In 2013, the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) spent 3m on renovating this 14th . Good to know about the hiking trail being hard underfoot too. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. The route provides the visitor with the opportunity "to get away from it all" without having to travel too far in this busy part of England. If you have any questions, please do use the comments box below. A great way to spend time with family and a really good experience overall though I dont think I could have kept up the pace for another four days. A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers In terms of difficulty, our guidebook suggested the South Downs Way is one of Britain's easiest National Trails. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. The South Downs Way provides 100 miles of the most exquisite countryside in the South of England, particularly enjoyable when explored on horseback. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! A more comfortable budgetIf you want to stay in hotels and b&bs and make the most of the delicious pub meals along the way, you are going to need a bigger budget. 2. The trail is favoured by National Trail 'baggers', solo walkers, first-timers, and those who are simply looking for a walking holiday in a peaceful yet historical corner of England. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. What that means is that unless youre camping, youll need to wander off the trail each evening, then kick off every morning with a mile-odd trek uphill to rejoin the path. I walked a walk just to the west, the Clarendon Way from Winchester to Salisbury, over two days earlier this year. If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. The South Downs are designated as a national park. :D Ive walked short sections of the SDW before, and its such an underrated part of the world as is the South Coast in general. There are a number of steep inclines and descends but once on the top of the ridge, the majority of the Way is flat and not too strenuous. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. My Kiwi boyfriend was 100% bemused by it. Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? - Jason Paul. 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. The horrifying cost of Hancocks Covid testing targets. Or perhaps do a mix of both. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. 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. A tough mum covered the full distance with her children and a buggy carrying all their items, Champing: a guide to camping in ancient churches, contingency its always good to have a contingency in the budget, 200 should be plenty for their hike to account for any unplanned taxis or accommodation if needed. Whatever your approach to food, you are going to want to make sure you start with plenty of snacks in your bag to keep you going on your 100mile hike. 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. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] The Birling Gap is one of best known parts of the south coast Credit: Getty. Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast) perfectly located on the SDW. 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. South Harting:The White Hart We loved the White Hart! The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. The pubs can be a little pricey and can get booked up in the busy season (mostly summer holidays) so you may want to make reservations in advance. There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! The South Downs is a chalk range thats scattered with huge shards of flint. 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! The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. The South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the UK. The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds. 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. Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. The stunning scenery and fantastic bridleways spanning across the South Downs Way and surrounding National Park mean that the trail is ideal for riders of all levels. We offer 4 itineraries covering the whole route. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. There are also a few cafes where you can treat yourself to a hot drink and ice cream. My shoes had never felt perfect and once I started to walk long distances every day, my ankles ended up so bruised that I could barely move my feet. Well, kind of but not really. If there's an untouched beach, an up-and-coming city, or a recently-discovered travel hack, you can bet that we've already written about it. Mai 2022 . Rod Liddle is associate editor of The Spectator. Camping is tricky as there arent lots within easy access to the trail. It is renowned for exhibiting the best of southern English countryside with its rolling hills, glassy chalk streams, bucolic farmer's . But with some considerations. Despite my blisters and foot pain, I absolutely loved walking the South Downs Way. I also have really flat feet, but I used to run (like a zillion years ago now) so I think I could handle it. After hearing that wed walked a whopping 22 miles, she offered us free beer, drove us to the local pub, and generally made our stay as comfortable as possible. Only 1 a week after your trial. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. Dinners were easily accessible, too. +44 (0)1323 870280; sevensisters.org.uk. Thats good to hear! And its so incredibly comfortable! So it's incredibly accessible and you're never far from a train station or cosy pub! Its said to be one of the easiest of the National Trails, but it was its reputation as one of the prettiest that had me sold. Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. Your email address will not be published. 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 beyond miserable. Or a few days of the Thames Path, as thats super-flat and easy to walk. I started doing some research last night and saw Hadrians Wall and the Thames Path both come up. Its about a 2 mile hike to reach the campsite from the trail or you can arrange a taxi pickup. With Bivvy bags you would definitely find wild camping South Downs easier (read more about in this Bivvy Bag guide). Birds fill woods and gardens with song in spring, while a relay of snowdrops, daffodils, and bluebells brighten verges and woodlands. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bile. The 6 day holiday has 4 long days and should only be attempted if you are fit and used to walking long distances day after day. Ah, thank you! Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? Youll want to avoid school holidays, because the trail gets far more crowded when the kids are on vacation, and that means accommodation is much more in demand. We encountered far more cyclists than walkers, but only a handful of horse riders. South Downs Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights. The wind from the ocean can be strong and relentless at times. One of the best things about the trail is how easy it is to get to the start and finish using public transport. 21. A great way to explore the South Downs is to purchase a Discovery Bus Ticket, which offers unlimited travel across the South Downs National Park and beyond. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). 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. Budget: Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite Situated just south of East Meon, the Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite offers simple accommodation at reasonable prices. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. the south downs way is beyond miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. And know that you may be asked to move on and will need to do so without complaint. 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. (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. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! And if there werent? As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? and is one of the lightest backpacks out there. Water wasnt so easy to come by on the trail. I loved the simplicity of a long-distance walk, where youre offline and immersed in your destination, where the only thing you have to worry about is putting one foot in front of the other. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. Hi! Whatever you use, make sure you take a battery pack (I always use an Anker pack) as having a fully charged phone is essential for safety as well as useful should you need to check things like opening times or to call a pub to make a reservation. Trailblazer guides are so good for walking in the U.K.! Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. Walk amongst vibrant yellow fields of corn, along picturesque . 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. Originally from the U.K., I've now spent over a decade travelling the world with my Kiwi partner. Cancel any time. The east half is a bit more spectacular. It might be easier using a South Downs Way Route Planner app such as Komoot, which are designed to provide hikers with useful information and to work offline should you lose signal. Day 4: Chichester to Amberley 13 miles (Camping wild camp spot)Camping at High Tittern (High Tittern Lane, Amberley, grid ref. Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. Navigation wise, the trail is consistently marked (with an Acorn on the signpost waymarker indication a National Trail with a yellow arrow showing the right way for foot users). Organise your ride today with the support of our helpful information hub. If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. Kingston near Lewes:Airbnb in Kingston Another wonderful place to stay! 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. South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. If you want to find more inspiration on doing the distance with wheels or a pram, check out: Once youve finished the South Downs Way, youll probably be ready to start planning your next multi-day hike (theyre quite addictive!). Sneakers Made In China - 110 . 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. One of England's National Trails, the South Downs Way, is a 160km long-distance walk, the entirety of which sits within the South Downs National Park. It made for a fun physical challenge and was a great way to spend a week in nature. Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. Whether you are out for a leisurely hack or prefer to use the downs for fitness work, there is something for everyone. To my great surprise, it wasnt my blisters that held me back, but the acute aching in the soles of my feet. 8 days is a reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness . Just search restaurant and it will highlight all the cafes and food options in your area. How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs Way? I hated it. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! Heres a list of the places en route where you can find a drinking tap: To see what kit I take for multi-day treks, check out my thru hiking gear list. Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. I, however, recommend staying in as many pubs and B&Bs as possible the accommodation was one of the highlights of our walk! Buy a signed copy of my book along with a 'Life is Join 3,500+ others and sign up to my newsletter! There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. Ill amend the mistake. Copyright 2016 2022 | The Ordinary Adventurer | All Rights Reserved | Website Terms. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. Text settings. The South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath that winds its way from historic Winchester to Eastbourne in Sussex. You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! 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 reason many people in our society are miserable, sick, and highly stressed is because of an unhealthy attachment to things they have no control over.". It looks beautiful so probably worth all of the foot pain! Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. On the South Downs Way, I especially appreciated the hand-drawn maps for every part of the trail (heres an example from my copy of how great they are) Im not sure I would have been able to find my own way without them. Again a life-changing piece of kit. You'll find some of the best stargazing spots in England in places like Old Winchester Hill, Harting . Join my irregular bi-monthly(ish) newsletter. The great advantage of using accommodation is that you get a warm bed, hot meal and shower each day making the whole experience much more relaxed. It wasnt rare for us to walk for a couple of hours without seeing another human. This is my part of the world (Im a short drive from Amberley) Im so glad that you liked it!! 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. 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. Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. 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. 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. The . The Trailblazer guide has a mileage chart at the back that tells you the exact distance between towns, so you can work out the total distance in advance. For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. These 2 guys walked it while pushing a pram for their dogs! Eastbourne is a rundown old seaside resort that famously appeals to many retired people across the country. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! But maybe not quite 20 mile days! Arrival day if you need to overnight in Winchester I suggest staying at The Old Vine (140 for 2 people including a great breakfast) which is conveniently located for transport and to start the trail. Over the years, Ive walked many sections of the trail multiple times over the (especially my favourite stretch the Seven Sisters walk which you can do as a lovely day hike). **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. I settled on the South Downs Way because I knew the navigation was easy and there were no major climbs. The leaflets listed below are available to download as pdf files. Google Maps is a great tool to use to plan your food stops each day. Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. While that's probably true, I still wouldn't rate it as "easy," especially on longer (15+ mile) days. The walk follows the ridge across the chalk downs, passing many of the . For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. where did the dursleys go to escape the letters; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . Still, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being in Eastbourne. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good way. uva scott stadium parking. Duration: 8 to 10 days. Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. The South Downs Way Route. durham ontario police; does maddie know the killer in hush; Tackle the South Downs Way, the trail on which walkers, cyclists, and equestrians can explore the 99-mile (160-kilometer) length of the national park from Winchester to the chalk cliffs of Beachy . L urking among the jubilant Americans venturing back out to bars and planning their summer-wedding travel is a different group: liberals who aren't quite ready to let go of pandemic . Hope that makes sense. A cute, high-end pub with excellent food and lovely rooms out the back all en-suite. 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. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. 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