South Downs Way – 10 nights / 9 days walking

About this trail

Your South Downs Way Whole Trail walk takes you through a variety of southern England’s countryside scenes and historic villages. Along the way you will encounter prehistoric remains, Iron Age forts and burial chambers – and even Roman ruins.

The South Downs is the UK’s newest national park. You will start your holiday from Winchester, seat of King Alfred and former capital of England, before embarking on undulating and occasionally steep ascents and descents of chalk downland and trails through woods and fields. Along the way you will take in numerous panoramic views at the top of the various “beacon” hills along the route, many of which are home to enchanting flowers including wild orchids. On the route you will catch glimpses of the English Channel until you reach the sometimes windy coastline above the Seven Sisters, the dramatic chalk cliffs from where you will look out onto Beachy Head lighthouse before descending into Eastbourne for the end of your journey.

Terrain and navigation

The South Downs Way is well marked and accessible although at some points may be muddy after heavy rain. On most days you will encounter short and occasionally steep ascents. The highest point on the South Downs Way is Butser Hill (270 metres) – one of the route’s many chalk grasslands and which is marked by a radio tower at its summit.

Route elevation

Highest point: 245 metres
Total ascent / descent: 3891 metres / 3860 metres

Included as standard in the price

The price quoted is per person and is based on two people sharing a room. It includes:

• Carefully selected, en-suite bed and breakfast accommodation*
• Daily luggage transfers to your accommodation**
• All the necessary maps and guidebooks for your walk
• Route notes and maps detailing how to find your B&B at the end of each day
• The cost of any transfers that are required from the route to your accommodation if we are unable to book you into a B&B within easy walking distance of the trail
• Information of any special facilities offered by your hosts (eg hot tub or licensed bar)
• Suggestions and contact details for places for an evening meal each day
• Telephone support if and when required
• Advice from our team on travel to and from the start and end of the hike.

*En-suite is always chosen unless all options are booked out, in which case private bathrooms are sought. Customers are always consulted about non-en-suite options before details are finalised.

**Standard package includes one piece of baggage per walker, up to a maximum weight of 20kg. Additional bags can be transferred but incur an additional cost. Please enquire if you need this service.

Packed lunches and evening meals

The cost of these is not included in our standard package. All the accommodation providers we use offer packed lunches to keep you well fed during your walk. Payment is made directly to your hosts. Similarly, if you have an evening meal either at your accommodation or another local establishment, you pay them directly for it.

Optional extras that can be provided by Discovery Travel

Discovery Travel specialises in providing completely tailor-made services to our clients. This means that if our standard published itineraries do not suit our customers’ needs, we are always happy to discuss ways in which we can adjust accommodation, shorten or lengthen itineraries and distances to make for the perfect trip.

We also offer the following services to make for a seamless holiday:

• Transport to and from the start and finish of a trail
• Airport transfers
• Minibus and driver service, in particular for large groups where multiple accommodations are required each night and transfers are frequently required at the end of the day’s walk

If you are interested in any of the above or have any particular requirements, please do contact us to discuss your needs.

Make more of your break

If you would like to pause during your walk and explore one of the overnight locations for longer, you are free to select and add extra days to your holiday at any of your overnight stops. Prices for extra days are quoted above and will be added to the total cost of the holiday. If the itineraries on our website do not quite meet your requirements please do get in touch to arrange a bespoke trip.

Below are some suggestions for good places to spend an extra day or so.

Winchester

Winchester is home to one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe, well worth taking time to explore. The cathedral’s Kings & Scribes exhibition traces the story of Winchester Cathedral from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the present day. Also on show is the magnificent 12th-century Winchester Bible. For a moment of quiet contemplation visit the crypt (left) which houses one of the many self-images created by sculptor Anthony Gormley – known as “Gorms” for short.  Winchester is a bustling market and university town there are plenty of place to eat and other locations to explore including numerous historic buildings – one of them housing what is described as King Arthur’s round table.

Lewes

Lewes is vibrant and bustling market town with a wealth of independent shops and places to eat. Famous for its Firework Display and parade which comes with its own safety warning a visit to Lewes offers plenty of charm and history. Among the historic sites are the house belonging to Anne of Cleves, Henry the Eighth’s fourth wife (and one who survived him!) and Bull House, which between 1768 and 1774 was the home of revolutionary writer Tom Paine, the intellectual inspiration behind the American revolution. A bus ride away is Charleston Farmhouse, home to the Bloomsbury group which included some of the twentieth century’s most pioneering artists, writers and thinkers. Equally you can discover more about the Bloomsbury group by staying in Lewes and visiting the recently opened Charleston Lewes exhibition space.

When to go

The weather in the south of the UK like anywhere in the country can be variable and walkers should be prepared for sunshine and rain all year round.  July and August tend to be the warmest months, although September can also offer some hot days and is quieter as most people with children have finished their holidays. May and June are popular months with walkers and the long days either side of the summer solstice offer extended walking time. March, April and October are good months to walk in and temperatures on these days can reach above 20 degrees C. However cooler days are more common and there is a greater likelihood of showers or prolonged rain during these three months.

Getting to and from the trail

By Air: Southampton Airport is closest to the start of the walk in Winchester while London Heathrow and Gatwick offer options accessible at both the start and end of the walk.

By Rail: Winchester and Eastbourne are served by railway stations to London and other locations in the UK. For train times visit National Rail Enquiries.

Got a question about travel? Discovery Travel is happy to help with travel advice both at the start and finish of your walking holiday. For more details please contact Discovery Travel.