The South Downs Way National Trail
| Route Overview | Britain's Best Bridleway The 161 kilometre long South Downs Way follows the old routes and droveways of ancient man along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs. 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 undulating route provides a wonderful trip for long distance riders as well as walkers. It also provides interesting day trips and short breaks | ||||||
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| Distance - Full | 100 miles / 160 km | ||||||
| No. of Days to Complete Route | 9 | ||||||
| Start Point | Winchester | ||||||
| End Point | Eastbourne | ||||||
| Type of Route: | Linear | Level of walk: | Moderate | ||||
| Route Features |
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| Accessibility / Facilities |
Begins near bus route Begins near parking Begins near picnic area Begins near pub Begins near toilets Begins near train station Ends near bus route Ends near parking Ends near picnic area Ends near pub Ends near toilets Ends near train station Picnic area enroute Pub enroute Suitable for Dogs Toilets enroute |
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| Terrain |
Bridle Ways Fields Muddy Tracks PROW (Public Right Of Way) Public Byways Roads |
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| Route Description | The South Downs Way is characterised by rolling chalk grassland, deep dry valleys, and extensive views over the Weald to the north and the sea to the south. The western end of the South Downs Way is at the historic and well preserved city of Winchester, capital of King Alfred the Great. In Hampshire the landscape is a rolling countryside of mixed farming and small woodlands. The Meon Valley is particularly attractive, with the superb Iron Age hill fort of Old Winchester Hill and the Meon Valley Villages both well worth a visit. Further west the South Downs Way follows the scarp across West Sussex, often wooded closer to the Hampshire border but more and more open - classic Downland - as East Sussex nears. The Downs are cut by the major river valleys of the Ouse, Adur, and Arun and there are numerous attractive villages along the foot of the downland slope. This is a landscape full of history, and the Trail follows a route that has been used since the end of the Ice Age. At the far eastern end of the route the footpath follows the spectacular chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, while the Bridleway takes a route above the ancient chalk figure of the Long Man of Willmington. The bridleway offers views out across the Weald and Pevensey Levels, but both routes rejoice in the vast open space of classic Sussex Downland. | ||||||
| Terrain Details | The South Downs Way provides one of the best long distance trails in the country, but it can be a thirsty walk in summer and cold and wet when the winter gales blow in from the Channel. Come prepared for some of the best lowland walking in England. The path mostly runs on farm tracks and significant mud is rare. Unless the weather is very good proper boots are always advisable for walkers, however. Break them in well before starting! Cyclists should be careful of loose stones and approaching road junctions – wear a cycling helmet. All users should carry plenty of water as it can be difficult to get refill a water bottle during the day. Horse riders might find a collapsible bucket (so they can water their horses from a tap as well as a trough) helpful. The South Downs Way doesn’t have any stiles, at least on the bridleway route, but it is not engineered as a fully accessible route. Parts are steep and much of it is also used by farm vehicles. If you are not frail, then you could consider using a “Tramper” type cross country disabled buggy. Contact the Trail officer for more information and contact details for disabled people who’ve already enjoyed completing the Trail. | ||||||
| Additional Info / Warnings | On a few short sections of the route the trail is on minor roads, but these tend to be quiet. The Trail is shared by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Cyclists please note; don't come up quietly on a horse from behind, especially at speed. Give a friendly shout so the horse and rider know you're coming. We want everyone to enjoy their time on the Trail, and you don't want to startle the horses! Thanks. The Trail has an official guide with a route description and short map extracts and a little background detail. This should be supplemented by the Accommodation Guide. Every year an organised annual walk along the full length of the South Downs Way National Trail is organised by West Sussex County Counci. The walk takes place over nine consecutive days, covering a comfortable average of about 12 miles each day. Each year anything from 150 to 250 people take part with most of those 'first-timers' and over half being ladies. For more information, please visit http://www.southdownsway.com/ | ||||||
| Access Info / Public Transport | The South Downs Way is easily accessible from most parts of the South East. It is well served by motorways, the M3 for Hampshire and the M/A23 for the Sussex end. There are also numerous bus routes that cross the Downs and the trail is connected to London by a number of main line railway stations. | ||||||
| Services / Amenities | You can find accommodation information on the website below under "Planning a trip". However if you would like a printed version of this information, an Accommodation Guide is available price £4.50 from Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, Horndean Hants PO8 0QE. Please make cheques payable to Hampshire County Council. This accommodation guide is free to overseas addresses. | ||||||
| Baggage Transfer Services | Footprints of Sussex offer a baggage transfer service and detail can be found at www.footprintsofsussex.co.uk See the Services page of the National Trails website for details of companies offering package deals of transport, accommodation, and if desired luggage movement. | ||||||
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| TSE Accommodation Search | |||||||
| More info | The South Downs Way National Trail | ||||||
