We ended up feeling envious of the riders on every downhill then smug during every climb! Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! 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. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. Four nights hiding under a tree. "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.". August seems to be full of rain in the U.K. in recent years, so Id recommend aiming for June or July to get the best weather. This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. There is a baggage transfer option if you are keen on walking the South Downs Way without having to carry your bag. Ah, thank you! May 4, 2021. When budgeting for walking the South Downs Way, youll need to factor in: Doing it on a tight budgetIf you are on a tight budget, camping and wild camping will be your cheapest option accommodation will be free or very cheap (most campsites are about 20 a night). For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). If you wish to take it slower, you can do around 20 miles in a day or take extra days to explore the South Downs surrounding areas. 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. Geographical location: In the south-west of England. Heres where we stayed on the South Downs Way: Cheriton:The Brick House B&B What a lovely spot! I suggest going outside of school holidays if you can and avoiding any bank holiday weekends. 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. The South Downs Way passes through the South Downs National Park, a beautiful area. 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. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. 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). Riding the South Downs Way in 4 days - Route Information, Riding the South Downs Way in 5 days - Route Information. Although wild camping isnt the easiest on the trail and most people opt for b&bs or campsites, its absolutely doable (more on that below). the south downs way is beyond miserable. 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. My shoes! I decided I wanted to stretch myself more as a hiker and to try a multi-day hike..specifically one that was wild camping. 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! Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. I loved Winchester and wished Id had more time to explore its beautiful buildings. The South Downs Way Route. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. 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. "The Palestinians are a miserable people and they deserve to be.". Just curious why some days you walked 8 miles and others 22 :). 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. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. HIKE, BIKE, OR RIDE THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY. Or you could try and beat the 14hour running record if you really want to give your legs a battering! The 100 miles (160 Km) long South Downs Way National Trail follows the old routes and droveways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. One of my highlights of this year has been successfully walking the South Downs Way. 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 . 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. We recommend spraying your horse with fly spray, especially in the Summer months, to ensure both horse and rider are comfortable and safe throughout. Although the relentlessness of the hills shouldnt be underestimated, Id say this is a good trail for hiking and backpacking beginners. Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. No commitment. Your email address will not be published. The park comprises of an area of chalk upland which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire, through West Sussex to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. Your email address will not be published. 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. Takes around two hours to get there :-). 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. 9 miles. May 29, 2022 in new york v united states quizlet. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. Miserable goes way beyond sad it means absolutely wretched. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. If you are attempting the South Downs Way in stages, be sure to remind whoever is collecting you at the next stop to bring water for your horse before you load them. Its a beautiful trail! If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. Hiking poles will help you conserve energy, keep your weight off your hips and knees, and help so much on the uphill and downhill. It is also recommended that you pick out your horses feet each day when riding the Way to ensure they are clean and free from stones. The east half is a bit more spectacular. 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. Duration: 8 to 10 days. 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. We found the terrain to be easy underfoot and the sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food. Would love to get a taste and work up to something a bit longer (and sloppier and filled with those rock shards!) Text size Small Medium Large Line Spacing Compact . Thats good to hear! Compass and magnifying glass (not used) Cicerone guidebook and map (guidebook not used) Sketchbook and chalks (304g) Waist belt. Sneakers Made In China - 110 . 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. There are 2 approaches: prepare the food yourself (cheaper) or eat out along the way (better suited if staying in accommodation rather than camping). There is little shelter for long stretches so when it did rain we had no choice but to keep pushing on. I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. How much did we spend?Barely anything!!! For starters Im terrified of spiders and hopelessly squeamish. Looks great! Excited squeal! Thanks so much! 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 . There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! 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 . 5. 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. Although you can get OS maps showing you the route, I wouldnt suggest using them necessarily as its so well sign-posted and you are unlikely to get massively lost. There are stunning, panoramic views to the sea and across the Weald as you travel the 100 mile length of the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne, culminating in the impressive chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters. 25. And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. 21. the south downs way is beyond miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. Only 1 a week after your trial. Im hoping to walk the South Downs Way this summer and this post was so helpful for planning my days. theo coumbis lds; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . Theres great recommendations on pubs to eat in, perfect lunch stops along the way, and accommodation to stop off at. This way you save the best views until last, build up resilience for the more relenting coastal hills and can also finish your trek with seafront chips in Eastbourne. Day three: 28 miles to Winchester (25 miles on the trail). 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. 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. I physically retched as I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle. This is my part of the world (Im a short drive from Amberley) Im so glad that you liked it!! When is the best time to walk the South Downs Way? Thanks! 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). I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. The British summer can always be temperamental, so I know we had a fair bit of luck. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. The route provides the visitor with the oppor Be sure to cache your maps for offline use each morning. Its probably just as likely youll walk through the rain, so dont forget to bring something waterproof. Its about a 2 mile hike to reach the campsite from the trail or you can arrange a taxi pickup. The many hundreds of miles of single track and bridlepaths spurring from the South Downs Way the trail and National Park means it is not only a haven for horse riders but a mecca for Mountain Bikers. 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. "People who are not happy with themselves, cannot possibly be happy with you.". We really liked this B&B. A linear route which forms the seventh part of the Sussex Hospices Trail. The chalk downland provides good going even after rain. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. 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!). lionel richie lytham st annes. "Each indulgence in pleasure is an appointment made with misery.". Would you feel safe doing so? The views were consistently pretty. Although the quiet is nice, people watching can also be very entertaining! the south downs way is beyond miserable. 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. Money Back Guarantee ensures YOU receive the item you ordered or get your money back. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. The South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the UK. Thanks for reading :-). (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). Some people opt to blast through the trail in six days and some take as many as 10. 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. Sign up to my newsletter to hear when that happens. The walk follows the ridge across the chalk downs, passing many of the . Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. This beautiful trail passes through some gorgeous undulating scenery, between Winchester and Eastbourne. Looks like you had an amazing time and such an achievement! Walking conditions are reasonably easy due to the fast draining chalk, though some sections are steep. Had some ice creams and lunch along the way and a bag of chips at the end. I'm Lauren and I've been travelling the world on a permanent basis since 2011. 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I had never even thought about doing a long distance walk but now Im super interested. battled the censors a @RandPauld helped many of us learn: More 6. Subpar gear but superior English weather. Lots of people have accidentally fallen to their deaths getting too close or being distracted taking pictures. That means that theyve adapted all stiles and ensured the track is suitable for wheels the whole way. 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. Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in South Downs National Park. A cute, high-end pub with excellent food and lovely rooms out the back all en-suite. 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. Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. The Devil's Punch Bowl. The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. I also highly, highly recommend taking walking poles with you. If you are an experienced hiker, you may want to look at doing the trail over 5-6 days to make the distances each day a bit more challenging. Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. 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. We offer 4 itineraries covering the whole route. The downside to having the views is that you are very exposed and this was our biggest challenge as we ended up hiking in some pretty poor weather (it was a rainy long weekend in May). It wasnt rare for us to walk for a couple of hours without seeing another human. South Downs Way fact file. Unhappy Miserable People Quotes. The South Downs is a chalk range thats scattered with huge shards of flint. Stop anywhere in the South Downs and it is hard not to find an inspiring view. 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). 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. 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! Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . 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). There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. on the England Coast Path. - Daniel Pipes. The hardest obstacle literally was the surface of the track. The South Downs is fantastic riding country. As one of the UK's most challenging National Trails the South Downs Way is enjoyed by a huge cross-section of walkers of various abilities. Most people opt for walking the South Downs Way at a gentler pace. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. Open access downland. Day 6: Alfriston to Eastbourne (13 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). You'll find some of the best stargazing spots in England in places like Old Winchester Hill, Harting . Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). 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 is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park, the trail starts in Winchester, Hampshire. There are also a few cafes where you can treat yourself to a hot drink and ice cream. The trail can be really busy during sunny weekends. Copyright Lauren Juliff 2010-2023 All rights reserved. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. Take a Look at our recommended walks. Countryside and cultural events take place throughout the year in the towns and villages. A journey that can be taken by cyclists and horse-riders . 4 - People - this is the most populated National Park with over 117,000 people and 2.2m living within 10km. The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. 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. In fact, there was a part of me that was eager to turn around at the finish line and walk back to Winchester! "Pain and suffering are . The eastern end finishes at the sea from east of Brighton Marina to Eastbourne. My mistake, West to East is the better way so you finish with Eastbourne. 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 South Downs Way stretches 100 miles from Winchester to the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne on the South Coast of England. Providing a very different experience! Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. If you are planning on doing the SDW all in one go, then you will need to arrange accommodation that offers appropriate food and water for your horse. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. You can have a rough plan of how far you want to travel each day but can also just see how the day takes you, stopping when you find a suitable place to pitch your tents or bivvy bags. Designated a National Trail, the South Downs Way attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year each looking to get a taste of the stunning South Downs National Park. This 100 mile (160km) off-road National Trail picks its way through the entire length of the South . Fun fact: several years ago, I attempted to walk the length of Hadrians Walland ended up having to drop out on day three. This will also save you the job of having to hunt down supermarkets to stock up along the way although a couple of the villages you pass have small shops and convenience stores. Or perhaps do a mix of both. 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. Also check out my recently published book Three Stripes South, all about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel. Best views on the South Downs Way. South Downs: England's Mountains Green. The South Downs Way is 100 miles (160 km) in length. This Campsites South Downs Way directory lists all the campsites available near the trail. amir johnson shooting; lasalle hotel seattle. There are some moderately steep slopes but the path mostly runs on farm tracks across rolling open chalk downland. 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. The South Downs Way National Trail is a glorious 100-mile (160km) national trail between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. Itll be blustery, cold and windy over winter so youll want to wrap up warm. There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. This quiet and tranquil bed and breakfast is known for the owners going above and beyond, even sometimes picking up weary South Downs Way walkers from the trail! 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