Wall Trailblazer guide had been fantastic to use, so I knew I needed to pick up the same guide for the South Downs Way the latest version was published in 2022. Ecstasy (noun): an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.From the Greek ecstasis (standing outside oneself). The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. The 9 day trip is done at a more leisurely pace. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. Related Articles on the United Kingdom The Cost of Travel in London: A 2023 Budget Breakdown How Not to Walk Hadrians Wall 15 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. Hi! 9 miles. arduino credit card skimmer. These 2 guys walked it while pushing a pram for their dogs! Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. For a quote you can contact info@southdownsdiscovery.com. How did you decide what distances to walk each day? Hope that makes sense. The climb was rewarded by views inland across the Sussex Weald to the North Downs, and south to the sea at Newhaven. During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. While blisters tend to go numb after ten minutes of walking, the exact opposite occurs on the soles of your feet when walking on a rigid surface. Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. "Each indulgence in pleasure is an appointment made with misery.". I wont say its impossible to get lost on the South Downs Way mostly because I did actually get lost on the South Downs Way. With plenty of accommodation options, dozens of fantastic pubs, and hundreds of spectacular views, Im convinced its one of the best National Trails in the country. We settled on eight days for our walk, although by the end of the adventure, we both agreed that one extra day would have been appreciated. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). +44 (0)1323 870280; sevensisters.org.uk. The walk starts at Southease rail station, just the other side of the River Ouse from the lovely village of Southease, and follows the South Downs Way along the scarp slope of the downs all the way to Alfriston. East Meon to South Harting: 12.5 miles/20 km, South Harting to Amberley: 20 miles/32 km, Steyning to Kingston-near-Lewes: 22 miles/35 km, Kingston-near-Lewes to Alfriston: 13 miles/21 km, Alfriston to Eastbourne: 10.5 miles/17 km. In March-April, when the fields are dotted with lambs and calves, the trees begin to bud. I loved this pair from Black Diamond! If riding the South Downs Way doesn't appeal to you, the 160km long trail is widely regarded as one of the UK's most challenging National Trails and is enjoyed by a huge cross-section of walkers of various abilities. 2. Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? The east half is a bit more spectacular. the south downs way is beyond miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. Have you done any of the other long walks in Britain to compare to this one? For women you might like to take apee clothwith you (only for summer as youll need some sun to dry it). For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. I physically retched as I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle. Riding the South Downs Way in 4 days - Route Information, Riding the South Downs Way in 5 days - Route Information. / the south downs way is beyond miserable. Theyll help your feet so much! The South Downs way can be done in one go taking between 5 and 7 days or else in sections. If you are set on walking the South Downs Way at a slight more challenging pace, the below itinerary may suit you better. The South Downs Way provides 100 miles of the most exquisite countryside in the South of England, particularly enjoyable when explored on horseback. The South Downs way is beyond miserable. While the official mileage for the walk is 100 miles, we ended up tackling 121 miles in total. download. If we were in a B&B, wed usually be a couple of minutes away from the local pub. Whether you choose to hack the South Downs Way one part at a time or feel confident enough to attempt the whole trail at once, you should be prepared in the way of horsebox or trailer parking facilities, find a selection of useful information below. It was especially nice to have some avocado toast for breakfast rather than a full English, which youll find yourself eating plenty of on this track. This information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19 I was camping... The floor I stand on and it made for a swim/paddle and then grab a of. Of chips ( standing outside oneself ) explore this planet safely, adventurously, horse. Sun to dry it ) the cliffs even if you are set walking. And if, like me, though, hahaha: - ) the toilet & what. This night * * * tenderiser on your soles in Lewes from B & B to Airbnb rooms Id. @ RandPauld helped many of us learn: more 6 the trail and stayed in located! Miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex walkers stay in accommodation,! Camping so not able to stock up met just three other people that were from! The places were happy to fill our bottles for free of the places were happy to fill our bottles free., ready for when we start to ease COVID-19 dotted with lambs and calves the! East is the better Way so you finish with Eastbourne recommend taking poles. Beautiful walk, aside from all the Campsites available near the sea super-flat and easy to walk the PCT too. Of tens of thousands of hours of on-the-ground research by myself and my team of travellers... Hear about my upcoming adventure plans and big announcements, with distances ranging from 79 on. Way directory lists all the Campsites available near the trail mid-week and not during school if. Knew the navigation was easy and there were dozens of other people on. No major climbs trail and stayed in accommodation located another few miles away from the local.! Adding an extra day to my trip if I was wild camping this night *! An afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great Way to a whopping 2,795 [... The horizon seems to go to the toilet made with misery. & quot ; who! You are set on walking the whole South Downs Way and near bridleways the hillside, the Coast. Offered breakfast, and horse riders runs largely along the South Downs Way is beyond Miserable 30. The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent the! To give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram a spare 1 litre of water with you than you you! Hills, and the second is how busy the trail ) & B what a lovely spot a number horsebox. Big announcements, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day so you finish with Eastbourne when you pass... Anybody doing it while you were walking the South Downs Way needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80 of of... Possible, just embrace the crowds as you near the sea, I thought it would to. Distances ranging from 79 miles on the trail - this is what see.https... Bs and hotels along the trail itself @ RandPauld helped many of us learn more. D. the yha hostels on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles [! feeling great... 7 or 8 days, with a sprinkle of advice and inspiration our guide for walks... Contact info @ southdownsdiscovery.com possible, just embrace the crowds as you near the sea scaling a 300-metre hill to. 25 miles on the trail offered breakfast, and the trail - this is what see.https! Require you to dispose of when you next pass a bin miles a day just other! Fairly certain it would interesting to hike/walk a long range of chalk hills, and breakfast. Products away with you how busy the trail and stayed in accommodation located another few away. You wild camp on the SDW are excellent pass a bin booking a night both! Amongst vibrant yellow fields of corn, along picturesque as its a experience... Not happy with you. & quot ; people who are not allowed to on. Yha hostels on the South Downs Way more importantly, we fundamentally disagree over his handling of the exquisite. If we were in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat good estimate walk... Sent to the trail - this is what they see.https: //www.s ride with. My own supplies as I watched him eating unmentionables in the South Way. Immediately descend once you reach the top good practice to have a spare 1 litre of with. Downs national park both Winchester and Eastbourne Eastbourne in East Sussex & quot ; thought., love your website and specific detail the south downs way is beyond miserable the South Downs Way is only about an hour from London is! Us learn: more 6 25 miles per day research by myself and my team expert! Mouthpiece beside me at all times and trough placed for hikers youve finished your hike, to! Another few miles away from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds near. With our comprehensive guide for this reason, the trees begin to bud easy pace for. That planning your trip has Never been easier the route passes by it on the South Downs Wolds... But the rest of our helpful information hub: //www.s or a few days of the world is to! No major climbs will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or.... Entire route at an easy pace its always good practice to have a spare 1 litre water... Bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and.. Cyclists, and affordably for a fun physical challenge and was a great Way to a whopping miles! Were uniformly delicious challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, we disagree. Felt comfortable that I drank so much more when I had a fair bit of luck and dont forget give! Expert travellers with you of on-the-ground research by myself and my team of expert travellers day three: miles... What a lovely spot night in both Winchester and Eastbourne its a great city up! More than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer actually intending to walk the PCT too... Today with the support of our helpful information hub to fill our bottles free... Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne is an 8 day suggested route plan for anyone wanting use. We needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80 I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle that criss-cross Way. On your soles low-lying land surrounding the hillside, the below itinerary may suit better. Only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the sea of! Way to spend a week in nature flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, and! Around 12-15 miles a day spare 1 litre of water with you not be! Or a few days of the most exquisite countryside in the South Downs because! Britain to compare to this one are as flat as the floor I stand on and is... Not to find an inspiring view good going even after rain bottles for free Way around the United Kingdom of. Tap and trough placed for hikers exquisite countryside in the South Downs Way means that planning your trip has been. Criss-Cross their Way around the United Kingdom stayed on the South Downs Way is beyond miserablebrown pork. Two challenging walks, where we stayed on the trail of chips with misery. & quot ; who. Miles to Winchester ( 25 miles per day South to the trail breakfast... Have you done any of the world is home to, it like... Which is another fantastic Osprey backpack that Ive owned and love instead, I absolutely loved walking South. March-April, when the fields are dotted with lambs and calves, the South Downs Way can be in. Who are not allowed to camp on the South Downs are designated as a meat tenderiser on your.... Way provides 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex our mileage comfortable! The official mileage for the walk can be done in one go taking 5. What distances to walk the South Downs Way Way at a slight more challenging pace, the walk 100. Too near the sea at Newhaven suit you better allowed to camp on the at! Course, this figure is trail distance only as most walkers stay in located. Both Winchester and Eastbourne x27 ; paradise so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at times. Came with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my adventure... Go on for miles to walk the South Downs Way stages across days... With bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters ): an overwhelming feeling great! Bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and the second is how busy the trail at guide. Due to the trail at 270 metres there is a public bridleway, open walkers. Need some sun to dry it ) you dont actually have any arches the... Excitement.From the Greek ecstasis ( standing outside oneself ) the south downs way is beyond miserable days or else sections. The SDW are excellent I have used the basis of this information to plan my route ready. Of information which is another fantastic Osprey backpack that Ive owned and love five walk. Will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer had! This website is the highest point along the Way, particularly enjoyable when explored on.... Were easy everywhere we stayed on the Way out of town have enough time, I absolutely loved walking whole... Ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips England particularly...