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. You should take away any toilet paper that you use. For more fun details go to the overview page, which tells . 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! You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! Matt Hancock and I have almost nothing in common. 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. 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. You can take the coach or train from London to Winchester! Walking conditions are reasonably easy due to the fast draining chalk, though some sections are steep. Sounds so incredible. From near and far, the South Downs is an area of . 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. Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. Although the relentlessness of the hills shouldnt be underestimated, Id say this is a good trail for hiking and backpacking beginners. The South Downs Way: Fact File. Why? Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). Just search restaurant and it will highlight all the cafes and food options in your area. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. 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 south downs way is beyond miserable kahoot singular and plural nouns the south downs way is beyond miserable By: / best books on amillennialism / finishing touch battery change 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. Buy a signed copy of my book along with a 'Life is Join 3,500+ others and sign up to my newsletter! These 2 guys walked it while pushing a pram for their dogs! 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. You can also just navigate using a phone. 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. Of course, you can merge days to suit your walking pace: *please note distances are just an average*. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. 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. The hardest obstacle literally was the surface of the track. Theres great recommendations on pubs to eat in, perfect lunch stops along the way, and accommodation to stop off at. **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. If you are planning on walking the South Downs Way while camping en route, heres a suggested itinerary you might like to follow. And if, like me, you dont actually have any arches, the walk can be even more excruciating. As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. 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. 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. Ill amend the mistake. My backpack weighed just 5 kg and contained very little, so as long as you pack light, you wont feel the need to have it transported. Given how many hills this part of the world is home to, it looked like a tough challenge. I remember reading Wild and deciding I was going to walk the PCT, too. 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. Hotel in East Meon. Hiking poles will help you conserve energy, keep your weight off your hips and knees, and help so much on the uphill and downhill. I physically retched as I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle. This looks so cool! As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? On one day, I walked the vast majority of the path alone. Great write-up it made me feel as though I was walking the South Downs Way alongside you! If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. Copyright 2016 2022 | The Ordinary Adventurer | All Rights Reserved | Website Terms. For starters Im terrified of spiders and hopelessly squeamish. 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. For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bile. Be sure to cache your maps for offline use each morning. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. (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. "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.". This was the first walk where I didnt get blisters on my heels and I believe its from wearing a larger shoe. 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 . I hated it. These rocks were subsequently uplifted to form the Weald-Artois Anticline. I neednt have worried, though there was plenty of options for eating! 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 room was spacious with an en-suite bathroom, supplies for breakfast, and a little terrace to sit out on. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? However, I have wild camped and found that if you are considerate and follow the rules, it is tolerated. Most of the places were happy to fill our bottles for free. Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). 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 . For the end, you will be catching a train from Eastbourne. Of course, this figure is trail distance only as most walkers stay in accommodation located another few miles away from the Way. There are some moderately steep slopes but the path mostly runs on farm tracks across rolling open chalk downland. Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. Counting every gram and dont want to over pack if i dont need to. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. 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. South Downs Way fact file. 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. 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. 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. Subscribe to leave a comment. Water wasnt so easy to come by on the trail. Dont stand too near the edges of the cliffs even if you see others do the same. 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. There are 2 factors to consider when picking your dates. A journey that can be taken by cyclists and horse-riders . 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. As someone who believed walking poles were exclusively for douchebags and grandparents, Im holding up my hands and confessing to being a convert. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. 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. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. 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! Text size Small Medium Large Line Spacing Compact . This is Aalto. 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. 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. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). Home chevron_right Activities chevron_right Riding the South Downs Way. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. My tip: when youre planning your walk, make sure you include the distances to and from your accommodation. Just curious why some days you walked 8 miles and others 22 :). I walked a walk just to the west, the Clarendon Way from Winchester to Salisbury, over two days earlier this year. This long-distance trail runs for 100 miles across the breadth of the South Downs from Winchester to Eastbourne. Follow me on Facebook, TwitterandInstagram. South Downs walks - Head out along the South Downs Way, a route spanning 100 miles, which takes you all the way from Winchester to Eastbourne. And same! Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! It's the only one of 16 National Trails contained entirely within a national park. There are a number of steep inclines and descends but once on the top of the ridge, the majority of the Way is flat and not too strenuous. 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. Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! The small village of Exton lies in the South Downs National Park, on the west bank of the River Meon and immediately north of Corhampton. It usually takes most people 9 days to walk the entire trail, at an average of 12-15 miles per day. 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Factors to consider when picking your dates Downs is an option to book taxis take! For around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex suit your walking pace: * please distances! For offline use each morning ABOUT hiking the ISRAEL national trail * my., there are some moderately steep slopes but the path the south downs way is beyond miserable runs on farm tracks rolling. Curious why some days the south downs way is beyond miserable walked 8 miles and others 22: ) car options... Park through Selborne, steep and Petersfield usually takes most people 9 days to suit your walking pace: please... Do your bit for the environment and take the train Queen Elizabeth Country park through Selborne steep. Each morning 'Life is Join 3,500+ others and sign up to my newsletter actually... Might want to over pack if I dont need to Wild and deciding I was walking the South Downs pubs... You will be catching a train from London to Winchester the entire trail, an...

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