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UK National Trails Walking the South Downs Way

Walking the South Downs Way

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

Map of the South Downs Way
Map of the South Downs Way

South Downs Way Interactive Map

 

Transport Links

Buses

A number of bus services that operate within the South Downs include:

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..

StageStart PointDistanceAscent / Descend (feet)
Day 1Winchester Train Station to Petersfield Train Station27.62709 ft / 2614 ft
Day 2Petersfield Train Station to Amberley Train Station 26.13011 ft / 3195 ft
Day 3Amberley Train Station to Falmer Train Station 29.73538 ft / 3415 ft
Day 4Falmer Train Station to Eastbourne Train Station263421 ft / 3441 ft
South Downs Way – 4 Day Walk Itinerary

6 Day Walking Itinerary

StageStart PointDistanceAscent / Descend (feet)
Day 1Winchester to East Meon172709 ft / 2614 ft
Day 2East Meon to Cocking213011 ft / 3195 ft
Day 3Cocking to Amberley 133538 ft / 3415 ft
Day 4Amberley to Pyecombe203421 ft / 3441 ft
Day 5Pyecombe to Alfriston22
Day 6Alfriston to Eastbourne11
South Downs Way – 6 Day Walk Itinerary
StageStart PointDistanceAscent / Descend (feet)
Day 1Winchester to Exton12
Day 2Exton to South Harting17
Day 3South Harting to Amberley 22
Day 4Amberley to Upper Beeding13
Day 5Upper Beeding to Kingston near Lewes18
Day 6Kingston near Lewes to Alfriston 11
Day 7Alfriston to Eastbourne11
South Downs Way – 7 Day Walk Itinerary

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 12.31155 ftGeorge and Falcon, Wanford
Exton to Buriton 14.1The Five Bells
Buriton to Cocking 12.5The Blue Bells
Cocking to Amberley 13.1Black Horse
Amberley to Bramber 13.4Old Tollgate Hotel
Bramber to Housedean 16.5The Hovel at Housedean
Housedean to Alfrinston 14Wingrove House
Alfinston to Eastbourne 10.7N/A
South Downs Way – 8 Day Walk Itinerary

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 Exton12.31155 ft
Exton to Buriton12.5
Buriton to Cocking11.1
Cocking to Amberley 12.1
Amberley to Upper Breeding13.7
Upper Breeding to Pyecombe 6.6
Pyecombe to Kingston 11.1
Kingston to Alfinston 11.6
Alfinston to Eastbourne 10.9
South Downs Way – 9 Day Walk Itinerary

Maps Required for South Downs Way

South Downs Way Related Books

South Downs Way Organised Holidays.

TitleCategoriesTags
Upper Beeding via Annington Hill and SteyningUpper Beeding, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:28:06
Steyning to Amberley via South Downs WayAmberley, Steyning, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:26:04
Bramber via South Downs Way and Monarchs WaySteyning, West Sussex, , 2023-04-25 08:26:02
Harting Down to Amberley via South Downs WaySouth Harting, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:25:44
Elsted to Graffham via South Downs WayLavant, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:15:39
Harting Down To AmberleyAmberley, Lavant, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:15:36
Cocking to Sustainability Camp via South Downs WayLavant, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:15:26
Hassocks to Steyning via South Downs WayKeymer, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:14:58
Botolphs to Amberley via South Downs WayAmberley, Horsham, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:14:34
Amberley to Washington via South Downs WayAmberley, Horsham, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:14:30
Hassocks to Rodmell via South Downs WayHassocks, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:13:27
Ditchling Beacon To Black Cap Hill, Downs WalkHassocks, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:13:27
Bignor to West Harting via South Downs WayElsted, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:11:55
Harting Down to Winchester via South Downs WayEast Harting, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:11:41
Cocking to Littleton Farm via South Downs WayCocking, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:10:18
Cocking via South Downs WayCocking, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:10:18
Two Churches Walk, Cocking-Heyshott West SussexCocking, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:10:13
Amberley To Upper Beeding via South Downs WayAmberley, Arundel, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:07:55
Arundel Circular via South Downs WayArundel, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:07:55
Amberley To Cocking via South Downs WayAmberley, Arundel, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:07:45
Amberley via Bignor HillAmberley, Arundel, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:07:38
Lewes to Albourne via South Downs WayAlbourne, West Sussex, 2023-04-25 08:07:27
Devils Dyke Westwards – Hill Top WalkGloucestershire, Woodmancote, 2023-04-24 15:29:52
Amberley to Petersfield via South Downs WayAmberley, Gloucestershire, West Sussex, 2023-04-24 15:16:48
Amberley to Shoreham via South Downs WayAmberley, Gloucestershire, West Sussex, 2023-04-24 15:16:46
Buriton to Exon via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Whitehill, 2023-04-24 11:24:26
Buriton to Amberley via South Downs WayAmberley, East Sussex, West Sussex, Whitehill, 2023-04-24 11:24:21
Southease via South Downs Way and River OuseEast Sussex, Tarring Neville, 2023-04-24 11:23:55
Alfriston To Housedean Farm via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Seaford, 2023-04-24 11:23:20
Alfriston to Housedean Farm via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Lewes, 2023-04-24 11:22:22
Lewes RingEast Sussex, Lewes, 2023-04-24 11:22:18
Seven Sisters Loop From Jevington 28kmEast Sussex, Jevington, 2023-04-24 11:21:56
Lewes To West Hove Via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Hove, 2023-04-24 11:21:32
Housedean Farm To Hassocks via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Falmer, 2023-04-24 11:20:40
Eastbourne to Alfriston via South Downs WayEast Sussex, Eastbourne, 2023-04-24 11:19:42
Ditchling – DevilsBrighton, East Sussex, 2023-04-24 11:18:28
Eastbourne Train Station to Alfriston via South Down Way Coast pathAlfriston, East Sussex, 2023-04-24 11:17:41
Alfriston via Beach via Cuckmere HavenAlfriston, East Sussex, , 2023-04-24 11:17:40
South Downs Way – Alfriston to EastbourneEngland, 2019-08-08 07:43:38
Kingston near Lewes to Alfriston via South Downs WayEngland, 2019-08-08 07:42:54
South Downs Way – Pyecombe to KingstonEngland, 2019-08-08 07:41:31
South Downs Way – Upper Beeding to PyecombeEngland, 2019-08-08 07:40:16
South Downs Way – Amberley to Upper BeedingAmberley, England, West Sussex, 2019-08-08 06:58:49
South Downs Way – Cocking to Amberley – 12.1 Mile WalkAmberley, Cocking, England, West Sussex, 2019-08-08 06:56:11
South Downs Way – Buriton to Cocking – 11.1 Mile WalkBuriton, Cocking, England, Hampshire, West Sussex, 2019-08-08 06:53:53
Exton to Buriton via South Down Way – 12.5 Mile WalkBuriton, England, West Meon, 2019-08-08 06:52:10
Winchester to Exton via South Downs Way – 12.3 Mile WalkEngland, Hampshire, West Meon, Winchester, 2019-08-08 06:51:59