South Downs Way

Winchester to Buriton

Before leaving Winchester make sure you explore this ancient city with its links to the Romans, King Arthur, King Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror, Winston Churchill and Keats, to name but a few. The route starts near the Cathedral and on entering the rolling Hampshire countryside, it passes through fields, along quiet lanes, following the lower slopes of the downs, and then up to Beacon Hill, which gives you the first real taste of the down land scenery you’ll be walking through for the next few days. A steep descent takes you into the village of Exton where most routes spend the first night.

Leaving Exton along the banks of the River Meon, you eventually come to the top of Old Winchester Hill, with its Iron Age settlement. The route descends to the valley, and then climbs up through fields to Coombe Cross. There is a path off here to East Meon, otherwise the route continues on up to Salt Hill, before descending to the foot of Butser Hill then into Queen Elizabeth Country Park. A walk through the woods eventually brings you down to the pretty village of Buriton.

Buriton to Amberley

After walking back up onto the trail, you follow the high crest of the South Downs, along tracks and lanes, and through woods. The Way continues above South Harting, to Beacon Hill then through more woods to Cocking Down, where the views open out again. From here most routes have an overnight stop in Cocking. More fields and woods are interspersed with fine views, before descending again to cross another road. The wide chalky track then winds its way between large arable fields. You are rewarded with more spectacular views as you follow the track over Bignor Hill, where you can see the River Arun snaking through the water courses of Amberley Wild Brooks. The trail finally leads down into the Arun valley, and passes close to the picturesque village of Amberley, where most routes will spend the night.

Amberley to Kingston

From this point onwards there are a lot less trees along the trail. The track offers an easy walk through vast arable fields and meadows with grazing sheep and cows. It passes above the town of Storrington before descending to cross the footbridge over the A24 near Washington. Back up onto the escarpment, it passes the famous Chanctonbury Ring, and then continues above Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding, crossing the River Adur. Climbing out of the valley, it follows the escarpment, before descending beside the Devil’s Dyke, Britain’s largest chalk coombe, then on to the village of Pycombe. After crossing a footbridge, you pass Jack and Jill – two landmark windmills.

Walking through the now familiar landscape of grazed downland and arable fields, you ascend to the summit of Ditchling Beacon, the highest point in Sussex, offering far reaching views. Continuing along the escarpment, the trail takes a sharp right turn at Blackcap and heads south. Ascending again, you join Juggs Road, a historic trading track. If you are staying at Kingston for the night you can continue on this track down into the village.

Kingston to Alfriston

Continuing along the trail, over grazing and arable land, you eventually come to the historic village of Southease, with its unusual church. Here you cross the River Ouse, and may get your first view and smell of the sea. The Way proceeds for a few miles over grassland, and, as the Downs curve towards the coast, there is a sense that the end of your journey is near. From Firle Beacon there are fine views of Seaford Head and the start of the Seven Sisters, spectacular chalk cliffs where the South Downs meet the sea. There are more panoramic views from Bostal Hill, then, as Alfriston comes into view, so also does the Cuckmere Haven estuary. The Way meets an ancient shepherd’s track, which leads into the village of Alfriston and its long association with smugglers.

Alfriston to Eastbourne

The final section of the route is most diverse and spectacular. Leaving Alfriston, you walk along the banks of the meandering Cuckmere River to Litlington. From here you go back up onto the Downs, and then walk through Friston Forest. Passing through the tiny hamlet of West Dean, you eventually emerge from the woods at Exceat. The trail descends to the marshes alongside the Cuckmere River, through the Seven Sisters Country Park towards Cuckmere Haven.

Finally reaching the sea, the South Downs Way takes a rollercoaster route over the spectacular high chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters. It descends briefly to Birling Gap, before rising again, passing the old Belle Tout lighthouse. The last ascent of the Way leads on to Beachy Head, a dramatic chalk cliff with the red and white Beachy Head lighthouse below. Finally you descend into Eastbourne, with views of its famous Victorian pier and Martello Tower. The Way ends on the outskirts of Eastbourne, but most people will continue into the town for a well-earned rest and celebration.

Moderate

This is another relatively easy National Trail which is clearly way-marked along the length of the path. A good route for a first long-distance walk.

Terrain: Varied - but these are gentle downs and heathlands, not mountains! The path spends most of its time on the south downs, undulating over farmland and through woodlands.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths, tracks, and green lanes throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather.

How much up & down? Once up on the Downs, the trail is rolling rather than hilly. It does drop down to the valley floor to visit villages and cross river valleys, followed by climbs of up to 700 ft (200m).  There are some short steeper sections, but they don’t go on forever. The highest point is 886 ft (270m).

Signposting: Generally good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the South Downs Way:

Giffard House, Winchester
An elegant, beautifully restored Victorian house with luxurious rooms and plenty of character. Located in a quiet part of Winchester, only a short walk from the city centre, you are assured of a warm welcome and a comfortable stay.

Corhampton Lane Farm, Exton
This traditional farmhouse near the village of Exton has large, beautifully decorated rooms and is full of character and charm. Suzanne is a delightful host and you are assured of a friendly welcome and a delicious breakfast from her lovely farmhouse kitchen.

General travel information for the South Downs Way will be included in your holiday pack, including train and bus timetables where available. Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps. To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

Getting There:

By Air: The nearest International Airports to the trail are Southampton (European and domestic flights only) and London Heathrow. There is a railway station at Southampton Airport (Southampton Airport Parkway) with fast and frequent trains to Winchester (journey time approx. 10 mins). Trains also run frequently between London Heathrow (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and Winchester changing at Hayes & Harlington and Reading (journey time approx. 2 hours).

By Public Transport: There is a railway station at Winchester (WIN). Winchester Railway Station is located on the South Western Main Line with frequent trains to and from London Waterloo station (journey time approx. 1 hour). There is a taxi rank at the station if needed.

By Road: Winchester is located not far off the M3 motorway at Junctions 9 and 10. If travelling from the North, follow the M6 motorway onto the M40. Leave the M40 at Junction 9 (Bicester/Oxford) and follow the A34 towards Oxford and Newbury. Continue on the A34 until you reach Winchester.

Getting Away:

By Public Transport: There is a railway station at Eastbourne (EBN). Eastbourne Railway Station is located on the East Coastway Line with frequent trains to and from London Victoria station (journey time approx. 1 and a half hours).

Winchester

Winchester is one of England’s most historic cities and well worth an extra day. It was the ancient capital of Wessex, and seat of King Alfred the Great. Winchester Cathedral has been a place of worship for 900 years and houses, amongst other treasures, Jane Austen’s tomb. King Arthur’s famous Round Table is worth a visit, in the Great Hall, and the City Museum has many fascinating displays and artefacts. There are many places to eat and drink, too.

Amberley

Nestling at the foot of the Downs, Amberley, with its many thatched cottages, is a lovely place for a day off. Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre covers a 36 acre site, and is dedicated to the industrial heritage of the area. There is a narrow gauge steam train and vintage bus service to take you around the site, as well as many traditional craftsmen, such as stained glass makers and wheelwrights. Amberley also has a castle, which can be viewed form the outside, and a train station with regular services to the nearby historic town of Arundel.

Lewes

The historic market town of Lewes has its impressive castle sitting above the town. There are also a number of other historic buildings, including the remains of Lewes priory, as well as shops, inns and restaurants.

Kingston, just two miles away, is a beautiful village with many historic buildings in its centre, including the Norman St Pancras church, and the 14th Century pub The Juggs.

Eastbourne

This Victorian seaside town boasts the title of the sunniest place in Britain, thanks to its sheltered position. If the weather is warm, there are some great beaches to laze on, giving those feet a well-earned rest and even perhaps dipping them in the sea. There’s also the elegant seafront and famous pier to stroll along, as well as the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum to explore.
There are regular concerts at the Eastbourne Bandstand, and a wide variety of galleries and studios to explore, as well as 5 theatres. There’s a huge range of restaurants and cafes to choose from, offering you a change if you’ve had one too many pub meals. And if you’re in need of some retail therapy after your walk there’s a wide selection of shops to choose from, from high street names to quaint Victorian shopping streets and exclusive boutiques.