Id suggest bringing a buff and a warm hat you can pull over your ears to give your face a break on especially windy days. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park, the trail starts in Winchester, Hampshire. 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. Be sure to cache your maps for offline use each morning. Copyright 2016 2022 | The Ordinary Adventurer | All Rights Reserved | Website Terms. 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. There are 2 approaches: prepare the food yourself (cheaper) or eat out along the way (better suited if staying in accommodation rather than camping). 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. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). Quotes tagged as "miserable" Showing 1-30 of 131. The South Downs Way comes in at 100 miles and runs between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. All about my hike on the INT and how it changed my life. It also saves you the hassle of needing to return to the start point at the end. 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. 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. Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. In terms of weather windows from April-October will give you the best weather. 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. Matt Hancock and I have almost nothing in common. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. It looks beautiful so probably worth all of the foot pain! I invested in this high-end pairfrom Black Diamond and adored them. (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). The South Downs is a national park in South East England. Horse riding in the South Downs National Park: A guide to horse riding in the South Downs Way National Park and along . Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. This is such a wonderful trail through a beautiful part of the country. The wind was especially relentless on the cliffs, and always coming from the right side which started to drive us a bit mad. It also means you only need to carry a day pack with you. Up there you'll find the most [] The pubs can be a little pricey and can get booked up in the busy season (mostly summer holidays) so you may want to make reservations in advance. Special Places to visit in the South Downs . It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Your email address will not be published. The horrifying cost of Hancocks Covid testing targets. 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. The South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath that winds its way from historic Winchester to Eastbourne in Sussex. For experienced walkers that enjoy a challenge, this itinerary allows you to complete the whole South Downs Way in 6 walking days. The route provides the visitor with the oppor The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. 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. Shop the Largest Selection, Click to See! 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. Most people spend 7 or 8 days walking the whole South Downs Way. During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. 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. Looks like you had an amazing time and such an achievement! / the south downs way is beyond miserable. Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. Plan a cycling adventure today. by . Your email address will not be published. Sneakers Made In China - 110 . I am a NYer and love walking everywhere so this has made be consider a new vacation option! Instead, I recommend looking at the Osprey Eja, which is another fantastic Osprey backpack that Ive owned and love. If you get stuck for shops a good idea is to stay a night in a cheap b&b and ask if you can send them a resupply box in advance. Had some ice creams and lunch along the way and a bag of chips at the end. Only 1 a week after your trial. 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. Open access downland. Ah, thank you! Hiking poles will help you conserve energy, keep your weight off your hips and knees, and help so much on the uphill and downhill. 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. Thats always an added bonus in this country! Off-road cyclists regularly complete the trail. And if there werent? March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! I neednt have worried, though there was plenty of options for eating! 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. From near and far, the South Downs is an area of . A linear route which forms the seventh part of the Sussex Hospices Trail. 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 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. The chalk rock of the South Downs was formed from the remains of sea creatures at a time when this area was the bed of a shallow sea during the Late Cretaceous period 66 to 100 million years ago. The park has a resident population of around 110,000 people and 125,000 sheep. Thanks so much! Distance: 100 miles over three days. Just search restaurant and it will highlight all the cafes and food options in your area. 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. We mark out potential spots for wild camping, and discuss how far we can . It wasnt rare for us to walk for a couple of hours without seeing another human. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. 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. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. South Downs Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights. Especially on a hot day. The room was spacious with an en-suite bathroom, supplies for breakfast, and a little terrace to sit out on. Thanks for reading :-). You can take the coach or train from London to Winchester! I'm Lauren, the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. Great write-up it made me feel as though I was walking the South Downs Way alongside you! The . Today, Im excited to start writing about my walk by sharing a huge overview of what its like to tackle the South Downs Way. Whatever your approach to food, you are going to want to make sure you start with plenty of snacks in your bag to keep you going on your 100mile hike. There are signposts every few hundred metres and whenever you come across a fork or turning in the path. For more fun details go to the overview page, which tells . Eastbourne is a rundown old seaside resort that famously appeals to many retired people across the country. Hi! When riding the South Downs Way, you may wish to stop over at a horse-friendly B&B or find a livery yard for the evening. Duration: 8 to 10 days. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. The British summer can always be temperamental, so I know we had a fair bit of luck. Again a life-changing piece of kit. 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. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. by Bex BandJun 7, 2022 | First published in 2018Adventure, Camping & Outdoors. Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). Search eBay faster with PicClick. We used a small discrete 2 man tent without issue. - Jason Paul. Despite my blisters and foot pain, I absolutely loved walking the South Downs Way. The east half is a bit more spectacular. 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! South Downs Way fact file. Eastbourne:Albert & Victoria B&B I mostly stayed here because the the rooms looked so old fashionedthat I thought it was funny. We loved our hike although it wasnt without its challenges. The South Downs way can be done in one go taking between 5 and 7 days or else in sections. 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. 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. For women you might like to take apee clothwith you (only for summer as youll need some sun to dry 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. 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). Takes around two hours to get there :-). Yes, Im fortunate to have feet that are as flat as the floor I stand on and it made for a tough challenge. Not all rides need to be on the path . The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. Always, always, always size up! lionel richie lytham st annes. To my great surprise, it wasnt my blisters that held me back, but the acute aching in the soles of my feet. Walk amongst vibrant yellow fields of corn, along picturesque . The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. The trail goes from the city of Winchester to Eastbourne, a famous seaside town with iconic white cliffs. The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. Geographical location: In the south-west of England. It came with an en-suite bathroom complete with bath, which was greatly appreciated for soaking my blisters. Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? I physically retched as I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle. A bag of chips at the Osprey Eja, which is another fantastic Osprey backpack Ive... 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