Throughout my time on the trail, I would separate from Dave in order to spend some time with my thoughts. 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. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bike. This trail is so beautiful! Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. From near and far, the South Downs is an area of . If you want to find more inspiration on doing the distance with wheels or a pram, check out: Once youve finished the South Downs Way, youll probably be ready to start planning your next multi-day hike (theyre quite addictive!). Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . Alfriston:The Star Inn The Star Inn is one of the oldest in the country and it has a fantastic pub to eat at. theo coumbis lds; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . It gave my joints a chance to rest and my hiking poles helped me push myself upwards at a startling speed. 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 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.". Thanks so much! 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. The Osprey Lumina is part of their ultra-lightweight range (it weighs just 770 grams!) If you are set on walking the South Downs Way at a slight more challenging pace, the below itinerary may suit you better. Day 7: Lewes to Seaford 18 milesCamping at Foxhole campsite (Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 4AG) close to the trail. The wind was especially relentless on the cliffs, and always coming from the right side which started to drive us a bit mad. Heres where we stayed on the South Downs Way: Cheriton:The Brick House B&B What a lovely spot! Not all rides need to be on the path . We already owned all the gear we needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80. - Jason Paul. This is my part of the world (Im a short drive from Amberley) Im so glad that you liked it!! / the south downs way is beyond miserable. Thats always an added bonus in this country! Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. Yes, it was so much fun :-) If I hadnt torn my feet up, it would have probably been one of the most enjoyable things Ive done! 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. It finishes 100 miles later in Eastbourne, East Sussex. And know that you may be asked to move on and will need to do so without complaint. Counting every gram and dont want to over pack if i dont need to. It made for a fun physical challenge and was a great way to spend a week in nature. There is an option to book taxis to take you to and from your accommodation. In fact, due to the low-lying land surrounding the hillside, the horizon seems to go on for miles. Whether you are out for a leisurely hack or prefer to use the downs for fitness work, there is something for everyone. Day 2: Cheriton to Petersfield 13 miles Camping at Wetherdown Camping (Droxford Rd, East Meon, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1HR) close to the trail. I'm Lauren and I've been travelling the world on a permanent basis since 2011. For this reason, spring and autumn are considered the best times to hike, although really you can do the walk all year round. 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. 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. As always, you made me yearn for the same type of vacation! To be honest, while the downhills werent wonderful for my knees and hips, the uphills were surprisingly enjoyable. Still, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being in Eastbourne. The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. The only thing youll have to look out for are the cows. Breakfast available to purchase on site), Day 7: Rodmell to Alfriston (10 miles)Staying at: Wingrove House (170 for 2 people including breakfast). May 4, 2021. I walked a walk just to the west, the Clarendon Way from Winchester to Salisbury, over two days earlier this year. Whether you choose to hack the South Downs Way one part at a time or feel confident enough to attempt the whole trail at once, you should be prepared in the way of horsebox or trailer parking facilities, find a selection of useful information below. 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). (heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail). 5. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. There are 2 factors to consider when picking your dates. We used a small discrete 2 man tent without issue. 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. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. the south downs way is beyond miserable. The walk follows the ridge across the chalk downs, passing many of the . 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. 26. 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. Why? 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 . If doing a poo, you need to be a decent way off the trail and at least 200m away from any water sources. It usually takes most people 9 days to walk the entire trail, at an average of 12-15 miles per day. the south downs way is beyond miserable . No commitment. Your email address will not be published. Providing a very different experience! While the official mileage for the walk is 100 miles, we ended up tackling 121 miles in total. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] You can also just navigate using a phone. I physically retched as I watched him eating unmentionables in the Australian jungle. It runs for around 100 miles from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with a small loop around Eastbourne. The hospices of Sussex are dedicated to providing specialist end-of-life care. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. We encountered far more cyclists than walkers, but only a handful of horse riders. Takes around two hours to get there :-). 19 April 2016, 12:00am; Photo by DAVID ILIFF. The energetic can walk the entire length using the South Downs Way. The South Downs is fantastic riding country. Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. 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. 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Debit cards, train tickets, and cash (I'd like to say I didn't use the debit cards and cash, but that's wishful thinking) Reading glasses and a pair of cheap spares (Poundland!) I'm Lauren, the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. Ever since I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I thought it would interesting to hike/walk a long distance. Matt Hancock and I have almost nothing in common. There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. What that means is that unless youre camping, youll need to wander off the trail each evening, then kick off every morning with a mile-odd trek uphill to rejoin the path. I am a NYer and love walking everywhere so this has made be consider a new vacation option! Miserable Person Quotes. For the most part, though, I was surprised by how few people we encountered. This is such a wonderful trail through a beautiful part of the country. I highly recommend staying here. the south downs way is beyond miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. 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! Really friendly owners, a large breakfast, and a good location, close to the waterfront. Occasionally there is a tap and trough placed for hikers. I loved the simplicity of a long-distance walk, where youre offline and immersed in your destination, where the only thing you have to worry about is putting one foot in front of the other. You can take the coach or train from London to Winchester! We recommend that you wear your usual riding attire, as well as waterproofs if the weather is looking like it could be damp. The hills on the coastal section of the hike can feel a little endless at times lots of up and down. Kingston near Lewes:Airbnb in Kingston Another wonderful place to stay! **MY BOOK ABOUT HIKING THE ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL** Grab a copy of my published book, Three Stripes South. Im Bex Band a full-time adventurer and founder of the UKs largest adventure community for women, Love Her Wild. . Every time I did so, I felt exceptionally safe. My mistake, West to East is the better way so you finish with Eastbourne. Day 5: Amberley to Poynings 18 milesCamping at Saddlescombe Farm (Saddlescombe Road, Poynings, BN45 7DE) close to the trail. 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. The trail stretches 100 miles from the historic city of Winchester to the coastal chalk hills on the South Coast. And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. We had two challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, but the rest of our mileage felt comfortable. Hmmm.. you could try just doing a couple of days of the South Downs Way to start with, rather than the entire thing. Follow the South Downs Trail to Winchester or eastward towards Old Winchester Hill, Petersfield & on to Eastbourne. It is wooded, with a defined ridge along which the South Downs Way runs. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. Countryside and cultural events take place throughout the year in the towns and villages. Theres nothing quite like scaling a 300-metre hill only to see it immediately descend once you reach the top. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. 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. In fact, there was a part of me that was eager to turn around at the finish line and walk back to Winchester! We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. "People who are not happy with themselves, cannot possibly be happy with you.". Thats part of long-distance hiking though so just embrace the extra wanders into the nearby villages. Even Google maps have the South Downs Way! The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were sent to the training grounds. You could look at organising taxis and pickups for some of them or wild camp (see my heading below on wild camping). You should take away any toilet paper that you use. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bile. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. 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. If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. 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! As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? Ive since returned to the trail and stayed in accommodation inns, b&bs and hotels along the way. Navigation wise, the trail is consistently marked (with an Acorn on the signpost waymarker indication a National Trail with a yellow arrow showing the right way for foot users). Wingrove is a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? The South Downs is a long range of chalk hills, and the trail runs largely along the top of them. Water wasnt so easy to come by on the trail. 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. The Trailblazer guide has a mileage chart at the back that tells you the exact distance between towns, so you can work out the total distance in advance. 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 pases through the South Downs a beautiful area, which may soon become a National Park. Amberley:A Barn at South Downs This is a great place to stay, with a lovely pub within walking distance you can probably tell what my priority was on this walk. Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. 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. Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. The leaflets listed below are available to download as pdf files. The smell . 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 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 . 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. Day 1: Winchester to East Meon (18 miles)Staying at: Angel Cottage B&B (58 for 2 including breakfast) perfectly located on the SDW. Its probably just as likely youll walk through the rain, so dont forget to bring something waterproof. 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. If you do only one day of the South Downs Way, make it this one. 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. We loved our hike although it wasnt without its challenges. Itll be blustery, cold and windy over winter so youll want to wrap up warm. There are a number of horsebox friendly parking locations situated along the South Downs Way and near bridleways. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. Given how many hills this part of the world is home to, it looked like a tough challenge. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Geographical location: In the south-west of England. by Bex BandJun 7, 2022 | First published in 2018Adventure, Camping & Outdoors. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. Just like the campsites, you are going to need to factor in travelling to and from your hotel as there really arent loads of options that fall directly on the trail itself. 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. 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. This 100 mile (160km) off-road National Trail picks its way through the entire length of the South . The wind from the ocean can be strong and relentless at times. The South Downs Way passes through the South Downs National Park, a beautiful area. Duration: 8 to 10 days. And dont forget to give me a follow onFacebookandInstagram. The SDW is a very popular trail, especially the Seven Sisters section as you near Beachy Head and Eastbourne. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good way. The South Downs Way National Trail is a glorious 100-mile (160km) national trail between Winchester and Eastbourne through the South Downs National Park. Today, Im excited to start writing about my walk by sharing a huge overview of what its like to tackle the South Downs Way. Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). 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. Once you complete the trail you can get a completion certificate to keep! If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. 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. The older models that were removed from the front lines intact were to. Trail through a beautiful stay but if thats too much out of your price bracket, stay planning. 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