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. 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. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning . 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 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). - Jason Paul. 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. It is, however, absolutely overpriced, as Osprey recently discontinued it. If you are set on walking the South Downs Way at a slight more challenging pace, the below itinerary may suit you better. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! 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. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. It looks beautiful. Again a life-changing piece of kit. And if there werent? Thanks for sharing! Thanks! Lots of people have accidentally fallen to their deaths getting too close or being distracted taking pictures. 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. 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 . 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. You can choose to walk, cycle or ride a small part of the way or if you are up for a challenge you can take on the whole route. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. I highly recommend staying here. 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. What an accomplishment! 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. One of my highlights of this year has been successfully walking the South Downs Way. No . Awesome website! The South Downs are designated as a national park. Its a beautiful trail! Plan a cycling adventure today. "Each indulgence in pleasure is an appointment made with misery.". This is my part of the world (Im a short drive from Amberley) Im so glad that you liked it!! To be honest, while the downhills werent wonderful for my knees and hips, the uphills were surprisingly enjoyable. 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. We spent a couple of hours hitting up the main attractions: Winchester Cathedral (one of the largest in Europe), The Great Hall (a 13th Century hall featuring a round table thats falsely linked to King Arthur), and the City Mill (where the walk starts from), and decided wed return at some point to spend even more time there. The smell . Ah, that makes me so happy to hear! We encountered far more cyclists than walkers, but only a handful of horse riders. May 4, 2021. japanese mythology quiz; spanish slang for girl Dig a hole at least 6inches deep and then cover it up when finished. Really friendly owners, a large breakfast, and a good location, close to the waterfront. 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. Or you could try and beat the 14hour running record if you really want to give your legs a battering! Friends of Sussex Hospices has . It was a sudden, three-pronged assault on the senses. I also highly, highly recommend taking walking poles with you. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. 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. I personally walked 114miles/182km in the end. I also enjoyed spending a night in Eastbourne after finishing my walk. As long as youre prepared for the tough surfaces, youre going to have a great experience. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. The . 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. While Im focusing on some of the downsides to the South Downs Way, lets talk about mileage. 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. Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. 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. 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. 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. Its pretty damn hard to lose the trail. Amberley:A Barn at South Downs This is a great place to stay, with a lovely pub within walking distance you can probably tell what my priority was on this walk. The South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! For the most part though I carried all my own supplies as I was wild camping so not able to stock up. For a quote you can contact info@southdownsdiscovery.com. 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. The route provides the visitor with the oppor The British summer can always be temperamental, so I know we had a fair bit of luck. With Bivvy bags you would definitely find wild camping South Downs easier (read more about in this Bivvy Bag guide). As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. It begins in Winchester, Hampshire and ends in Eastbourne, East Sussex . I also invested in an Osprey reservoir to slip inside it. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! The South Downs Way --Submitted by Mark Worthington. A big section of the South Downs is privately owned farmland which you shouldnt be camping on without permission. Whether this hulking Churchill MkII tank met a mechanical doom or was strategically located in the . Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast) perfectly located on the SDW. The views are pleasant and consistent. 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. There are some moderately steep slopes but the path mostly runs on farm tracks across rolling open chalk downland. 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. Required fields are marked *. You should take away any toilet paper that you use. 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. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? I'm Lauren and I've been travelling the world on a permanent basis since 2011. It came with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Fantastic breakfast with homemade sourdough bread (the owner runs classes on how to make sourdough bread, so you know its going to be great!). During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. The South Downs Way isn't a particularly high-elevation hike, but that doesn't mean there aren't great views. I walked a walk just to the west, the Clarendon Way from Winchester to Salisbury, over two days earlier this year. The majority of the path is a bridleway and so can be used by horse . Up there you'll find the most [] Cancel any time. 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! "Pain and suffering are . If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. They provide . / the south downs way is beyond miserable. From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. While an additional mile doesnt sound like a big deal when youre sat on your sofa at home, when youre actually out walking, it can be super-demoralising after an exhausting day. The only thing youll have to look out for are the cows. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. Dave, it's fair to say, has thought of everything. The accommodation recommendations below are as close to the trail as possible. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. The west half of the hike is mostly through farmland and forests. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. The South Downs Way takes you through a wonderfully varied landscape of woodland, chalk downs, arable farmland, meandering rivers, ancient forts and castles and picture postcards, and traditional English villages. Its about a 2 mile hike to reach the campsite from the trail or you can arrange a taxi pickup. Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. And same! This was the first walk where I didnt get blisters on my heels and I believe its from wearing a larger shoe. The South Downs Way Route. Copyright Lauren Juliff 2010-2023 All rights reserved. I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Dont let that fool you, though: this walk is still challenging. Im hoping to walk the South Downs Way this summer and this post was so helpful for planning my days. 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. Im a short drive from Amberley ) Im so glad that you.. 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