Hike ancient paths and unique landscapes — South Downs Way

The South Downs Way is a long-distance hike through some of England’s most beautiful countryside. Following the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, the trail affords epic views, enchanting prehistory and the opportunity to observe rare flora and fauna. 

Starting from Winchester, the Way heads east through the South Downs National Park to finish at the magnificent white cliffs at Eastbourne. The official route is 100 miles (161 km). However, to make sure each stage finishes somewhere with accommodation options, this Collection totals 104 miles (167 km). 

Hailed as the perfect introduction to long-distance walking, this easily accessible path along the rolling chalk downs of Sussex and Hampshire has just the right amount of challenge and serenity.

Highlights along the Way include: Cheesefoot Head, a prehistoric site with breathtaking views; Beacon Hill, a national nature reserve that supports rare plants and butterflies; Old Winchester Hill Iron Age fort and nature reserve, a picturesque haven of history and wildlife; Harting Down, one of the largest areas of ancient chalk downland in Britain; Beacon Hill, which affords lofty views; Chanctonbury Ring, an ancient hillfort that boasts sublime views and is known for paranormal activity; epic panoramas from Ditchling Beacon; and the mighty Seven Sisters cliffs. 

People have been using the paths and tracks that have been linked to form the South Downs Way for around 8,000 years and the evidence of ancient cultures – dating from before the Bronze Age, through Roman times, and to the present day – is everywhere you look. The Way was officially opened as a national trail in 1972. 

In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into eight stages of between 11-19 miles (18-31 km). Each Tour finishes close to accommodation and somewhere for food and drink, except stage 7 where I've given easy and brief travel instructions. However, places to stay are not always abundant so be sure to plan ahead and book in advance. 

Of course, you can divide the Collection into as many days as you are comfortable with. It’s also possible to walk individual stages. Public transport can be sparse in some areas but the majority of the trail is fairly well-served. 

This part of the UK can get busy. As such, you’re never far away from civilisation. Always bring enough food and water to keep you sustained, though. I recommend sturdy footwear, waterproofs and sunscreen no matter what season.

You can hike this route at any time of year and each season offers a unique perspective on the scenery. The standard way to walk the route is from west to east, as shown here. There’s nothing stopping you from hiking in the other direction, though.

As both Winchester and Eastbourne have mainline railway stations and good bus/coach links, getting to the start and finish of the route by public transport is easy.