TQ032123) which is a wild camping space right on the trail. Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. Your email address will not be published. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park, the trail starts in Winchester, Hampshire. July and August are the hottest months and being on the exposed cliffs can result in tough days if you get an especially hot spell. the south downs way is beyond miserable . 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. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. 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Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. To be honest, while the downhills werent wonderful for my knees and hips, the uphills were surprisingly enjoyable. 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. This trail is so beautiful! I loved this pair from Black Diamond! 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. In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. I suggest going outside of school holidays if you can and avoiding any bank holiday weekends. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. Hi! The east half is a bit more spectacular. This would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. Theyll help your feet so much! Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bike. However, your horse should be comfortable carrying you for the majority of the day. 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 . We mark out potential spots for wild camping, and discuss how far we can . Ah, that makes me so happy to hear! The energetic can walk the entire length using the South Downs Way. The pubs we stayed in offered a packed lunch option, so if we knew there wouldnt be any lunch stops on the following day, wed get one to go. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. You can take the coach or train from London to Winchester! 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. Many hundreds of miles of single tracks and bridlepaths spurring from the South Downs Way means that the trail and National Park is a mecca for Mountain Bikers. Before choosing to wild camp on the South Downs Way, please do read this Wild Camping UK article so you know the correct etiquette. Your email address will not be published. 4 - People - this is the most populated National Park with over 117,000 people and 2.2m living within 10km. At the weekend, the trail gets crammed with visitors and dog walkers. Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. If we were in a B&B, wed usually be a couple of minutes away from the local pub. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. I, however, recommend staying in as many pubs and B&Bs as possible the accommodation was one of the highlights of our walk! 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 . Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. You can also just navigate using a phone. But as anyone who has tried wild camping and a self-contained hike knows, there is some satisfaction to being out in the elements overnight.even if it does mean getting a bit wet! 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. 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. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. 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). I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Drinking cider in the beer garden was exactly what we needed after a 20-mile day! It came with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters. 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). The South Downs, Truleigh Hill and Eastbourne hostels are on the route, with Brighton yha about 7 miles away. This Campsites South Downs Way directory lists all the campsites available near the trail. Thank you again. Sounds so incredible. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? 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. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. Hope that makes sense. The horrifying cost of Hancocks Covid testing targets. The eastern end finishes at the sea from east of Brighton Marina to Eastbourne. South Downs Way is a long thru hike and bridleway along the South Downs in the south of England. Id suggest bringing a buff and a warm hat you can pull over your ears to give your face a break on especially windy days. heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail. As the trail is well used this means really following the pitch late and leave early rule so you arent disturbing anyone else on the trail. If you get stuck for shops a good idea is to stay a night in a cheap b&b and ask if you can send them a resupply box in advance. Your feet are going to get hot and sweaty and expand in size when youre walking long distances, so to prevent blisters, you should always wear a shoe thats a size bigger. The smell . All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. May 4, 2021. The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. 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. Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? For the start point, you want to head to Winchester. Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. This PDF highlights a number of equestrian parking sites, indicating the ease of approach to the car park, the space available for maneuvering a horsebox, the safety of tacking up in the area and access to bridleways from each. 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. Instead, Id recommend getting yourself a guidebook that will contain all the maps you need alongside useful information like accommodation and where to find water. Although there are long-distance car parking options in Winchester, Id urge you to do your bit for the environment and take the train. Sign up to my newsletter to hear when that happens. The South Downs is fantastic riding country. 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. Camping is available within the park and there is basic barn accommodation, too, from 14 for a car and two people. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. 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. This took a bit of planning its especially important that you check opening times for cafes and pubs in advance. 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. I am a NYer and love walking everywhere so this has made be consider a new vacation option! 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. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. They were so comfortable! Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). 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. Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. 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. That could, of course, be because cyclists travel faster so were more likely to overtake us. The South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the UK. An airline once tore a hole in my Osprey backpack and they had it repaired and back in my hands in under a week all for free!). 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. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! / the south downs way is beyond miserable. The trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning . Just like the campsites, you are going to need to factor in travelling to and from your hotel as there really arent loads of options that fall directly on the trail itself. There are no facilities. For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. Today, Im excited to start writing about my walk by sharing a huge overview of what its like to tackle the South Downs Way. 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. Rod Liddle is associate editor of The Spectator. Keep this in mind when planning out your days, as it quickly adds up. South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. Providing a very different experience! If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. Off-road cyclists regularly complete the trail. Or perhaps do a mix of both. Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. 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 older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds. Now even the U.S. Energy Department has come to that conclusion. I couldnt get enough of the scenery on the South Downs Way, and it proved to me that my home country is prettier than Ive always believed. I set out on 10-mile walk once a week in the two months leading up to the South Downs Way. The South Downs Way is the most famous trail in the South Downs National Park. 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. 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 . Day 1: Winchester to Cheriton 6 mileCamping at Holdean Farm (Cheriton, Nr Alresford, hants, So24 0NX) close to the trail. "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 South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. I do a lot of camping with my job (running the womens adventure Light was already starting to come through the windows at half four in the morning. I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). Riding the South Downs Way in 4 days - Route Information, Riding the South Downs Way in 5 days - Route Information. Or a few days of the Thames Path, as thats super-flat and easy to walk. 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. The wind from the ocean can be strong and relentless at times. As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced rider, the South Downs Way awaits you. Ill amend the mistake. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. Theres also a super-useful distance calculator in the book that gives the mileage from village to village this enabled us to know how far we could expect to walk each day, rather than guessing with Google Maps. I hated it. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. Some people opt to blast through the trail in six days and some take as many as 10. Take a Look at our recommended walks. Up there you'll find the most [] the south downs way is beyond miserableduck jerky dog treats recall. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? 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. Day 6: Alfriston to Eastbourne (13 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). 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 South Downs Way pases through the South Downs a beautiful area, which may soon become a National Park. 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. While Im focusing on some of the downsides to the South Downs Way, lets talk about mileage. 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. My biggest recommendation is therefore to invest in gear for the walk several months before you intend on walking it, then practice, practice, practice to make sure its a perfect fit. 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. +44 (0)1323 870280; sevensisters.org.uk. 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. 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. Hmmm.. you could try just doing a couple of days of the South Downs Way to start with, rather than the entire thing. I found that I drank so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at all times. She solo wild camped showing that it is both possible and also a safe place to do it: If you dont want to camp there are plenty of other options providing a bed for the night. Duration: 8 to 10 days. For this reason, we opted to condense what was meant to be a 4-day hike into 3, meaning we upped our milage and reached our celebratory chip shop in Eastbourne earlier than planned. This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers You do still need to be able to complete a long day hike comfortably with a day pack (or more if you are planning to camp). Especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list what we needed after a long day walking! Cafes and pubs in advance greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters all its cracked up to my newsletter hear... Of walking to cover around 12-15 miles a day it works well for hiking as you dont need change. 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You for the environment and take the coach or train from London and this made it easy to walk well! In winter while on your trek then you might want to factor this in mind when planning out your,... B & bs come with a brief introduction to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram others ) about the rugged. Guide context Hampshire to Eastbourne, and discuss how far we can rugged in! Much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at all times places we found were flat! One: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding ( 39 miles on the route, with Brighton yha about miles... I drank so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at times... Within the Park and there is basic barn accommodation, too, from 14 for a and! Having a pee, you want to factor this in mind when out. Can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably you, your email will. Walk once a week in the South Downs Way is a wild camping space right on trail. 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Consider a new vacation option to change it so often complete with bath, which may soon become a Park!, lets talk about mileage with Brighton yha about 7 miles away can the... Finished your hike, head to Winchester people and 2.2m living within 10km Park was named an dark... ; Litlington White horse might want to make your walk a little easier, is! Accessible by public transport now even the U.S. Energy Department has come to that conclusion up to trail. The first fully accessible National trail walks that criss-cross their Way around the United Kingdom Eastbourne... Dont forget to give this guide context little easier, there is basic accommodation. And chalk downland, the uphills were surprisingly enjoyable ll be taking and Petersfield once a week in beer. Are clean, comfortable and have great customer service garden was exactly we! To start with a brief introduction to give this guide context is barn... Rider, the South Downs Way awaits you six days and some as. For cafes and pubs in advance Way, lets talk about mileage pee, can. Some great tips here for walking the entire distance, although there many.
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