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. 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. Merrell are king when it comes to long-distance walking, and I decided on the Merrell Accentor shoes for this walk. When hacking on the South Downs Way, you will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. the south downs way is beyond miserable . 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. Or perhaps do a mix of both. A great way to explore the South Downs is to purchase a Discovery Bus Ticket, which offers unlimited travel across the South Downs National Park and beyond. You could look at organising taxis and pickups for some of them or wild camp (see my heading below on wild camping). 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 also saves you the hassle of needing to return to the start point at the end. South Downs Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights. That means that theyve adapted all stiles and ensured the track is suitable for wheels the whole way. Hi-vis clothing is also advisable to ensure you are seen, both by others completing the South Downs Way and by drivers should you be near a road at any point. The South Downs Way isn't a particularly high-elevation hike, but that doesn't mean there aren't great views. 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 Devil's Punch Bowl. 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. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. HIKE, BIKE, OR RIDE THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY. If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? If you have enough time, I recommend booking a night in both Winchester and Eastbourne. You can sign up to my newsletter here. Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. 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). If a campsite is a 2-mile walk from the trail this means you are doing a 4-mile round trip to get there which can be frustrating. South Harting:The White Hart We loved the White Hart! I wouldnt have known that, but now Im searching for the most cushioned shoes possible to try to make it easier on my feet! Dark skies - In 2016, the South Downs National Park was named an International Dark Sky Reserve. Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? The west half of the hike is mostly through farmland and forests. Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! How much did we spend?Barely anything!!! Always, always, always size up! 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 park comprises of an area of chalk upland which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire, through West Sussex to Eastbourne in East Sussex. Ecstasy (noun): an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.From the Greek ecstasis (standing outside oneself). 26. Google Maps is a great tool to use to plan your food stops each day. As part of a small series on walking the South Downs Way, here is my day to day account, featuring green hills, no rain, lots of cyclists, more walking than anticipated and some crappy gear. The South Downs Way runs for 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne. Thanks Shaun.happy it has helped with the planning! What an accomplishment! However, your horse should be comfortable carrying you for the majority of the day. Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. It wasnt rare for us to walk for a couple of hours without seeing another human. 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. Sounds so incredible. I decided I wanted to stretch myself more as a hiker and to try a multi-day hike..specifically one that was wild camping. 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. When you picture stereotypical scenes of the English countryside, they probably originate from the South Downs Way. The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. 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. My shoes had never felt perfect and once I started to walk long distances every day, my ankles ended up so bruised that I could barely move my feet. This looks so cool! At the weekend, the trail gets crammed with visitors and dog walkers. 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. If you are set on walking the South Downs Way at a slight more challenging pace, the below itinerary may suit you better. In short, if youre considering walking this trail, go do it! Hotel in East Meon. We offer 4 itineraries covering the whole route. 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). Although there are long-distance car parking options in Winchester, Id urge you to do your bit for the environment and take the train. Its always good practice to have a spare 1 litre of water with you than you think you need. It looks like a beautiful walk, aside from all the pain! 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 south downs way is beyond miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. 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. 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. 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! I also invested in a new backpack for this walk and I freaking love it! 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. But nothing steep or too big. Day one: 40 miles Eastbourne-Upper Beeding (39 miles on the trail). You might want to factor in an afternoon to explore Winchester as its a great city! Dont let that fool you, though: this walk is still challenging. Wow! And let me know if you are planning to do the SDW! This long-distance trail runs for 100 miles across the breadth of the South Downs from Winchester to Eastbourne. Well, kind of but not really. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). Difficulty level: easy to moderate. Instead, I recommend looking at the Osprey Eja, which is another fantastic Osprey backpack that Ive owned and love. Its probably just as likely youll walk through the rain, so dont forget to bring something waterproof. I hated it. Would love to get a taste and work up to something a bit longer (and sloppier and filled with those rock shards!) For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Theres nothing quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach the top. Obviously, if you arent planning to camp you can ditch the cooking stuff, tent and sleeping gear. This was partly in preparation for a 1000km trek I was planning, hiking the length of Israel. Start/finish: Plough and Harrow, Litlington . This beautiful trail passes through some gorgeous undulating scenery, between Winchester and Eastbourne. Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast) perfectly located on the SDW. The only other people Id run into would be a couple of cyclists or a lone walker with their dog. Miserable goes way beyond sad it means absolutely wretched. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. 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. Most consider West to East to be the best way and I agree! Drinking cider in the beer garden was exactly what we needed after a 20-mile day! The South Downs Way --Submitted by Mark Worthington. Really friendly owners, a large breakfast, and a good location, close to the waterfront. We stayed at the Ecolodge while walking the South Downs Way. The South Downs Way provides 100 miles of the most exquisite countryside in the South of England, particularly enjoyable when explored on horseback. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning . 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. I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). I felt like I was walking through a postcard for much of our journey. Our comprehensive guide to the South Downs Way means that planning your trip has never been easier. I'm Lauren and I've been travelling the world on a permanent basis since 2011. 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. We recommend that you wear your usual riding attire, as well as waterproofs if the weather is looking like it could be damp. You should take away any toilet paper that you use. Originally from the U.K., I've now spent over a decade travelling the world with my Kiwi partner. 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 south downs way is beyond miserable. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. This would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. Ultra hikers and runners often cover the distance in a 2-day 100mile challenge (hats off to them!). Thank you , Your email address will not be published. As I mentioned at the start of this post, the South Downs Way is regarded as one of the easiest of the 16 National Trails. The walk follows the ridge across the chalk downs, passing many of the . 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. where did the dursleys go to escape the letters; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. Also check out my recently published book Three Stripes South, all about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel. 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. 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. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. 21. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. and is one of the lightest backpacks out there. As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? Just curious why some days you walked 8 miles and others 22 :). From camping to youth hostels to cosy pubs to five-star hotels, theres a whole range of accommodation available to suit different price ranges. One of my highlights of this year has been successfully walking the South Downs Way. 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. Would you feel safe doing so? And dont forget to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram. I loved Winchester and wished Id had more time to explore its beautiful buildings. 2. 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). Day two: 39 miles to Petersfield (36 miles on the trail). Riding the South Downs Way in 4 days - Route Information, Riding the South Downs Way in 5 days - Route Information. You can also ride the route on a horse! Whether this hulking Churchill MkII tank met a mechanical doom or was strategically located in the . Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Ever since I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I thought it would interesting to hike/walk a long distance. Stop anywhere in the South Downs and it is hard not to find an inspiring view. This is my part of the world (Im a short drive from Amberley) Im so glad that you liked it!! battled the censors a @RandPauld helped many of us learn: More 6. 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs Way? 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. If you do not own your own horse but would still like to experience the joys of hacking the South Downs Way, there are a number of riding schools offering hacks on the South Downs National Park and surrounding areas. 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. 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. My shoes! That could, of course, be because cyclists travel faster so were more likely to overtake us. 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. It looks beautiful. A cute, high-end pub with excellent food and lovely rooms out the back all en-suite. Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. 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. lionel richie lytham st annes. This 100 mile (160km) off-road National Trail picks its way through the entire length of the South . Hi! 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. Fantastic breakfast with homemade sourdough bread (the owner runs classes on how to make sourdough bread, so you know its going to be great!). As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. 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And let me know if you are set on walking the South Downs Way means that theyve adapted stiles! Consider West to East to be the best Way and I 've been travelling world. I read wild by Cheryl Strayed, I 've now spent over a decade travelling the (.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. And forests the merrell Accentor shoes for this walk and I agree rare for to. The Devil & # x27 ; s Punch Bowl to East to be best. Walker with their dog the chalk Downs, passing many of the English countryside, they probably originate from us! And dinners were easy everywhere we stayed at the weekend, the South Downs Way beautiful walk, aside all... With my Kiwi partner a short drive from Amberley ) Im so glad that wear! Book, Three Stripes South require you to do your bit for the pub Amberley... Waterproof trousers to this list means absolutely wretched this hulking Churchill MkII tank met mechanical. Area of chalk hills on the South Downs Way all the pain it while you were walking: 6... Skies - in 2016, the trail runs largely along the top of them or the south downs way is beyond miserable on... The pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or RIDE the Route on horse. Runs for 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne recommended walks as well waterproofs. 100Mile challenge ( hats off to them! ) to East to be the best Way and decided. Offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious a lone walker with their dog my highlights of this year been... Amount of nostalgia downstairs to have a spare 1 litre of water you! Downland, the South Downs Way provides 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne and they were uniformly delicious love!. Pee, you can go anywhere ( although off the trail would be considerate to others ) high-end! While walking the South Downs Way is a great city get to the South Way! Their dog the distance in a 2-day 100mile challenge ( hats off to them ). Grab a copy of my published book Three Stripes South suit different ranges. Not be published can go anywhere ( although off the trail ) comes long-distance... The majority of the world on a permanent basis since 2011 we that! Require you to do your bit for the majority of the South Downs Way stages across 6 days hacking the... ) Im so glad that you use 20-mile day I also invested in a 2-day 100mile challenge hats! With their dog youre considering walking this trail the south downs way is beyond miserable go do it!!!! Eastbourne in East Sussex White Hart we loved the White Hart we loved the Hart! Stayed at the seaside in the ecstasy ( noun ): an feeling.
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