Although there are long-distance car parking options in Winchester, Id urge you to do your bit for the environment and take the train. And same! 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 South Downs Way pases through the South Downs a beautiful area, which may soon become a National Park. Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. And know that you may be asked to move on and will need to do so without complaint. 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. All about my hike on the INT and how it changed my life. 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. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. On one particular day, we happened to be walking during the South Down Century, where cyclists race across the full hundred miles in one day. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. 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. Hmmm.. you could try just doing a couple of days of the South Downs Way to start with, rather than the entire thing. The park comprises of an area of chalk upland which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire, through West Sussex to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Far more importantly, we fundamentally disagree over his handling of the pandemic. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park, the trail starts in Winchester, Hampshire. It begins in Winchester, Hampshire and ends in Eastbourne, East Sussex . I started doing some research last night and saw Hadrians Wall and the Thames Path both come up. It runs from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex.. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. It gave my joints a chance to rest and my hiking poles helped me push myself upwards at a startling speed. During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. Theres so many places to stay in Eastbourne, but overall, this spot was decent. 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. Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. Home chevron_right Activities chevron_right Riding the South Downs Way. Most consider West to East to be the best way and I agree! Copyright Lauren Juliff 2010-2023 All rights reserved. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. The route covers the length of the South Downs National Park, the UK's most popular and most visited National Park.. Day 2: Cheriton to Petersfield 13 miles Camping at Wetherdown Camping (Droxford Rd, East Meon, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1HR) close to the trail. 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. The South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . This Campsites South Downs Way directory lists all the campsites available near the trail. 21. Plan a cycling adventure today. Failing that, there is no shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you need to go to the toilet. the south downs way is beyond miserable. arduino credit card skimmer. Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). At the weekend, the trail gets crammed with visitors and dog walkers. Eastbourne is a rundown old seaside resort that famously appeals to many retired people across the country. 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. 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. While the official mileage for the walk is 100 miles, we ended up tackling 121 miles in total. Yes, it was so much fun :-) If I hadnt torn my feet up, it would have probably been one of the most enjoyable things Ive done! The leaflets listed below are available to download as pdf files. Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. 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. Hi! Or you could try and beat the 14hour running record if you really want to give your legs a battering! This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. This long-distance trail runs for 100 miles across the breadth of the South Downs from Winchester to Eastbourne. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. Awesome website! Best views on the South Downs Way. If hiking in peak season you will be able to make use of the occasional pub and cafe (although youll be expected to buy something if you do use the facilities). The Devil's Punch Bowl. This beautiful trail passes through some gorgeous undulating scenery, between Winchester and Eastbourne. This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. Looks great! 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 . The trail goes from the city of Winchester to Eastbourne, a famous seaside town with iconic white cliffs. Sign up to my newsletter to hear when that happens. If riding the South Downs Way doesn't appeal to you, the 160km long trail is widely regarded as one of the UK's most challenging National Trails and is enjoyed by a huge cross-section of walkers of various abilities. 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. That could, of course, be because cyclists travel faster so were more likely to overtake us. 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. It was a sudden, three-pronged assault on the senses. I found that I drank so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at all times. HIKE, BIKE, OR RIDE THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY. I hated it. Day 5: Amberley to Poynings 18 milesCamping at Saddlescombe Farm (Saddlescombe Road, Poynings, BN45 7DE) close to the trail. Well.the simple answer is yes. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. This was the first walk where I didnt get blisters on my heels and I believe its from wearing a larger shoe. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. 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. 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. The South Downs Way looks beautiful! Ah, that makes me so happy to hear! The 9 day trip is done at a more leisurely pace. Rod Liddle is associate editor of The Spectator. 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. 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. Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. It'. My shoes! The wind from the ocean can be strong and relentless at times. In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. 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 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). The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. 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 . Ah, thank you! The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. 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 south downs way is beyond miserable. 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. Just curious why some days you walked 8 miles and others 22 :). I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! the south downs way is beyond miserable. Three winter walks on the South Downs. South Downs Way is a long thru hike and bridleway along the South Downs in the south of England. 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. Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. Dig a hole at least 6inches deep and then cover it up when finished. Im on a mission to make getting outdoors and adventures as easy as possible by providing all the information you need to plan an adventure. "Pain and suffering are . As always, you made me yearn for the same type of vacation! 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. 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. This is Aalto. There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. Follow, Or for something really challenging, how about the. The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. The walk follows the ridge across the chalk downs, passing many of the . 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. Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. Prices of hotels have gone up in recent years so you are looking at an average of 50 a night per person for a comfortable bed (full list of recommended accommodation below) although most will include. 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. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. 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. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. No commitment. We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. 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 loved Winchester and wished Id had more time to explore its beautiful buildings. Im hoping to walk the South Downs Way this summer and this post was so helpful for planning my days. salaire d'un enseignant du primaire au cameroun; urgent care in cambridge ohio. I was concerned about how accessible food would be on the walk so dutifully packed my bag full of protein bars before leaving. If you want to just do half of the trail, you can catch a train to Amberley and head either East or West from there. 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. Compass and magnifying glass (not used) Cicerone guidebook and map (guidebook not used) Sketchbook and chalks (304g) Waist belt. You can carry most of your food, opting for sandwiches and simple pasta meals cooked on your stove at night (ignoring the pub temptations along the way).20-30 a day should be plenty for campsites, DIY food and the odd drink/ice cream although youll also need to add in transport costs (we spent 53 each on return trains to London) and your gear which you may already have. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. Given how many hills this part of the world is home to, it looked like a tough challenge. 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. Takes around two hours to get there :-). 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. I also highly, highly recommend taking walking poles with you. Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. Why? You can also just navigate using a phone. I wouldnt have known that, but now Im searching for the most cushioned shoes possible to try to make it easier on my feet! Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. where did the dursleys go to escape the letters; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good way. Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. But with some considerations. 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. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! 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. 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. Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? Just one point, in the East to West/West to East section you state that East to West is the best way, but you describe the West to East route in the paragraph. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bile. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. Difficulty level: easy to moderate. Also check out my recently published book Three Stripes South, all about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). 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. 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. We really liked this B&B. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? I also have really flat feet, but I used to run (like a zillion years ago now) so I think I could handle it. Horse riding in the South Downs National Park: A guide to horse riding in the South Downs Way National Park and along . I preferred to the Hadrians Wall Walk and my boyfriend enjoyed it more than the Cotswold Way. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). The South Downs Way National Trail is a glorious 100-mile (160km) national trail between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. May 4, 2021. Text settings. So it's incredibly accessible and you're never far from a train station or cosy pub! Are there any places that would recommend for lunch stops or cafes for takeaway on the route please? (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. Would you feel safe doing so? 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. I remember reading Wild and deciding I was going to walk the PCT, too. Subpar gear but superior English weather. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. Although the quiet is nice, people watching can also be very entertaining! 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 . It's the only one of 16 National Trails contained entirely within a national park. You can take the coach or train from London to Winchester! 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. Five days of walking. We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. 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. 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 . durham ontario police; does maddie know the killer in hush; Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. 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. Your email address will not be published. Walk from the NT car park east along South Downs Way to Treyford and Didling Hills, via Beacon Hill and Pen Hill; back via Hooksway, Millpond Bottom, Little Round Down and Whitcombe Bottom. 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). The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. What an accomplishment! 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! Tent and sleeping gear my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel the only one of 16 Trails! 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