South Downs Way National Trail

E Sussex, Hampshire, W Sussex

This National Trail follows the northern escarpment of the chalk Downs from where there are extensive views across the Weald to the north and over the rounded hills and dry valleys to the sea in the south. There are several steep ascents when crossing the valleys of the Rivers Cuckmere at Alfriston, Ouse at Southease, Adur south of Bramber and Arun at Amberley. It visits Jevington and passes Iron Age hillforts and barrows.

Between Eastbourne and Alfristion there is a coastal alternative to the inland route, running along the scenic cliff tops to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters (pictured) and turning inland at Cuckmere Haven along the Cuckmere Valley to rejoin the inland Way route at Alfriston. Here there is a connection to the 1066 Country Walk that leads in turn to the Saxon Shore Way - see E-Routes (E9).

The Jubilee Way (East Sussex) (12 miles circular route) used some of the South Downs Way at Eastbourne and that part of it not on the South Downs Way is waymarked with a crown symbol. A publication is no longer available for it.

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.

See also E-Routes (E9)

---

Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Challenging Horse Ride (Multi User) Downland/Wolds
Start:	TV600972 - Eastbourne (Holywell), E Sussex
Finish:	SU483293 - Winchester, Hampshire
Open Date:	1972
Web Sites:	South Downs Way National Trails - South Downs Way Footprints of Sussex - South Downs Way Rambling Man - Planning your South Downs Way Walk Jason McDonald's Walking Pages - South Downs Way [blog] Southern Walks - South Downs Way Southern Walks - Chalk Country : South Downs Way - Winchester to Eastbourne British Walks - South Downs Way [blog] Annierak - South Downs Way [blog] Sustrans - South Downs Way Brian's Walks - South Downs Way [blog] Jackie McAll - The South Downs Way [blog]

---

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	South Downs Way : Winchester to Eastbourne  (Trailblazer Publications  - 2018 )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association  - 2009 )
Guidebook	Walking the South Downs Way National Trail : Winchester to Eastbourne, described in both directions  (Cicerone Press  - 2017 )
Guidebook	South Downs Way : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Guidebook	South Downs Way  (Rucksack Readers  - 2011 )
General Interest Book	Walking distance: extraordinary hikes for ordinary people  (Oregon State University Press  - 2012 )
Guidebook	Companion on the South Downs Way  (Per-Rambulations  - 2006 )
General Interest Book	The South Downs Way  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2008 )
Guidebook	Walkers' Britain  (AA Publishing  - 2011 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails  (Walk Unlimited )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Walk Unlimited )
Other	South Downs Way video guide  (TV walks )
External PDF	Walks on the South Downs Way by Bus and Train  (South Downs National Park Authority  - 2019 )
Guidebook	The National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
Guidebook	Fastpacking : multi-day running adventures : tips, stories and route ideas  (Cicerone Press  - 2018 )
General Interest Book	Alone on the South Downs Way : one woman's solo journey from Winchester to Eastbourne  (Tribal Publishing  - 2016 )
Other	Features of the South Downs Way  (Field Studies Council  - 2011 )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : West Sussex - South Downs Way: East Meon  (BBC )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : West Sussex - South Downs Way: South Harting  (BBC )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : West Sussex - South Downs Way: Amberley  (BBC )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : West Sussex - South Downs Way: Bramber  (BBC )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : East Sussex - South Downs Way: Brighton  (BBC )
Other	BBC Radio 4 : Ramblings : East Sussex - South Downs Way: Eastbourne  (BBC )

Click to showhide 21 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

---