I also invested in an Osprey reservoir to slip inside it. It also saves you the hassle of needing to return to the start point at the end. Walking conditions are reasonably easy due to the fast draining chalk, though some sections are steep. 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. 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. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . download. (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 South Downs Way has become the first fully accessible national trail! We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. Takes around two hours to get there :-). There arent a huge amount of shops en route. Day three: 28 miles to Winchester (25 miles on the trail). The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. To be honest, while the downhills werent wonderful for my knees and hips, the uphills were surprisingly enjoyable. 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. When budgeting for walking the South Downs Way, youll need to factor in: Doing it on a tight budgetIf you are on a tight budget, camping and wild camping will be your cheapest option accommodation will be free or very cheap (most campsites are about 20 a night). Miserable Person Quotes. Ive since returned to the trail and stayed in accommodation inns, b&bs and hotels along the way. The South Downs Way is one of the 16 National Trail walks that criss-cross their way around the United Kingdom. The eastern end finishes at the sea from east of Brighton Marina to Eastbourne. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. 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. Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. Counting every gram and dont want to over pack if i dont need to. I. f having a pee, you can go anywhere (although off the trail would be considerate to others). The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath in Southern England and is one of Britain's National Trails. While the official mileage for the walk is 100 miles, we ended up tackling 121 miles in total. Geographical location: In the south-west of England. Subpar gear but superior English weather. by Bex BandJun 7, 2022 | First published in 2018Adventure, Camping & Outdoors. If hiking in peak season you will be able to make use of the occasional pub and cafe (although youll be expected to buy something if you do use the facilities). Keep this in mind when planning out your days, as it quickly adds up. Home chevron_right Activities chevron_right Riding the South Downs Way. It is renowned for exhibiting the best of southern English countryside with its rolling hills, glassy chalk streams, bucolic farmer's . Walking the South Downs Way. Distance: 100 miles over three days. There are stunning, panoramic views to the sea and across the Weald as you travel the 100 mile length of the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne, culminating in the impressive chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. 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. They provide . The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. The staff were welcoming and kind, the roast dinner was delicious, and it was generally a cool, historic place to spend time in. Theres so many places to stay in Eastbourne, but overall, this spot was decent. This is especially so for the Beachy Head/Seven Sisters section. Thanks for sharing! As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers to this list. 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. After hearing that wed walked a whopping 22 miles, she offered us free beer, drove us to the local pub, and generally made our stay as comfortable as possible. 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. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). Dig a hole at least 6inches deep and then cover it up when finished. "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.". The South Downs are designated as a national park. on the England Coast Path. You should take away any toilet paper that you use. Again a life-changing piece of kit. And be the first to hear about my upcoming adventure plans and big announcements, with a sprinkle of advice and inspiration. When hacking on the South Downs Way, you will more than likely require somewhere to park your horsebox or trailer. Thanks Shaun.happy it has helped with the planning! 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. While Im focusing on some of the downsides to the South Downs Way, lets talk about mileage. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Join my irregular bi-monthly(ish) newsletter. Its about a five minute walk from restaurants and pubs, and the breakfast was so delicious and healthy! 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. 2. 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 miserablebrown sugar pork chops grilled. Its lightweight and excellent for long-distance hikes. And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. A big section of the South Downs is privately owned farmland which you shouldnt be camping on without permission. We already owned all the gear we needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80. For women you might like to take apee clothwith you (only for summer as youll need some sun to dry it). We really liked this B&B. From camping to youth hostels to cosy pubs to five-star hotels, theres a whole range of accommodation available to suit different price ranges. Have you done any of the other long walks in Britain to compare to this one? 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). Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in South Downs National Park. The majority of the path is a bridleway and so can be used by horse . The South Downs Way is a 100-mile National Trails walking path in the UK. The South Downs is a national park in South East England. Occasionally there is a tap and trough placed for hikers. The smell . Growing up in Hampshire I wasnt far from the South Downs Way. While blisters tend to go numb after ten minutes of walking, the exact opposite occurs on the soles of your feet when walking on a rigid surface. It is, however, absolutely overpriced, as Osprey recently discontinued it. This looks so cool! Hmmm.. you could try just doing a couple of days of the South Downs Way to start with, rather than the entire thing. Duration: 8 to 10 days. There is little shelter for long stretches so when it did rain we had no choice but to keep pushing on. On the South Downs Way, I especially appreciated the hand-drawn maps for every part of the trail (heres an example from my copy of how great they are) Im not sure I would have been able to find my own way without them. How easy would it be to camp on the South Downs Way? 2. Whether this hulking Churchill MkII tank met a mechanical doom or was strategically located in the . Special Places to visit in the South Downs . Well, kind of but not really. Thanks for sharing, Fred :-). / the south downs way is beyond miserable. Thanks for reading :-). There are no natural water sources en route so you are basically limited to filling up in pubs and cafes along the 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. The Osprey Lumina is part of their ultra-lightweight range (it weighs just 770 grams!) Failing that, there is no shortage of trees and bushes to hide behind if you need to go to the toilet. durham ontario police; does maddie know the killer in hush; Tackle the South Downs Way, the trail on which walkers, cyclists, and equestrians can explore the 99-mile (160-kilometer) length of the national park from Winchester to the chalk cliffs of Beachy . Ah, thank you! For a quote you can contact info@southdownsdiscovery.com. 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. The British summer can always be temperamental, so I know we had a fair bit of luck. We found the terrain to be easy underfoot and the sloping climbs manageable with our heavy packs containing all our camping gear and food. The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. The undulating route provides a wonderful trip . Take a look at our guide for recommended walks. But now added to that list are wheelchair users and off-road buggies. Providing a very different experience! The South Downs Way is the most famous trail in the South Downs National Park. The South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . 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. Merrell are king when it comes to long-distance walking, and I decided on the Merrell Accentor shoes for this walk. 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. Youve convinced me! My mistake, West to East is the better way so you finish with Eastbourne. This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. The South Downs Way is a long distance walking trail that runs for 100 miles across the length of the South Downs. 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 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. This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK! For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. This website is the result of tens of thousands of hours of on-the-ground research by myself and my team of expert travellers. Good to know about the hiking trail being hard underfoot too. 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. The first is weather and the second is how busy the trail is going to be. Birds fill woods and gardens with song in spring, while a relay of snowdrops, daffodils, and bluebells brighten verges and woodlands. 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. 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During the summer, bees and butterflies flit over classic flowers such as orchids, scabious, gorse and heather. For the end, you will be catching a train from Eastbourne. These 2 guys walked it while pushing a pram for their dogs! Text settings. 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! Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the pubs are cosy, the locals friendly, and the walking challenging but in a good 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). Unhappy Miserable People Quotes. the south downs way is beyond miserable. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. All about my hike on the INT and how it changed my life. 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. Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience. 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. Stop anywhere in the South Downs and it is hard not to find an inspiring view. 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. The train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking trail being hard underfoot too 2 walked... As UK is especially prone to rain Id also add waterproof trousers this... 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This looks like a fun hike to undertake in the UK an easy pace on walking South.
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