In March-April, when the fields are dotted with lambs and calves, the trees begin to bud. 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. The South Downs Way runs for 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne. Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. Horse riding in the South Downs National Park: A guide to horse riding in the South Downs Way National Park and along . For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Matt Hancock and I have almost nothing in common. In fact, there was a part of me that was eager to turn around at the finish line and walk back to Winchester! Its pretty damn hard to lose the trail. Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. "The Palestinians are a miserable people and they deserve to be.". Although the relentlessness of the hills shouldnt be underestimated, Id say this is a good trail for hiking and backpacking beginners. Thanks Shaun.happy it has helped with the planning! You do pass the odd pub and (in peak season) cafes and ice cream vans in hot spots, like along the Seven Sisters way. For the most part, youll be walking alone without any other humans in sight. Try using our intuitive route planning tools, transport, accommodation and activity sections, designed to help you make the most of your visit to the South Downs Way. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. amir johnson shooting; lasalle hotel seattle. 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. During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. I loved this pair from Black Diamond! I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. Miserable goes way beyond sad it means absolutely wretched. It is, however, absolutely overpriced, as Osprey recently discontinued it. I personally walked 114miles/182km in the end. 21. I was concerned about how accessible food would be on the walk so dutifully packed my bag full of protein bars before leaving. Every time I did so, I felt exceptionally safe. 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. :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. The South Downs Way is 100 miles (160 km) in length. It looks beautiful. A journey that can be taken by cyclists and horse-riders . We found the terrain to be easy underfoot and the sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food. I neednt have worried, though there was plenty of options for eating! All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. 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. Although there are long-distance car parking options in Winchester, Id urge you to do your bit for the environment and take the train. 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. 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. Well, kind of but not really. Really interesting to read this Lauren. In the U.K., school holidays start on around the 15th July and last until around the 5th September, so early-July was a fantastic time to walk! The 9 day trip is done at a more leisurely pace. And dont forget to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good way. 25. The chalk downland provides good going even after rain. There are signposts every few hundred metres and whenever you come across a fork or turning in the path. Up there you'll find the most [] Social media giants banned even discussion of the idea that Covid was manmade, escaped from a lab. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. 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. It runs from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex.. and is one of the lightest backpacks out there. ), the South Downs Way is an adventure you definitely don't want to skip! Distance: 100 miles over three days. For more fun details go to the overview page, which tells . When hacking on the South Downs Way, you will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer. Or a few days of the Thames Path, as thats super-flat and easy to walk. The Osprey Lumina is part of their ultra-lightweight range (it weighs just 770 grams!) Text settings. And if, like me, you dont actually have any arches, the walk can be even more excruciating. From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. These 2 guys walked it while pushing a pram for their dogs! Again a life-changing piece of kit. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Lots of people have accidentally fallen to their deaths getting too close or being distracted taking pictures. Trailblazer guides are so good for walking in the U.K.! I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. This looks so cool! Join my irregular bi-monthly(ish) newsletter. 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! Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. Dont forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures. You'll find some of the best stargazing spots in England in places like Old Winchester Hill, Harting . This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! The Devil's Punch Bowl. Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. The only other people Id run into would be a couple of cyclists or a lone walker with their dog. Ultra hikers and runners often cover the distance in a 2-day 100mile challenge (hats off to them!). I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers The South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the UK. This combination is tough underfoot and acts as a meat tenderiser on your soles. 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. 5. Our comprehensive guide to the South Downs Way means that planning your trip has never been easier. 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. If you really want to experience the diversity of the South Downs national park (or you're just looking for a fun new challenge! Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. 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!). The chalk rock of the South Downs was formed from the remains of sea creatures at a time when this area was the bed of a shallow sea during the Late Cretaceous period 66 to 100 million years ago. 2. I reached across my camp-bed to feel the temperature of the baby To celebrate the release of my debut book Three Stripes South, I'm running a Christmas special! Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . You could look at organising taxis and pickups for some of them or wild camp (see my heading below on wild camping). The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. While that's probably true, I still wouldn't rate it as "easy," especially on longer (15+ mile) days. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. We recommend spraying your horse with fly spray, especially in the Summer months, to ensure both horse and rider are comfortable and safe throughout. A cute, high-end pub with excellent food and lovely rooms out the back all en-suite. The trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. The South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. 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. I marked all the water options on the map and in advance planned how much I needed to fill up at eat spot to keep me going to the next. Hope that makes sense. My shoes! For the start point, you want to head to Winchester. Options in Lewes from B & bs come with a certain amount of nostalgia might want to skip Palestinians... A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers the South Downs covering. & B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night *... From 79 miles on the South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the South Downs from. Way means that planning your trip has never been easier never been easier eager. The summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious gorse! 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