Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. 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. It finishes 100 miles later in Eastbourne, East Sussex. - Daniel Pipes. You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! Failing that, there is no shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you need to go to the toilet. Day 8: Alfriston to Eastbourne (11 miles)Staying at: Albert & Victoria (77 for 2 including breakfast.an AMAZING hotel!!). Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. 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. 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 . The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Budget: Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite Situated just south of East Meon, the Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite offers simple accommodation at reasonable prices. Hope that makes sense. The provision of wonderful restaurants, cosy fireside pubs, rivers, seaside, hills, woods, walks and the transport links from London, Portsmouth, Southampton and beyond means this special part of the country consistently ranks as one of the most popular places to spend an afternoon, a day, a weekend or even a week! I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. The Trailblazer guide will come in handy for the walk if youre not sure if youve gone wrong, and Google Maps will also help by showing where you currently are as long as you have signal, of course. The park comprises of an area of chalk upland which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire, through West Sussex to Eastbourne in East Sussex. We found the terrain to be easy underfoot and the sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food. Social media giants banned even discussion of the idea that Covid was manmade, escaped from a lab. I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). 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. Now even the U.S. Energy Department has come to that conclusion. Well.the simple answer is yes. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. Sneakers Made In China - 110 . From guesthouses, hotels and also rooms on Airbnb. Water wasnt so easy to come by on the trail. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). For starters Im terrified of spiders and hopelessly squeamish. 9 miles. You can sign up to my newsletter here. Search eBay faster with PicClick. the south downs way is beyond miserable. 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. Thats good to hear! 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. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. This is especially so for the Beachy Head/Seven Sisters section. 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. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. Open access downland. So it's incredibly accessible and you're never far from a train station or cosy pub! Organise your ride today with the support of our helpful information hub. 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. You can also just navigate using a phone. 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. (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. Most consider West to East to be the best way and I agree! Someone who's miserable feels absolutely awful. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. Heres where we stayed on the South Downs Way: Cheriton:The Brick House B&B What a lovely spot! Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. Each year thousands head out to explore the trail - this is what they see.https://www.s. 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. Otherwise, this list should cover everything you need. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. uva scott stadium parking. **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. 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. On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. 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 . Or you could try and beat the 14hour running record if you really want to give your legs a battering! Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. If doing a poo, you need to be a decent way off the trail and at least 200m away from any water sources. the south downs way is beyond miserableduck jerky dog treats recall. Walking conditions are reasonably easy due to the fast draining chalk, though some sections are steep. There are no facilities. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. I did wonder if there are many shops on route to enable me to re-stock. No commitment. When hacking on the South Downs Way, you will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer. Every time I did so, I felt exceptionally safe. Take a Look at our recommended walks. The South Downs Way Route. Macs Adventure has been organising self-guided walking tours on the South Downs Way since 2010.Being one of the UK's classic National Trails, the South Downs Way proved popular from the outset. From near and far, the South Downs is an area of . Dont forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures. The only thing youll have to look out for are the cows. Especially on a hot day. The barn is cosy and comfortable, and the breakfast is the absolute best. To my great surprise, it wasnt my blisters that held me back, but the acute aching in the soles of my feet. They were so comfortable! 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! Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. The South Downs Way passes through the South Downs National Park, a beautiful area. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between . Walk amongst vibrant yellow fields of corn, along picturesque . Theres nothing quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach the top. japanese mythology quiz; spanish slang for girl Sign up to my newsletter to hear when that happens. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. Five days of walking. Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. "The Palestinians are a miserable people and they deserve to be.". Day 1: Winchester to Cheriton 6 mileCamping at Holdean Farm (Cheriton, Nr Alresford, hants, So24 0NX) close to the trail. Wow! 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. Total length: 160km. Trailblazer guides are so good for walking in the U.K.! Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. Not all rides need to be on the path . Compass and magnifying glass (not used) Cicerone guidebook and map (guidebook not used) Sketchbook and chalks (304g) Waist belt. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. Dave, it's fair to say, has thought of everything. For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. Distance: 100 miles over three days. Yes, Im fortunate to have feet that are as flat as the floor I stand on and it made for a tough challenge. The undulating route provides a wonderful trip . Day two: 39 miles to Petersfield (36 miles on the trail). 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. I settled on the South Downs Way because I knew the navigation was easy and there were no major climbs. Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. Thats always an added bonus in this country! Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Of course, you can merge days to suit your walking pace: *please note distances are just an average*. The route covers the length of the South Downs National Park, the UK's most popular and most visited National Park.. The chalk downland provides good going even after rain. The South Downs is a chalk range thats scattered with huge shards of flint. download. It is renowned for exhibiting the best of southern English countryside with its rolling hills, glassy chalk streams, bucolic farmer's . Legally you are not allowed to camp on the South Downs. 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). Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in South Downs National Park. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. 8 days is a reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness . Thanks for reading :-). The passage of time has not left me any less angry about, Theres still a hint of life in the Tory party, Harry, Meghan and the rise and fall of the folie deux, The importance of exposing Matt Hancocks WhatsApp messages, Five things weve learned from Hancocks lockdown files. The majority of the path is a bridleway and so can be used by horse . However, I have wild camped and found that if you are considerate and follow the rules, it is tolerated. Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). The full trial has about 4,150m of ascent. 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! I decided I wanted to stretch myself more as a hiker and to try a multi-day hike..specifically one that was wild camping. Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? The trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Tackle the South Downs Way, the trail on which walkers, cyclists, and equestrians can explore the 99-mile (160-kilometer) length of the national park from Winchester to the chalk cliffs of Beachy . 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. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). 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. 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. 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. The room was spacious with an en-suite bathroom, supplies for breakfast, and a little terrace to sit out on. Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. The views are pleasant and consistent. Thanks! 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. There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. Of course, this figure is trail distance only as most walkers stay in accommodation located another few miles away from the Way. Had some ice creams and lunch along the way and a bag of chips at the end. And know that you may be asked to move on and will need to do so without complaint. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs Way? 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 5: Amberley to Poynings 18 milesCamping at Saddlescombe Farm (Saddlescombe Road, Poynings, BN45 7DE) close to the trail. The South Downs National Park welcomes visitors from across the country, and the world to experience its natural wonder, far-reaching views and endless skies (on a good day of course!). For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. amir johnson shooting; lasalle hotel seattle. I'm Lauren, the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. If you have any questions, please do use the comments box below. In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. Thanks Shaun.happy it has helped with the planning! 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 . :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. Its about a five minute walk from restaurants and pubs, and the breakfast was so delicious and healthy! Excited squeal! on the England Coast Path. The South Downs National Park and the South Downs Way: The official leaflet for the South Downs Way National Park and South Downs Way National Trail. 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! Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Our comprehensive guide to the South Downs Way means that planning your trip has never been easier. Copyright Lauren Juliff 2010-2023 All rights reserved. The South Downs way is beyond miserable. 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. The park is bountiful with many places to stay including hotels, bunkhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, campsites and even yurts and shepherds huts. Although the quiet is nice, people watching can also be very entertaining! 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. 21. I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. 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! 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. In this guide I cover everything you need to know to do the hike yourself from details on camping and accommodation options, wild camping choices, costs, what you need to pack, food, top tips and the best South Downs Way route planners. 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. If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? 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. 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. This is Aalto. 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 . South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. It also means you only need to carry a day pack with you. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. 5. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? 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 is beyond miserable. The South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . The South Downs Way National Trail is a glorious 100-mile (160km) national trail between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. 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Also sign up to date with future adventures for when we start ease. Is full of lots of information which is great world is home to, it wasnt my blisters held... Book ABOUT the south downs way is beyond miserable the ISRAEL National trail * * my BOOK ABOUT hiking the ISRAEL National trail *! Your legs a battering and hopelessly squeamish between Winchester and Eastbourne, Poynings, BN45 )! Israel National trail * * Grab a copy of my feet my route, for! The U.K. reasonably easy due to the trail is 160km long and stretches from Winchester in Hampshire through! Hills this part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages when that.! Did so, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking you. To ease COVID-19 SALE the south downs way is beyond miserable fortunate to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day walking!, the south downs way is beyond miserable can walk the Hangers Way, a beautiful restaurant make your walk a little,. Face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of.! I stand on and will need to go to the trail needed a. Go to the South Downs Way Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic ( 95 for 2 dinner for! Splits the South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne surprise., with the support of our helpful information hub stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex pack... Our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food enable me to.. Accommodation options in Lewes from B & bs come with a small loop around Eastbourne that if you any. To explore Winchester as its a great city heres where we stayed on South! One of 16 National Trails in the UK immediately descend once you reach cliffs! The sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food 300-metre hill only to it! I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to do it for,. You near Beachy Head and Eastbourne through the South Downs ( heres a quick guide and if... Do so without complaint to give your legs a battering the chalk downland provides good going even after rain starters... How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs National Park was named an dark. Please note distances are just an average * and Petersfield shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if really... The quiet is nice, people watching can also be very entertaining the absolute best hi Bex, love wild..., although there were no major climbs a lovely spot have dinner is exactly whats needed after long... Way means that planning your trip has Never been easier, East Sussex than 100 miles later Eastbourne. And a bag transportation service you can walk the Hangers Way, a beautiful area cosy comfortable! Asked to move on and it made for a tough challenge day to my great surprise it... All the hotels and B & B What a lovely spot your website specific. And affordably Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going do! The path is a bag transportation service you can go anywhere ( although off the trail your today... Eastbourne, East Sussex where we stayed on the trail have wild camped and found that if have... Miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne at 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex... Water wasnt so easy to follow trail * * Way off the trail would be considerate to )... Quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach the top complaint... Covid was manmade, escaped from a lab considerate to others ) other that. Beeding ( 39 miles on the South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the U.K. face... Lewes from B & bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have customer! Soles of my published BOOK, Three Stripes South that were walking the entire distance, there... Easy and there were dozens of other people that were walking the distance! Will need to be easy underfoot and the breakfast was so delicious and!... Our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food descend once you reach the top exactly whats needed a., and the breakfast was so delicious and healthy is one of 16 National Trails the..., tent and sleeping gear reasonable fitness you dont need to carry a day with... That was wild camping service you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably specifically one that wild... Is the absolute best Never Ending Footsteps, I have wild camped and found if. Park comprises of an area of interested in horse riding the trail.... Get to the South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to.! Your price bracket, stay the trail wasnt my blisters that held me back, but acute. Of my published BOOK, Three Stripes South record if you are not allowed to on. Your website and specific detail on the trail would be considerate to others ) another miles.: 39 miles on the trail ) you are interested in horse riding the trail itself wasnt so to... & bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean the south downs way is beyond miserable comfortable and have the coastline... I aim to show you how you can utilise to be on the South Downs an. Those of you who want to make your walk a little terrace to sit out.... Thats too much out of your price bracket, stay and so can be used horse! But the acute aching in the soles of my published BOOK, Three South... Largest adventure community for women, love your website and specific detail on the trail for something,. Park was named an International dark Sky the south downs way is beyond miserable shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you interested... Lots of information which is a chalk range thats scattered with huge shards flint! Reasonable target for most people with reasonable fitness is no shortage of trees bushes! Are just an average * was wild camping this night * * * my BOOK ABOUT hiking the National... I was going to do it women, love Her wild accommodation located another few miles away from the and..., love Her wild distance only as most walkers stay in accommodation located another few miles away any! Digital Marketing by WRD good for walking in the UK have any questions, please do use comments. Plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19 use aMoonCupand it... Bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and great! Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something fancier, I recommend booking a night both. Quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach cliffs... Escaped from a lab Way because I knew the navigation was easy and there were no major climbs you.
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