/ the south downs way is beyond miserable. Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. Imagine slapping your feet down on a hard, uneven surface for ten hours straight and you have some idea of how painful the walk can be for your arches. 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. 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. I hated it. This looks so cool! Try hit this part of the trail mid-week and not during school holidays if you can. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. They were so comfortable! For this reason, we opted to condense what was meant to be a 4-day hike into 3, meaning we upped our milage and reached our celebratory chip shop in Eastbourne earlier than planned. It looks beautiful. Up there you'll find the most [] The hills on the coastal section of the hike can feel a little endless at times lots of up and down. The route covers the length of the South Downs National Park, the UK's most popular and most visited National Park.. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. For the end, you will be catching a train from 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 . Difficulty level: easy to moderate. There are some moderately steep slopes but the path mostly runs on farm tracks across rolling open chalk downland. The best day of the walk is undoubtedly the final day the trail over the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head is known as one of the best day walks in the country. 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. on the England Coast Path. I found that I drank so much more when I had a mouthpiece beside me at all times. I, however, recommend staying in as many pubs and B&Bs as possible the accommodation was one of the highlights of our walk! Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? Walking the South Downs Way is a great option for anyone wanting an easy/moderate long-distance trail in the UK that can be completed in under 10 days, at a very chilled pace or a week if you want to move a bit quicker. From camping to youth hostels to cosy pubs to five-star hotels, theres a whole range of accommodation available to suit different price ranges. East Meon:Ye Olde George Inn While the room was nothing mind-blowing, the food at the pub below more than made up for it! Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good way. We stayed at the Ecolodge while walking the South Downs Way. 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. Now is the time to indulge yourself in a little piece of the South Downs Way, whether by foot, wheel or hoof. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. 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. Your email address will not be published. A big section of the South Downs is privately owned farmland which you shouldnt be camping on without permission. Open access downland. Google Maps is a great tool to use to plan your food stops each day. I loved this pair from Black Diamond! This would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. 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. 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. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. They provide . This Campsites South Downs Way directory lists all the campsites available near the trail. Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. Looks great! Its about a 2 mile hike to reach the campsite from the trail or you can arrange a taxi pickup. You could look at organising taxis and pickups for some of them or wild camp (see my heading below on wild camping). 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. This is such a wonderful trail through a beautiful part of the country. It was especially nice to have some avocado toast for breakfast rather than a full English, which youll find yourself eating plenty of on this track. Looks like you had an amazing time and such an achievement! We settled on eight days for our walk, although by the end of the adventure, we both agreed that one extra day would have been appreciated. 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. 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. Whatever you use, make sure you take a battery pack (I always use an Anker pack) as having a fully charged phone is essential for safety as well as useful should you need to check things like opening times or to call a pub to make a reservation. It is possible to carry a weeks worth of supplies although your bag will be very heavy so planning to stock up halfway is your best option. 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. Budget: Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite Situated just south of East Meon, the Wetherdown Lodge & Campsite offers simple accommodation at reasonable prices. 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. Thanks! In terms of difficulty, our guidebook suggested the South Downs Way is one of Britain's easiest National Trails. This was partly in preparation for a 1000km trek I was planning, hiking the length of Israel. Day 1: Winchester to Cheriton 6 mileCamping at Holdean Farm (Cheriton, Nr Alresford, hants, So24 0NX) close to the trail. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. Required fields are marked *. Quotes tagged as "miserable" Showing 1-30 of 131. Dig a hole at least 6inches deep and then cover it up when finished. 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. Plan a cycling adventure today. Someone who's miserable feels absolutely awful. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. Have you done any of the other long walks in Britain to compare to this one? On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. Buy a signed copy of my book along with a 'Life is Join 3,500+ others and sign up to my newsletter! by . The east half is a bit more spectacular. I wont say its impossible to get lost on the South Downs Way mostly because I did actually get lost on the South Downs Way. Total length: 160km. Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . It finishes 100 miles later in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The park comprises of an area of chalk upland which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire, through West Sussex to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. You do pass the odd pub and (in peak season) cafes and ice cream vans in hot spots, like along the Seven Sisters way. 26. May 29, 2022 in new york v united states quizlet. The Cicerone South Downs Way guide book is my favourite, although the Trailblazer one is also good. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. Hadrians Wall is a little easier in terms of walking surface, so you could also do a few days of that. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. We found the terrain to be easy underfoot and the sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food. 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 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). Fairly certain it would kill me, though, hahaha :-). We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. 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. You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! The horrifying cost of Hancocks Covid testing targets. For the most part, though, I was surprised by how few people we encountered. East Meon to South Harting: 12.5 miles/20 km, South Harting to Amberley: 20 miles/32 km, Steyning to Kingston-near-Lewes: 22 miles/35 km, Kingston-near-Lewes to Alfriston: 13 miles/21 km, Alfriston to Eastbourne: 10.5 miles/17 km. Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. Wow! The hospices of Sussex are dedicated to providing specialist end-of-life care. I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Sneakers Made In China - 110 . 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 views were consistently pretty. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. 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. We had two challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, but the rest of our mileage felt comfortable. Dont forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures. Merrell are king when it comes to long-distance walking, and I decided on the Merrell Accentor shoes for this walk. For the start point, you want to head to Winchester. The . Your mileage will considerably increase though if you are travelling into villages/towns for accommodation as there arent many conveniently located on the trail so this will result in a lot of yo-yoing. Providing a very different experience! This beautiful trail passes through some gorgeous undulating scenery, between Winchester and Eastbourne. 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. Mai 2022 . I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. A journey that can be taken by cyclists and horse-riders . We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Its said to be one of the easiest of the National Trails, but it was its reputation as one of the prettiest that had me sold. 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! Theyll help your feet so much! And same! The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. uva scott stadium parking. Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! There are no facilities. 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. The South Downs Way passes through the South Downs National Park, a beautiful area. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bile. Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). Well.the simple answer is yes. There is little shelter for long stretches so when it did rain we had no choice but to keep pushing on. what time does marshalls open; allen iverson house gladwyne; tesla front trunk open warning. Yes, Im fortunate to have feet that are as flat as the floor I stand on and it made for a tough challenge. Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. Hiking poles will help you conserve energy, keep your weight off your hips and knees, and help so much on the uphill and downhill. No . All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. Probably the most comfortable backpack Ive ever worn. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. Follow, Or for something really challenging, how about the. There are also a few cafes where you can treat yourself to a hot drink and ice cream. 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. **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. South Downs: England's Mountains Green. Just search restaurant and it will highlight all the cafes and food options in your area. Itll be blustery, cold and windy over winter so youll want to wrap up warm. 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. 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. This is a very manageable trail in so much as the route is easy to follow and the terrain is flat and with very little ascent. 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. 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. Most of the time, we would have to walk a mile off the trail to reach our accommodation, but some towns can be as many as three miles away. Five days of walking. Before choosing to wild camp on the South Downs Way, please do read this Wild Camping UK article so you know the correct etiquette. 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 . Follow me on Facebook, TwitterandInstagram. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. battled the censors a @RandPauld helped many of us learn: More 6. And if there werent? Youve convinced me! 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. There are 1200km of bridleways spreading through the National Park for riders to enjoy - everything from a gentle trot along a country track to a hack up to the top of the Downs. Walkers in Britain are an oddly talkative bunch for a country thats full of socially-awkward people so whenever you do run into someone, theyll usually be down for a chat. The South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! download. The eastern end finishes at the sea from east of Brighton Marina to Eastbourne. amir johnson shooting; lasalle hotel seattle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Buying a 4m bell tent was probably one of the best purchases I have ever made. Duration: 8 to 10 days. It's the only one of 16 National Trails contained entirely within a national park. Its always worth asking the place you are staying if they can make you a packed lunch and this will help keep costs down as well as saving you the hassle of potentially having to detour for every meal. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. 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 route provides the visitor with the oppor at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! While that's probably true, I still wouldn't rate it as "easy," especially on longer (15+ mile) days. That could, of course, be because cyclists travel faster so were more likely to overtake us. "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.". 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! Although there are long-distance car parking options in Winchester, Id urge you to do your bit for the environment and take the train. The South Downs Way looks beautiful! But nothing steep or too big. Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. 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. And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. You can also ride the route on a horse! The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. 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