Thinking of walking the South Downs Way is a 100-mile (160 km) long-distance walking trail that runs along the crest of the South Downs National Park in southern England, from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex.
The path offers stunning views of rolling hills, picturesque villages, and historic landmarks such as the Iron Age hill fort at Chanctonbury Ring and the medieval castle at Arundel. It is also home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including rare butterflies, birds, and wildflowers.
The South Downs Way is suitable for walkers of all levels of ability, with a mixture of easy and more challenging sections. It is well-signposted and passes through a variety of landscapes, including open fields, ancient woodlands, and chalk grasslands.
One of the highlights of the South Downs Way is the sense of history and heritage that surrounds it. The path follows an ancient trade route that has been used for thousands of years, and walkers can discover prehistoric barrows, Roman villas, and Norman churches along the way.
Like the South West Coastal Path, it is important to be prepared for the weather and to plan ahead for accommodation and facilities, especially during peak season.
Further down the page you will find the South Downs Way has been split up in to multiple stages from 4 days to 9 days.
South Downs Way Map
South Downs Way Interactive Map
Transport Links
Buses
A number of bus services that operate within the South Downs include:
- Buses: https://www.traveline.info/ – 0871 200 22 33
- Brighton & Hove: buses.co.uk – 01273 886200
- Compass: compass-travel.co.uk – 01903 690025
- Cuckmere: cuckmerebuses.org.uk –01323 870920
- Metrobus: metrobus.co.uk – 01293 449191
- Stagecoach: http://stagecoachbus.com – 0845 121 0190
Trains Stations
- Winchester
- Petersfield
- Amberley
- Shoreham
- Falmer
- Seaton
Staged Itineraries
4 Day Walking Itinerary with Public Transport
If you are advanced walker who can handle 20 to 30 miles a day and live locally to the South Downs Way the below 4 day intierary might be of interest you! The 4 day stage that have been mapped out using train station as start and endpoint. This itinerary suits someone who has limited spare time and wants to complete trail own long period of time..
Stage | Start Point | Distance | Ascent / Descend (feet) |
Day 1 | Winchester Train Station to Petersfield Train Station | 27.6 | 2709 ft / 2614 ft |
Day 2 | Petersfield Train Station to Amberley Train Station | 26.1 | 3011 ft / 3195 ft |
Day 3 | Amberley Train Station to Falmer Train Station | 29.7 | 3538 ft / 3415 ft |
Day 4 | Falmer Train Station to Eastbourne Train Station | 26 | 3421 ft / 3441 ft |
6 Day Walking Itinerary
Stage | Start Point | Distance | Ascent / Descend (feet) |
Day 1 | Winchester to East Meon | 17 | 2709 ft / 2614 ft |
Day 2 | East Meon to Cocking | 21 | 3011 ft / 3195 ft |
Day 3 | Cocking to Amberley | 13 | 3538 ft / 3415 ft |
Day 4 | Amberley to Pyecombe | 20 | 3421 ft / 3441 ft |
Day 5 | Pyecombe to Alfriston | 22 | |
Day 6 | Alfriston to Eastbourne | 11 |
Stage | Start Point | Distance | Ascent / Descend (feet) |
Day 1 | Winchester to Exton | 12 | |
Day 2 | Exton to South Harting | 17 | |
Day 3 | South Harting to Amberley | 22 | |
Day 4 | Amberley to Upper Beeding | 13 | |
Day 5 | Upper Beeding to Kingston near Lewes | 18 | |
Day 6 | Kingston near Lewes to Alfriston | 11 | |
Day 7 | Alfriston to Eastbourne | 11 |
8 Day Walking Itinerary with Accommodation
For walkers looking for accommodation after each stage and prefer 10 to 17 mile distances this guide breaks the South Downs Way into 8 days worth of hiking. In short the maximum day of hiking would be 16.5 miles and minimum amount of hiking would be 10.7 miles. Also accommodation has been listed after each stage.
Start Point | Distance (miles) | Ascent / Descend (feet) | Accommodation |
Winchester to Exton | 12.3 | 1155 ft | George and Falcon, Wanford |
Exton to Buriton | 14.1 | The Five Bells | |
Buriton to Cocking | 12.5 | The Blue Bells | |
Cocking to Amberley | 13.1 | Black Horse | |
Amberley to Bramber | 13.4 | Old Tollgate Hotel | |
Bramber to Housedean | 16.5 | The Hovel at Housedean | |
Housedean to Alfrinston | 14 | Wingrove House | |
Alfinston to Eastbourne | 10.7 | N/A |
9 Day Walking Itinerary
South Downs Way broken into 9 stages with the most miles you walk on stage being 14 miles and the lowest miles being 6 miles. This should be a manageable walk for most ages.
Start Point | Distance (miles) | Ascent / Descend (feet) |
Winchester to Exton | 12.3 | 1155 ft |
Exton to Buriton | 12.5 | |
Buriton to Cocking | 11.1 | |
Cocking to Amberley | 12.1 | |
Amberley to Upper Breeding | 13.7 | |
Upper Breeding to Pyecombe | 6.6 | |
Pyecombe to Kingston | 11.1 | |
Kingston to Alfinston | 11.6 | |
Alfinston to Eastbourne | 10.9 |