South Downs Way

Walking the South Downs Way offers a fantastic adventure that demands a moderate level of fitness, with its rolling hills and occasional steep sections. Aim to be comfortable walking 10-15 miles (16-24 km) daily and consider some regular walking and hill training beforehand. The trail accommodates hikers of all fitness levels, so take your time, pace yourself, and enjoy the journey.

The path is on good surfaces with gentle and gradual gradients. There are a few moderately steep sections.

The routes can get muddy in bad weather.

Some of the trails require crossing busy roads and a railway line, so care must be taken at these points.

This tour is graded moderate, with good surfaces and generally gentle, gradual gradients, aside from a few moderately steep sections. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation is a mix of country hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&Bs, all offering a warm welcome to walkers and chosen to be as close to the trail as possible. Occasionally you may need to stay a mile or so off the trail where accommodation is scarce, and in some spots you may find yourself in older, traditional buildings with smaller room sizes than you'd get elsewhere.

You're welcome to add extra nights at any of the overnight stops along the route if you'd like more time to explore - just get in touch and we can arrange this for you.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, leaving you free to choose from what's available locally. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, which can be arranged on arrival, and dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

This tour can be enjoyed from spring through to early autumn. Summer can be hot on the south coast and especially busy during school holidays, so we'd recommend walking in spring if you'd like to see the wildflowers along the route. Note that if your itinerary includes an overnight stop in Buriton, you won't be able to start your walk on a Friday, as there's nowhere available for dinner there on a Sunday.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The South Downs Way is very well waymarked and easy to follow throughout.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendations below:
South Downs Way: British Walking Guide. Trailblazer. Guidebook
South Downs Way National Trail MAP. Harvey Map XT40

Getting to the Start
Winchester, the start of the South Downs Way, is well served by road, rail and air. The closest regional airport is Southampton, served by airlines including Flybe to many UK regional airports as well as Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and other European cities, with London Gatwick a further option for international connections. By rail, Winchester sits on the South West Trains network and is around an hour from London Waterloo, and National Express coaches run 5 times daily from London Victoria Coach Station, alongside regular buses from around the country. We don't recommend travelling by car given the environmental impact, but if you do need to drive, you can park in the long-stay car park in Winchester, which needs to be pre-booked in advance through the Winchester Parking Office (01962 848346).

Getting from the End
Eastbourne, at the end of the tour, is closest to London Gatwick Airport, which also has most regional UK and international connections (around 1 hour 30 minutes by car). By rail, Eastbourne is around 1 hour 30 minutes from central London, with frequent trains departing London Victoria throughout the day. Most on-street parking in Eastbourne is pay and display and can't be used overnight, though there's a car park at Beachy Head where you can buy an annual parking ticket, with limited spaces (contact the Parking Info Office on 08456 801129). The Traveline website is a good source of further travel details.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport. In some cases, the luggage transfer service that takes your bags on to your next accommodation may also be able to assist - just get in touch with our office for advice on the best options.

Our standard itineraries follow the trail from west to east, as the prevailing winds are at your back this way and you finish at the white cliffs near Eastbourne. If you'd prefer to walk east to west instead, just let us know and we can arrange this for you.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation