The South Downs Way Hike

The South Downs Way runs 100 miles along the chalk ridge from Winchester to Eastbourne — the most-walked National Trail in southern England and the one most likely to be the first that London-based walkers attempt. It opened in 1972 and follows old drove roads, parish boundaries and ridge paths along the South Downs escarpment.

What to expect

Six to nine days at a steady pace. Daily distances are 12-15 miles with cumulative ascent around 4,200m — honest hill walking but well within the reach of fit walkers. The Seven Sisters cliffs at the eastern end, Devil’s Dyke near Brighton, and the high ground over Bignor Hill are the headline sections. The trail crosses several rivers (the Adur, the Cuckmere, the Ouse) at the few places they cut through the chalk ridge.

Practical notes

Walkable year-round — chalk drains well and the southern coast catches less rain than upland trails. Public transport is exceptional — trains link Winchester, Petersfield, Amberley, Hassocks, Lewes, Berwick, Eastbourne, and several villages in between. This makes the South Downs Way the easiest National Trail to walk in weekend sections. Open access on most of the route means wild camping is technically not permitted, but the Friends of the South Downs maintains a list of farm campsites along the trail.