As long as youre prepared for the tough surfaces, youre going to have a great experience. However, I have wild camped and found that if you are considerate and follow the rules, it is tolerated. Theres a decent amount of accommodation around, with villages scattered all along the trail but not on the trail so its fairly easy to set your own milage for each day. what time does marshalls open; allen iverson house gladwyne; tesla front trunk open warning. Personally, I use aMoonCupand find it works well for hiking as you dont need to change it so often. The majority of the path is a bridleway and so can be used by horse . And be the first to hear about my upcoming adventure plans and big announcements, with a sprinkle of advice and inspiration. Occasionally there is a tap and trough placed for hikers. I marked all the water options on the map and in advance planned how much I needed to fill up at eat spot to keep me going to the next. Wow! And you are never far from a pub or road if you need a getaway. Route: The South Downs Way is well signposted and easy to follow. There is a baggage transfer option if you are keen on walking the South Downs Way without having to carry your bag. Or perhaps do a mix of both. South Harting:The White Hart We loved the White Hart! Plan a cycling adventure today with our comprehensive guide. For this reason, the only suitable places we found were small flat spots very near to the trail itself. Alternatively, use toilet paper and take it with you (just store it in a disposable sandwhich bag or a biodegradable nappy/poop bag) then dispose of it when you see a bin. If you really want to experience the diversity of the South Downs national park (or you're just looking for a fun new challenge! For a quote you can contact info@southdownsdiscovery.com. The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. It's the only one of 16 National Trails contained entirely within a national park. Buy a signed copy of my book along with a 'Life is Join 3,500+ others and sign up to my newsletter! Again a life-changing piece of kit. 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! In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. I started doing some research last night and saw Hadrians Wall and the Thames Path both come up. Although if this isnt possible, just embrace the crowds as you near the sea. For the most part though I carried all my own supplies as I was wild camping so not able to stock up. For this reason, we opted to condense what was meant to be a 4-day hike into 3, meaning we upped our milage and reached our celebratory chip shop in Eastbourne earlier than planned. It runs from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex.. Butser Hill is the highest point along the trail at 270 metres. Ah, I love that. But now added to that list are wheelchair users and off-road buggies. Follow the South Downs Trail to Winchester or eastward towards Old Winchester Hill, Petersfield & on to Eastbourne. 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. For the start point, you want to head to Winchester. I couldnt get enough of the scenery on the South Downs Way, and it proved to me that my home country is prettier than Ive always believed. 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. 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. Best views on the South Downs Way. Using the Plan Your Visit tool on the National Trail website you are able to locate accommodation offering stabling along the South Downs Way under the Equestrian Information tab. I use the money to pay for hosting and domain fees to keep the site running. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. Is Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal all its cracked up to be? Ecstasy (noun): an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.From the Greek ecstasis (standing outside oneself). The South Downs is a national park in South East England. 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. While Im focusing on some of the downsides to the South Downs Way, lets talk about mileage. Day 3: Petersfield to Chichester 19 milesCamping at New House Farm (New House Lane, East Dean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0NJ). 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. I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. Open access downland. The hills on the coastal section of the hike can feel a little endless at times lots of up and down. Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Throughout my time on the trail, I would separate from Dave in order to spend some time with my thoughts. Heres one for all my solo women out there: the South Downs Way felt extremely safe to walk alone. Just one point, in the East to West/West to East section you state that East to West is the best way, but you describe the West to East route in the paragraph. Ah, that makes me so happy to hear! Difficulty level: easy to moderate. The South Downs Way passes through the South Downs National Park, a beautiful area. Some people opt to blast through the trail in six days and some take as many as 10. Four nights hiding under a tree. My backpack weighed just 5 kg and contained very little, so as long as you pack light, you wont feel the need to have it transported. The route passes by it on the way out of town. Website Design, Build & Digital Marketing by WRD. If we were staying in a pub, wed simply walk downstairs to eat. Most consider West to East to be the best way and I agree! Good to know about the hiking trail being hard underfoot too. Subscribe to leave a comment. The passage of time has not left me any less angry about, Theres still a hint of life in the Tory party, Harry, Meghan and the rise and fall of the folie deux, The importance of exposing Matt Hancocks WhatsApp messages, Five things weve learned from Hancocks lockdown files. Your email address will not be published. If you want to just do half of the trail, you can catch a train to Amberley and head either East or West from there. 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. 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. For starters Im terrified of spiders and hopelessly squeamish. Breakfasts and dinners were easy everywhere we stayed on the trail offered breakfast, and they were uniformly delicious. As with any other hack, we strongly recommend you bring your mobile phone, allowing you to contact someone for help should it be required. The best day of the walk is undoubtedly the final day the trail over the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head is known as one of the best day walks in the country. We met just three other people that were walking the entire distance, although there were dozens of other people out on day hikes. They provide . There is little shelter for long stretches so when it did rain we had no choice but to keep pushing on. Cancel any time. Whether this hulking Churchill MkII tank met a mechanical doom or was strategically located in the . Excited squeal! I have used the basis of this information to plan my route, ready for when we start to ease COVID-19. Quotes tagged as "miserable" Showing 1-30 of 131. Your blog is full of lots of information which is great. We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. 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. Best known for the South Downs Way, this 160km (100 mile) route from Winchester to Eastbourne offers stunning . Read more Located within an hour of London, this delightful National Trail meanders along the crest of the Downs with far-reaching views over the patchwork fields, woods and villages of the Weald and southwards to . Thanks! I felt like I was walking through a postcard for much of our journey. on the England Coast Path. For more fun details go to the overview page, which tells . The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. The South Downs will leave you spattered to the waist in grey-white mud. South Downs Eco Lodge & Camping. 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. Off-road cyclists regularly complete the trail. I set out on 10-mile walk once a week in the two months leading up to the South Downs Way. Macs Adventure has been organising self-guided walking tours on the South Downs Way since 2010.Being one of the UK's classic National Trails, the South Downs Way proved popular from the outset. We had two challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, but the rest of our mileage felt comfortable. My Kiwi boyfriend was 100% bemused by it. Although the relentlessness of the hills shouldnt be underestimated, Id say this is a good trail for hiking and backpacking beginners. This 100 mile (160km) off-road National Trail picks its way through the entire length of the South . 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. The South Downs Way isn't a particularly high-elevation hike, but that doesn't mean there aren't great views. Most people spend 7 or 8 days walking the whole South Downs Way. Thank you again. 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). Whether youre out for a gentle Sunday hack or prefer to use the bridleways of the South Downs Way to improve your horses fitness, there is something for everyone. Google Maps is a great tool to use to plan your food stops each day. This took a bit of planning its especially important that you check opening times for cafes and pubs in advance. Thats good to hear! To my great surprise, it wasnt my blisters that held me back, but the acute aching in the soles of my feet. 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. "The Palestinians are a miserable people and they deserve to be.". Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. 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 . This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. If you have a period while on your trek then you might want to factor this in with rest days. 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!) Im actually intending to walk the trial with an off-road buggy later this year and will be blogging about my experience. Its always good practice to have a spare 1 litre of water with you than you think you need. Ill amend the mistake. Walking the South Downs Way. This combination is tough underfoot and acts as a meat tenderiser on your soles. Some great tips here for walking the South Downs Way. Start and finish: Winchester and Eastbourne. Although wild camping isnt the easiest on the trail and most people opt for b&bs or campsites, its absolutely doable (more on that below). The South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath that winds its way from historic Winchester to Eastbourne in Sussex. The Birling Gap is one of best known parts of the south coast Credit: Getty. japanese mythology quiz; spanish slang for girl At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. 5. In fact, due to the low-lying land surrounding the hillside, the horizon seems to go on for miles. Ah, thank you! 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. Duration: 8 to 10 days. All about my hike on the INT and how it changed my life. The South Downs Way looks beautiful! Ultra hikers and runners often cover the distance in a 2-day 100mile challenge (hats off to them!). Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. The full trial has about 4,150m of ascent. I also highly, highly recommend taking walking poles with you. Dave's brought a map, a compass, a navigational guide for the South Downs Way, a gas canister, and a spare water pouch for me. Awesome website! National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles [!] And know that you may be asked to move on and will need to do so without complaint. Had some ice creams and lunch along the way and a bag of chips at the end. The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. 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. Thank you , Your email address will not be published. I preferred to the Hadrians Wall Walk and my boyfriend enjoyed it more than the Cotswold Way. 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. where did the dursleys go to escape the letters; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . Takes around two hours to get there :-). If doing a poo, you need to be a decent way off the trail and at least 200m away from any water sources. Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bike. Especially on a hot day. 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 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. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. - Jason Paul. How did you decide what distances to walk each day? Once youve finished your hike, head to the ocean for a swim/paddle and then grab a bag of chips. 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