Unhappy Miserable People Quotes. You can also ride the route on a horse! 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). The wind was especially relentless on the cliffs, and always coming from the right side which started to drive us a bit mad. It is, however, absolutely overpriced, as Osprey recently discontinued it. We recommend that you wear your usual riding attire, as well as waterproofs if the weather is looking like it could be damp. At the time we were living in London and this made it easy to get to and from the start via public transport. 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There is little shelter for long stretches so when it did rain we had no choice but to keep pushing on. If planning to eat out, there are many South Downs Way pubs to enjoy along the way. 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. 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. 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. It'. Prices of hotels have gone up in recent years so you are looking at an average of 50 a night per person for a comfortable bed (full list of recommended accommodation below) although most will include. This took a bit of planning its especially important that you check opening times for cafes and pubs in advance. . Best wishes. We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. That could, of course, be because cyclists travel faster so were more likely to overtake us. Keep this in mind when planning out your days, as it quickly adds up. Stretching the full width of the South Downs National Park . They provide . 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. I wanted to start with a brief introduction to give this guide context. Birds fill woods and gardens with song in spring, while a relay of snowdrops, daffodils, and bluebells brighten verges and woodlands. Hi Bex, love your website and specific detail on the South Down Way. It also saves you the hassle of needing to return to the start point at the end. You can walk the Hangers Way, a 21 mile path from Alton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park through Selborne, Steep and Petersfield. When is the best time to walk the South Downs Way? 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. where did the dursleys go to escape the letters; the south downs way is beyond miserable; 30 . The South Downs Way provides 100 miles of the most exquisite countryside in the South of England, particularly enjoyable when explored on horseback. Most people opt for walking the South Downs Way at a gentler pace. For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning . If you do choose to wild camp, one of the great advantages is that you dont need such a rigid itinerary. Thanks David.I hope you have a great time. Walkers get trampled by cows every few years or so on the South Downs Way, but the chances of that actually happening are very slim. You can sign up to my newsletter here. 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. heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding 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. There was an-suite bathroom, an exceptionally comfortable bed, and a pub just a few metres away. We loved our hike although it wasnt without its challenges. I remember reading Wild and deciding I was going to walk the PCT, too. Youll need to carry a lightweight hiking shovel (Id suggest eitherthis oneorthis one). Its about a 2 mile hike to reach the campsite from the trail or you can arrange a taxi pickup. This splits the South Downs Way stages across 6 days. Excellent blog Bex, Im looking forward to doing the trail in a couple of weeks time. 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! We stayed at the Ecolodge while walking the South Downs Way. Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. The South Downs way can be done in one go taking between 5 and 7 days or else in sections. 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. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced rider, the South Downs Way awaits you. South Harting:The White Hart We loved the White Hart! Really interesting to read this Lauren. This website is the result of tens of thousands of hours of on-the-ground research by myself and my team of expert travellers. And if there werent? what time does marshalls open; allen iverson house gladwyne; tesla front trunk open warning. But now added to that list are wheelchair users and off-road buggies. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. In particular when you reach the cliffs and have the dramatic coastline ocean views. 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. 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). Hi! Ive since returned to the trail and stayed in accommodation inns, b&bs and hotels along the way. Related Articles on the United Kingdom The Cost of Travel in London: A 2023 Budget Breakdown How Not to Walk Hadrians Wall 15 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh. 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 . Take a Look at our recommended walks. Before choosing to wild camp on the South Downs Way, please do read this Wild Camping UK article so you know the correct etiquette. Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse. The following are the points where the path can be picked up using public transport: Meon valley, South Harting, Cocking, Amberley (train station) Bramber, Devil's Dyke and Ditchling beacon at weekends, Southease (train station) Alfriston and Cuckmere . As for the pub in Amberley was that the George & Dragon, or the Bridge? However, your horse should be comfortable carrying you for the majority of the day. If you want to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee! Most of the time, we would have to walk a mile off the trail to reach our accommodation, but some towns can be as many as three miles away. The views were consistently pretty. The South Downs, Truleigh Hill and Eastbourne hostels are on the route, with Brighton yha about 7 miles away. 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. We recommend spraying your horse with fly spray, especially in the Summer months, to ensure both horse and rider are comfortable and safe throughout. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. Your email address will not be published. Today, Im excited to start writing about my walk by sharing a huge overview of what its like to tackle the South Downs Way. With plenty of accommodation options, dozens of fantastic pubs, and hundreds of spectacular views, Im convinced its one of the best National Trails in the country. 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 would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. This combination is tough underfoot and acts as a meat tenderiser on your soles. As one of the UK's most challenging National Trails the South Downs Way is enjoyed by a huge cross-section of walkers of various abilities. An airline once tore a hole in my Osprey backpack and they had it repaired and back in my hands in under a week all for free!). Its pretty damn hard to lose the trail. It usually takes most people 9 days to walk the entire trail, at an average of 12-15 miles per day. As long as youre prepared for the tough surfaces, youre going to have a great experience. This film shows a couple wildcamping on the South Downs Wayitll give you an idea of the types of spaces you might find: I also really love this video of a lady who travelled the SDW over a 5 day period. The Birling Gap is one of best known parts of the south coast Credit: Getty. Awesome website! I used to spend family holidays at the seaside in the U.K., so it filled me with a certain amount of nostalgia. 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. Did you see anybody doing it while you were walking? the south downs way is beyond miserable. Occasionally there is a tap and trough placed for hikers. My Kiwi boyfriend was 100% bemused by it. We had two challenging walks, where we racked up 20 and 22 miles, but the rest of our mileage felt comfortable. Where the only decision you have to make is which excellent pub to eat your meals in. And same! For the start point, you want to head to Winchester. lionel richie lytham st annes. "Each indulgence in pleasure is an appointment made with misery.". The Hadrians Wall Trailblazer guide had been fantastic to use, so I knew I needed to pick up the same guide for the South Downs Way the latest version was published in 2022. 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. The trail can be really busy during sunny weekends. There is something beautiful about the UKs rugged coastline in winter! If one were coming from the US, how would they get to the trail? Ah, thank you! 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