Whether this hulking Churchill MkII tank met a mechanical doom or was strategically located in the . 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! A linear route which forms the seventh part of the Sussex Hospices Trail. Day 2: Cheriton to Petersfield 13 miles Camping at Wetherdown Camping (Droxford Rd, East Meon, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1HR) close to the trail. Well.the simple answer is yes. the south downs way is beyond miserableduck jerky dog treats recall. There are no facilities. Of course, theres a hell of a lot of ups and downs on this day, but if youve walked the entire South Downs Way, youll be well and truly used to the undulation by this point. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. Although the quiet is nice, people watching can also be very entertaining! You can sign up to my newsletter here. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. The trail incredibly easy to follow thanks to the organised and clear waymarkers. The 9 day trip is done at a more leisurely pace. like this. It takes me a long time to write these guides, drawing together all my research. Hiking poles will help you conserve energy, keep your weight off your hips and knees, and help so much on the uphill and downhill. There are some moderately steep slopes but the path mostly runs on farm tracks across rolling open chalk downland. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. Follow, Or for something really challenging, how about the. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. Countryside and cultural events take place throughout the year in the towns and villages. And same! Where the only decision you have to make is which excellent pub to eat your meals in. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Camping is tricky as there arent lots within easy access to the trail. Day 8: Alfriston to Eastbourne (11 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. Copyright Lauren Juliff 2010-2023 All rights reserved. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. 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 route provides the visitor with the opportunity "to get away from it all" without having to travel too far in this busy part of England. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. 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). Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. One of England's National Trails, the South Downs Way, is a 160km long-distance walk, the entirety of which sits within the South Downs National Park. The barn is cosy and comfortable, and the breakfast is the absolute best. And let me know if you are planning to do the SDW! Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning . The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. Once you complete the trail you can get a completion certificate to keep! The route covers the length of the South Downs National Park, the UK's most popular and most visited National Park.. As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? Unhappy Miserable People Quotes. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). A great way to spend time with family and a really good experience overall though I dont think I could have kept up the pace for another four days. 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. Drinking cider in the beer garden was exactly what we needed after a 20-mile day! The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! 8 days is a reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness . It usually takes most people 9 days to walk the entire trail, at an average of 12-15 miles per day. Best views on the South Downs Way. One of my highlights of this year has been successfully walking the South Downs Way. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Whether you are out for a leisurely hack or prefer to use the downs for fitness work, there is something for everyone. Well, kind of but not really. Social media giants banned even discussion of the idea that Covid was manmade, escaped from a lab. The leaflets listed below are available to download as pdf files. It came with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters. We ended up feeling envious of the riders on every downhill then smug during every climb! The stunning scenery and fantastic bridleways spanning across the South Downs Way and surrounding National Park mean that the trail is ideal for riders of all levels. May 4, 2021. I also have really flat feet, but I used to run (like a zillion years ago now) so I think I could handle it. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. Google Maps is a great tool to use to plan your food stops each day. Follow the South Downs Trail to Winchester or eastward towards Old Winchester Hill, Petersfield & on to Eastbourne. From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. The hardest obstacle literally was the surface of the track. 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!). Fantastic breakfast with homemade sourdough bread (the owner runs classes on how to make sourdough bread, so you know its going to be great!). And if there werent? Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. by . I felt like I was walking through a postcard for much of our journey. 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. Eastbourne is a rundown old seaside resort that famously appeals to many retired people across the country. Matt Hancock and I have almost nothing in common. Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. For 22 per transfer, you can arrange for South Downs Discoveryto pick up your bag every morning and drive it to your next B&B for you to collect when you arrive. Duration: 8 to 10 days. Although I had a map with me it was barely taken out of the bag except for planning camp spots and calculating out how far wed come. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! 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. 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. Ive done long sections of this walk and Im now going to be completing the final 40 miles (Steyning area to Eastbourne) over two days in 2 weeks time. I loved this pair from Black Diamond! South Downs Way fact file. Walking the South Downs Way. They provide . Wow! I hated it. The hills on the coastal section of the hike can feel a little endless at times lots of up and down. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Good to know about the hiking trail being hard underfoot too. 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!). I am a NYer and love walking everywhere so this has made be consider a new vacation option! Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. 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. 2. There are no natural water sources en route so you are basically limited to filling up in pubs and cafes along the way. the south downs way is beyond miserable . The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. on the England Coast Path. This was partly in preparation for a 1000km trek I was planning, hiking the length of Israel. Ultra hikers and runners often cover the distance in a 2-day 100mile challenge (hats off to them!). 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. Theres so many places to stay in Eastbourne, but overall, this spot was decent. 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. Over the years, Ive walked many sections of the trail multiple times over the (especially my favourite stretch the Seven Sisters walk which you can do as a lovely day hike). The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between . 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. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. My tip: when youre planning your walk, make sure you include the distances to and from your accommodation. Subscribe to leave a comment. 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. Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. 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. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. Only 1 a week after your trial. Thats always an added bonus in this country! This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. Winchester to Eastbourne in 6 Days Walking Code: SD7. I did wonder if there are many shops on route to enable me to re-stock. Peter Owen-Jones takes us into the heart of the UK's newest national park - the South Downs - in a portrait of one of Britain's most iconic landscapes. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park, the trail starts in Winchester, Hampshire. 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. The first is weather and the second is how busy the trail is going to be. 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. I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. 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. Honestly, I dont really see the point of doing this unless youre in the U.K. as part of a larger trip and have tons of luggage with you. It looks beautiful so probably worth all of the foot pain! Home chevron_right Activities chevron_right Riding the South Downs Way. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? Im very happy to answer questions just use the comments box below. Would love to get a taste and work up to something a bit longer (and sloppier and filled with those rock shards!) The South Downs Way is the most famous trail in the South Downs National Park. Dave, it's fair to say, has thought of everything. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). The following are the points where the path can be picked up using public transport: Meon valley, South Harting, Cocking, Amberley (train station) Bramber, Devil's Dyke and Ditchling beacon at weekends, Southease (train station) Alfriston and Cuckmere . Be sure to cache your maps for offline use each morning. South Downs Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights. Up there you'll find the most [] 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. The South Downs Way National Trail is a glorious 100-mile (160km) national trail between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. The South Downs Way isn't a particularly high-elevation hike, but that doesn't mean there aren't great views. HIKE, BIKE, OR RIDE THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY. I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers So it's incredibly accessible and you're never far from a train station or cosy pub! I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. And if, like me, you dont actually have any arches, the walk can be even more excruciating. It would usually take a solid nights sleep for my feet to stop hurting each day just in time for me to start walking again. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. 21. This took a bit of planning its especially important that you check opening times for cafes and pubs in advance. The great advantage of using accommodation is that you get a warm bed, hot meal and shower each day making the whole experience much more relaxed. Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. Youve convinced me! The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. 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. 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. Thank you again. 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