In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? I preferred to the Hadrians Wall Walk and my boyfriend enjoyed it more than the Cotswold Way. 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. Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. Would you feel safe doing so? Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. Thats good to hear! This looks so cool! Not only is the surface of the South Downs Way constantly conspiring to destroy your feet, but theres a remarkable amount of ups and downs to deal with. 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. The ride from Arundel at the southern edge of the South Downs, through the villages of Petworth and Northchapel to the north showcases why this is such a special part of the world. Alternatively, hop aboard one of the Breeze up to the Downs buses, a network of three bus services linking Brighton with some of the most popular South Downs destinations close to the city . You can have a rough plan of how far you want to travel each day but can also just see how the day takes you, stopping when you find a suitable place to pitch your tents or bivvy bags. Plan a cycling adventure today. The downside to having the views is that you are very exposed and this was our biggest challenge as we ended up hiking in some pretty poor weather (it was a rainy long weekend in May). Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. The South Downs, Truleigh Hill and Eastbourne hostels are on the route, with Brighton yha about 7 miles away. on the England Coast Path. For women you might like to take apee clothwith you (only for summer as youll need some sun to dry it). Where the only decision you have to make is which excellent pub to eat your meals in. Join my irregular bi-monthly(ish) newsletter. Butser Hill is the highest point along the trail at 270 metres. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. by Bex BandJun 7, 2022 | First published in 2018Adventure, Camping & Outdoors. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. We mark out potential spots for wild camping, and discuss how far we can . - Daniel Pipes. No . However, because most of the trail follows the top of a ridge, most accommodation options are down in the valleys below, requiring an extra mile or so of hiking to and from the trail. East Meon:Ye Olde George Inn While the room was nothing mind-blowing, the food at the pub below more than made up for it! Subpar gear but superior English weather. The South Downs National Park welcomes visitors from across the country, and the world to experience its natural wonder, far-reaching views and endless skies (on a good day of course!). 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. You can also just navigate using a phone. (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). 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. 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. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between . You can also ride the route on a horse! 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. In this guide I cover everything you need to know to do the hike yourself from details on camping and accommodation options, wild camping choices, costs, what you need to pack, food, top tips and the best South Downs Way route planners. Especially on a hot day. There arent a huge amount of shops en route. I set out on 10-mile walk once a week in the two months leading up to the South Downs Way. There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. Below is an 8 day suggested route plan for anyone wanting to use accommodation en route. Imagine slapping your feet down on a hard, uneven surface for ten hours straight and you have some idea of how painful the walk can be for your arches. 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 South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. 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. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? the south downs way is beyond miserable. Failing that, there is no shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you need to go to the toilet. Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. 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. 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. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. You can sign up to my newsletter here. For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. 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. Thats always an added bonus in this country! National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Had some ice creams and lunch along the way and a bag of chips at the end. Miserable Person Quotes. Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. Just curious why some days you walked 8 miles and others 22 :). Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). This long-distance trail runs for 100 miles across the breadth of the South Downs from Winchester to Eastbourne. 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. 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. Subscribe to leave a comment. The South Downs Way is enjoyed by thousands of horses and riders each year, with many accounting it's popularity to a combination of beautiful views, lovely bridleways and the wonderful going (even on those wet, winter days). +44 (0)1323 870280; sevensisters.org.uk. The hospices of Sussex are dedicated to providing specialist end-of-life care. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. the south downs way is beyond miserable. 8 days is a reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness . This was the first walk where I didnt get blisters on my heels and I believe its from wearing a larger shoe. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). As someone who believed walking poles were exclusively for douchebags and grandparents, Im holding up my hands and confessing to being a convert. Read more Located within an hour of London, this delightful National Trail meanders along the crest of the Downs with far-reaching views over the patchwork fields, woods and villages of the Weald and southwards to . Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. If a campsite is a 2-mile walk from the trail this means you are doing a 4-mile round trip to get there which can be frustrating. Hotel in East Meon. It is renowned for exhibiting the best of southern English countryside with its rolling hills, glassy chalk streams, bucolic farmer's . If you do not own your own horse but would still like to experience the joys of hacking the South Downs Way, there are a number of riding schools offering hacks on the South Downs National Park and surrounding areas. If you want to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee! Mai 2022 . There is a baggage transfer option if you are keen on walking the South Downs Way without having to carry your bag. 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 . Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. Difficulty level: easy to moderate. 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. One of the best things about the trail is how easy it is to get to the start and finish using public transport. 4 - People - this is the most populated National Park with over 117,000 people and 2.2m living within 10km. The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs Way? Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. I suggest going outside of school holidays if you can and avoiding any bank holiday weekends. It finishes 100 miles later in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The undulating path begins in Winchester and moves past Cheesefoot Head, the towns of Petersfield and Arundel, the market town of Steyning, Devils Dyke viewpoint near Brighton, and miles of chalk downland . The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds. The . 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. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast) perfectly located on the SDW. Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. All about my hike on the INT and how it changed my life. Ive done lots of adventures myself from hiking the length of Isreal to kick-scooting the length of the UK (you can see a list of my adventures here). They provide . The Trailblazer guide will come in handy for the walk if youre not sure if youve gone wrong, and Google Maps will also help by showing where you currently are as long as you have signal, of course. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. This trail is so beautiful! As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. 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 National Park and the South Downs Way: The official leaflet for the South Downs Way National Park and South Downs Way National Trail. March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. This quiet and tranquil bed and breakfast is known for the owners going above and beyond, even sometimes picking up weary South Downs Way walkers from the trail! Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. Whether you are out for a leisurely hack or prefer to use the downs for fitness work, there is something for everyone. 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. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). arduino credit card skimmer. I felt like I was walking through a postcard for much of our journey. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. As one of the UK's most challenging National Trails the South Downs Way is enjoyed by a huge cross-section of walkers of various abilities. This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. 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. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! Some people opt to blast through the trail in six days and some take as many as 10. South Downs: England's Mountains Green. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). Fun fact: several years ago, I attempted to walk the length of Hadrians Walland ended up having to drop out on day three. japanese mythology quiz; spanish slang for girl Walking the South Downs Way. Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast), Day 2: East Meon to Cocking (18 miles)Staying at: Hysett House Inn (90 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 3: Cocking to Amberley (12 miles)Staying at: Black Horse (150 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 4: Amberley to Steyning (11 miles)Staying at: Uppingham B&B (150 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 5: Steyning to Pyecombe (10 miles)Staying at: Period Cottage (131 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 6: Pyecombe to Southease (15 miles)Staying at: YHA South Downs (30 for 2 people in a private room. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. My Kiwi boyfriend was 100% bemused by it. 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. :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. Thanks for sharing! This beautiful trail passes through some gorgeous undulating scenery, between Winchester and Eastbourne. We stayed at the Ecolodge while walking the South Downs Way. lionel richie lytham st annes. You do pass the odd pub and (in peak season) cafes and ice cream vans in hot spots, like along the Seven Sisters way. But maybe not quite 20 mile days! The Devil's Punch Bowl. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! It would usually take a solid nights sleep for my feet to stop hurting each day just in time for me to start walking again. The South Downs Way is enjoyed by thousands of horses and riders each year, with many accounting its popularity to a combination of beautiful views, lovely bridleways and the wonderful going (even on those wet, winter days). Still, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being in Eastbourne. 5 days - route Information, riding the South Coast later this year and will be blogging about Experience. 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