And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. On a trail like the South Downs Way, I view them as a hiking essential. The Cicerone South Downs Way guide book is my favourite, although the Trailblazer one is also good. by . I was concerned about how accessible food would be on the walk so dutifully packed my bag full of protein bars before leaving. Total length: 160km. 8 days is a reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness . / the south downs way is beyond miserable. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. You can also just navigate using a phone. 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. Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. Geographical location: In the south-west of England. And its so incredibly comfortable! Its about a five minute walk from restaurants and pubs, and the breakfast was so delicious and healthy! South Downs: England's Mountains Green. 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 . It also means you only need to carry a day pack with you. In terms of weather windows from April-October will give you the best weather. Up there you'll find the most [] The South Downs is a national park in South East England. Where the only decision you have to make is which excellent pub to eat your meals in. Alternatively, use toilet paper and take it with you (just store it in a disposable sandwhich bag or a biodegradable nappy/poop bag) then dispose of it when you see a bin. Camping is available within the park and there is basic barn accommodation, too, from 14 for a car and two people. 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! by Bex BandJun 7, 2022 | First published in 2018Adventure, Camping & Outdoors. 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. Best wishes. Take a Look at our recommended walks. Day 8: Alfriston to Eastbourne (11 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . In fact, due to the low-lying land surrounding the hillside, the horizon seems to go on for miles. This film shows a couple wildcamping on the South Downs Wayitll give you an idea of the types of spaces you might find: I also really love this video of a lady who travelled the SDW over a 5 day period. 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. The route passes by it on the way out of town. Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . Unhappy Miserable People Quotes. Ah, thank you! And let me know if you are planning to do the SDW! For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! Five days of walking. I loved Winchester and wished Id had more time to explore its beautiful buildings. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. Hi! For the most part though I carried all my own supplies as I was wild camping so not able to stock up. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. Day 3: Cocking to Washington (19 miles)Staying at: Holt House (88 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 4: Washington to Pyecombe (14 miles)Staying at: Period Cottage (131 for 2 people including breakfast), Day 5: Pyecombe to Alfriston (23 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. Because the South Downs Way travels across a chalk range, theres little accommodation built on the track it passes directly through only a handful of towns and villages. "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.". 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 South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath that winds its way from historic Winchester to Eastbourne in Sussex. Or a few days of the Thames Path, as thats super-flat and easy to walk. We really liked this B&B. I, however, recommend staying in as many pubs and B&Bs as possible the accommodation was one of the highlights of our walk! 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. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). Budget: Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite Situated just south of East Meon, the Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite offers simple accommodation at reasonable prices. We ended up feeling envious of the riders on every downhill then smug during every climb! We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. arduino credit card skimmer. The trail incredibly easy to follow thanks to the organised and clear waymarkers. This is such a wonderful trail through a beautiful part of the country. The South Downs Way is 100 miles (160 km) in length. "Each indulgence in pleasure is an appointment made with misery.". To my great surprise, it wasnt my blisters that held me back, but the acute aching in the soles of my feet. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. Walking conditions are reasonably easy due to the fast draining chalk, though some sections are steep. It looks like a beautiful walk, aside from all the pain! 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. Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. Providing a very different experience! Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. 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. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. In short, if youre considering walking this trail, go do it! South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. 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. Wow! 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail. Looks great! Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. The Osprey Lumina is part of their ultra-lightweight range (it weighs just 770 grams!) This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! Join my irregular bi-monthly(ish) newsletter. Of course, this figure is trail distance only as most walkers stay in accommodation located another few miles away from the Way. From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. The trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. battled the censors a @RandPauld helped many of us learn: More 6. - Daniel Pipes. Day 5: Amberley to Poynings 18 milesCamping at Saddlescombe Farm (Saddlescombe Road, Poynings, BN45 7DE) close to the trail. Each year thousands head out to explore the trail - this is what they see.https://www.s. However, I have wild camped and found that if you are considerate and follow the rules, it is tolerated. 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. You can sign up to my newsletter here. The east half is a bit more spectacular. . lionel richie lytham st annes. Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. 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. and is one of the lightest backpacks out there. Youve convinced me! If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. Your email address will not be published. If doing a poo, you need to be a decent way off the trail and at least 200m away from any water sources. I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. 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. 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. We already owned all the gear we needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80. (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. Whether you are out for a leisurely hack or prefer to use the downs for fitness work, there is something for everyone. I felt like I was walking through a postcard for much of our journey. I did wonder if there are many shops on route to enable me to re-stock. 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. If wed been staying in hotels and b&bs theres no doubt we would have kept to 4 days with the promise of a dry bed and shower each night. Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. 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. The wind was especially relentless on the cliffs, and always coming from the right side which started to drive us a bit mad. As I mentioned at the start of this post, the South Downs Way is regarded as one of the easiest of the 16 National Trails. Money Back Guarantee ensures YOU receive the item you ordered or get your money back. Cancel any time. 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. download. (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). Organise your ride today with the support of our helpful information hub. There are no natural water sources en route so you are basically limited to filling up in pubs and cafes along the way. 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 . I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. 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. There arent a huge amount of shops en route. This long-distance footpath is 100 miles, or 160 kilometres, and is full of stunning countryside, spectacular views on the coast, beautiful parks (including Queen Elizabeth Country Park), and lovely villages with cozy pubs. Ecstasy (noun): an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.From the Greek ecstasis (standing outside oneself). Follow me on Facebook, TwitterandInstagram. The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Im very happy to answer questions just use the comments box below. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? And dont forget to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram. Hmmm.. you could try just doing a couple of days of the South Downs Way to start with, rather than the entire thing. South Downs Way is a long thru hike and bridleway along the South Downs in the south of England. The Devil's Punch Bowl. They were so comfortable! The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. The South Downs Way: Fact File. Well.the simple answer is yes. South Downs walks - Head out along the South Downs Way, a route spanning 100 miles, which takes you all the way from Winchester to Eastbourne. 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! The trail can be really busy during sunny weekends. We mark out potential spots for wild camping, and discuss how far we can . Theres great recommendations on pubs to eat in, perfect lunch stops along the way, and accommodation to stop off at. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. 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. It made for a fun physical challenge and was a great way to spend a week in nature. Be sure to cache your maps for offline use each morning. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. I highly recommend staying here. 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!). Useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos from in! 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