South Downs Way

The South Downs Way starts at the ancient and historic city of Winchester and follows the northern crest of the chalk escarpment of the South Downs, all the way to the sea. Stretching for 100 miles through England’s newest National Park, to the seaside town of Eastbourne, this walking holiday offers a fabulous taste of this lovely rural area, with spectacular views, expansive fields, beautiful woodlands, picturesque villages and a good helping of history.

The South Downs Way is well marked and easy to follow. It is used by horse riders and cyclists, so is very accessible, with almost no stiles. It links many ancient and historic tracks, used by travellers and traders since the Stone Age. It is one of the easier National Trails, with few steep sections, apart from when the route drops down into river valleys, and for the descent to overnight stays in the pretty towns, villages and farms along the way.

Although seldom exceeding 250m (820ft), this walk gives a real sense of space and a feeling of being ‘on top of the world’. You’ll pass Iron Age hill forts, the spectacular chalk formations of The Devil’s Dyke and the Seven Sisters, as well as rolling countryside dotted with fields of grazing sheep, corn, and wildflowers. This journey offers a magnificent sense of solitude, centuries of history, and a cross-section of one of the most beautiful parts of southern England, with sweeping panoramas from Winchester’s historic streets to Eastbourne’s dramatic coastline.

Our Holidays

We have a choice of 4 holidays on the South Downs Way. You can walk the whole route in anything from 6 to 9 days. If you don’t have time to do the whole route, we have separate holidays covering the eastern and western sections. Finally, there’s our South Downs Short Break, a round walk over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, between Eastbourne and Alfriston.

Please bear in mind that the distances each day are trail distances only. They do not take into account walking to your accommodation. On some days the accommodation might be on or close to the trail but on other days you may need to walk one or two miles to get to your overnight stop.