21. This is a very manageable trail in so much as the route is easy to follow and the terrain is flat and with very little ascent. 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. Kingston near Lewes:Airbnb in Kingston Another wonderful place to stay! 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. heres a quick guide and video if you are interested in horse riding the trail. 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. Typically the ideal route length is 4 days averaging around 25 miles per day. 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 South Downs stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex, with the South Downs Way covering the 101 miles . I reached across my camp-bed to feel the temperature of the baby To celebrate the release of my debut book Three Stripes South, I'm running a Christmas special! Your email address will not be published. Ah, that makes me so happy to hear! It also saves you the hassle of needing to return to the start point at the end. Take a Look at our recommended walks. We already owned all the gear we needed.Travel 53Accommodation 0Food 27TOTAL 80. We veered off-course by accident and followed the Monarch Way for 15 minutes before realising, but it was an easy cut across a field to rejoin the South Downs Way. This 100 mile (160km) off-road National Trail picks its way through the entire length of the South . The South Downs Way is one of 16 National Trails in the UK. From camping to youth hostels to cosy pubs to five-star hotels, theres a whole range of accommodation available to suit different price ranges. The views were consistently pretty. We hop on the train to Eastbourne, and examine the hiking route we'll be taking. Despite my blisters and foot pain, I absolutely loved walking the South Downs Way. We used a small discrete 2 man tent without issue. I hated it. 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. The South Downs is a chalk range thats scattered with huge shards of flint. :D Ive walked short sections of the SDW before, and its such an underrated part of the world as is the South Coast in general. We wild camped the whole way, bringing all the food with us bought in advance. arduino credit card skimmer. The South Downs Way Is Beyond Miserable FOR SALE!. My shoes! the south downs way is beyond miserable kahoot singular and plural nouns the south downs way is beyond miserable By: / best books on amillennialism / finishing touch battery change The South Downs way is beyond miserable. There are no facilities. I started doing some research last night and saw Hadrians Wall and the Thames Path both come up. Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in South Downs National Park. Far more importantly, we fundamentally disagree over his handling of the pandemic. Breaky Bottom Vineyard, Lewes. There are signposts every few hundred metres and whenever you come across a fork or turning in the path. The owner really helped to make our visit perfect. Only 1 a week after your trial. 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. Its said to be one of the easiest of the National Trails, but it was its reputation as one of the prettiest that had me sold. Itll be blustery, cold and windy over winter so youll want to wrap up warm. If you really want to experience the diversity of the South Downs national park (or you're just looking for a fun new challenge! The recommended time to walk the South Downs Way is 8 days, with an average of 12.5miles/20km a day. A big section of the South Downs is privately owned farmland which you shouldnt be camping on without permission. 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. National Trails are long-distance footpaths, with distances ranging from 79 miles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way to a whopping 2,795 miles[!] Or perhaps do a mix of both. Fun fact: several years ago, I attempted to walk the length of Hadrians Walland ended up having to drop out on day three. For those of you who want to make your walk a little easier, there is a bag transportation service you can utilise. Thats why I recommend investing in hiking poles for you walk, even if you hate them. 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. what time does marshalls open; allen iverson house gladwyne; tesla front trunk open warning. on the England Coast Path. Not all rides need to be on the path, why not take a leisurely tour between scenic villages on your road or regular bike. February - April: AustraliaMay: South KoreaJune: The U.K.July: IrelandAugust: Mauritius, Rodrigues. If a campsite is a 2-mile walk from the trail this means you are doing a 4-mile round trip to get there which can be frustrating. 98 miles (158 km) The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway. The Cicerone South Downs Way guide book is my favourite, although the Trailblazer one is also good. at Ye Olde Smugglers Inne for something nice but more basic (95 for 2 dinner available for an additional 20). Looks great! Would you have a recommendation for a beginners long walk trail in the UK or Europe? Your entire South Downs journey will surely be more than 100 miles! - Jason Paul. 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. They provide . If you are attempting the South Downs Way in stages, be sure to remind whoever is collecting you at the next stop to bring water for your horse before you load them. Originally from the U.K., I've now spent over a decade travelling the world with my Kiwi partner. 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. All the hotels and b&bs come with a personal recommendation they are clean, comfortable and have great customer service. 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. Throughout my time on the trail, I would separate from Dave in order to spend some time with my thoughts. Over the years, Ive walked many sections of the trail multiple times over the (especially my favourite stretch the Seven Sisters walk which you can do as a lovely day hike). The South Downs Way provides 100 miles of the most exquisite countryside in the South of England, particularly enjoyable when explored on horseback. I think Id be adding an extra day to my trip if I was going to do it. Dont forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures. We settled on eight days for our walk, although by the end of the adventure, we both agreed that one extra day would have been appreciated. 8-9 days is a good estimate to walk the entire route at an easy pace. Most people spend 7 or 8 days walking the whole South Downs Way. Miserable goes way beyond sad it means absolutely wretched. There are 2 approaches: prepare the food yourself (cheaper) or eat out along the way (better suited if staying in accommodation rather than camping). 5 - It's a walkers' paradise! Very useful article and it left me smiling at your very great photos. Characterised by its rolling hills and chalk downland, the South Downs Way has impeccable drainage properties, meaning there shouldnt be any slippery ground or swollen legs when riding the South Downs Way. A pub meal will cost around 20 for a main and drink and a light lunch (sandwich and snacks) 10.80-90 a day is about right for a more comfortable experience. I loved Winchester and wished Id had more time to explore its beautiful buildings. Rod Liddle is associate editor of The Spectator. Camping is available within the park and there is basic barn accommodation, too, from 14 for a car and two people. :D. The yha hostels on the SDW are excellent. Fantastic breakfast with homemade sourdough bread (the owner runs classes on how to make sourdough bread, so you know its going to be great!). There are other accommodation options in Lewes from B&B to Airbnb rooms or Id recommend wild camping this night***. May 4, 2021. Thank you again. the south downs way is beyond miserable. Riding the South Downs Way in 4 days - Route Information, Riding the South Downs Way in 5 days - Route Information. 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. 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. Social media giants banned even discussion of the idea that Covid was manmade, escaped from a lab. Trailblazer guides are so good for walking in the U.K.! This would require you to cover around 12-15 miles a day. If you have any questions, please do use the comments box below. Mai 2022 . The South Downs Way is a public bridleway, open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Thanks David.I hope you have a great time. And if there werent? What an accomplishment! 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. Sounds so incredible. TQ032123) which is a wild camping space right on the trail. Thanks! We offer 4 itineraries covering the whole route. We stayed at the Ecolodge while walking the South Downs Way. For something fancier, I can suggest heading to Skylar which is a beautiful restaurant. Hi! Can you wild camp on the South Downs Way? I also invested in a new backpack for this walk and I freaking love it! While the official mileage for the walk is 100 miles, we ended up tackling 121 miles in total. I also enjoyed spending a night in Eastbourne after finishing my walk. This was probably our favourite place we stayed on the entire walk. It finishes 100 miles later in Eastbourne, East Sussex. 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). The South Downs Way is only about an hour from London and is easily accessible by public transport. With Bivvy bags you would definitely find wild camping South Downs easier (read more about in this Bivvy Bag guide). The rooms are comfortable, if a little dated, and the large TVs were great for watching England beat New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup sucks to be Dave. 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. Take any sanitary products away with you to dispose of when you next pass a bin. The majority of the path is a bridleway and so can be used by horse . This is Aalto. Again a life-changing piece of kit. Looks like you had an amazing time and such an achievement! In 2013, the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) spent 3m on renovating this 14th . Subpar gear but superior English weather. And lets face it: heading downstairs to have dinner is exactly whats needed after a long day of walking. This took a bit of planning its especially important that you check opening times for cafes and pubs in advance. March 3, 2022 by Leslie Gilmour. 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