{"id":2795,"date":"2021-07-19T10:38:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T09:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phenweb.co.uk\/?p=2795"},"modified":"2025-06-19T19:18:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T18:18:00","slug":"the-south-downs-way-happy-walks-in-natural-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phenweb.co.uk\/es\/the-south-downs-way-happy-walks-in-natural-england\/","title":{"rendered":"The South Downs Way – Happy walks in Natural England"},"content":{"rendered":"

We (my wife Lisa and I) have finally completed the South Downs Way on Friday 16th July having originally commenced it on 25th May 2019! My knees may never recover as The Seven Sisters<\/a> took their toll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SDW
SDW Map and Elevation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The map and elevation guides above show the route from Winchester<\/a> in Hampshire, England through to Eastbourne<\/a> in Sussex. During the walk we gained one dog, several pounds in weight and two years in age including one with a zero for me. We lost the year of planning to complete the route in 2020 due to the global pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many will do the walk faster or complete tougher\/longer walks. We have done tougher individual climbs Helvellyn<\/a> in the Lake District a notable previous trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve created a full gallery page which you can find here with all the photos<\/a> and more than are in this blog. The scenery is stunning, the natural world and wildlife is wonderful. It’s not as exotic as Borneo<\/a> or Costa Rica<\/a> but a lot closer to home. For the quintessential England of rolling hills, and patchwork colours, it’s hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the excellent pocket guide, South Downs Way by Jim Manthorpe & Daniel McCrohan which helpfully splits the route into legs travelling West to East. The reverse is also available for those wanting to travel East to West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winchester
100 Miles To Go<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We started off in May 2019 with the aim to complete that summer but as usual life got in the way and we had only completed 70 of the 100 miles from Winchester by the end of November 2019. We drove away from Pyecombe on a bright but cold early winter’s day when the short daylight hours limited further attempts. We stopped for the winter expecting to restart in Spring 2020. Well nothing restarted until July 2021. We managed to book some accommodation for now two dogs and two adults. Not easy at best of times as few hotels, B&Bs or cottages are available that take dogs and cottages. (They wanted a lot of money and a week’s booking too.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is full of stunning views and panoramas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Panorama\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Clear<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In November 2019, we had managed two days in a row with calm weather even if cold and despite arriving in the dark. Going downhill at dusk can be fun – not. We split two days walking with a stay in the South Downs Way B&B Poynings<\/a> (Very Good). The B&B lies in the valley off of the walk and therefore not at a start or end point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"B&B\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Previous days we had driven to the day’s end point then taken a taxi (dogs allowed booking) back to the start point. On one day, for Leg 4, we had taken the train from Amberley Station to Chichester, and then a bus to a start point in the lay by ending from Leg 3. These were new experiences for Merlot our then 9 year old lone tricolour border collie, since joined by his great nephew Malbec. <\/a>Both MastaMariners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Merlot
A bus and a train all in one day – woof!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Leaving the car in a lay bys or car parks to be reclaimed with tired and muddy walkers and one dog at that time, is fine if the journey back home is about an hour. As we ventured further east the trip out and back increased, traffic and weary bones starts limiting the enjoyment so more planning for overnight stays and therefore hopes of good weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were lucky on nearly every occasion. On only one day did we have heavy rain at any point and that was on Leg 2 when despite a reasonable forecast our luck did not hold.<\/p>\n\n\n