South Downs Way National Trail

E Sussex, Hampshire, W Sussex

163 km / 101 miles

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.

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

Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Challenging Horse Ride (Multi User) Downland/Wolds National Park
Start:	SU486293 - Winchester, Hampshire
Finish:	TV600971 - Eastbourne (Holywell), E Sussex
Open Date:	1972
Web Sites:	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] South Downs Way Jackie McAll - South Downs Way [blog] Trailplanner - South Downs Way [blog] Walking the South Downs Way : an in-depth guide [blog] Camino Adventures - The South Downs Way [blog] A walker's journal - The South Downs Way [blog] South Downs Way [YouTube video] Walking the South Downs Way [YouTube video] Walk Wild - How to walk the South Downs Way : in-depth travel guide [blog]

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	South Downs Way : Winchester to Eastbourne (Trailblazer Publications - 2018 )
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 )
Guidebook	Companion on the South Downs Way (Per-Rambulations - 2006 )
Guidebook	Walkers' Britain (AA Publishing - 2011 )
General Interest Book	Alone on the South Downs Way : one woman's solo journey from Winchester to Eastbourne (Tribal Publishing - 2016 )
General Interest Book	The South Downs Way (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto) - 2008 )
General Interest Book	Walking distance : extraordinary hikes for ordinary people (Oregon State University Press - 2012 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of the south (Summersdale Publishers - 2010 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of Great Britain (Summersdale Publishers - 2007 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails (Trails Shop )
Badge	South Downs Way pin / lapel badge (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails (Trails Shop )
Other	South Downs Way video guide (TV walks )
External download	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 )
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 )
Other	National Trail mug (Trails Shop )
Other	South Downs Way hiking t-shirt (Trails Shop )

Click to showhide 24 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.