| South Downs Way | |
|---|---|
 South Downs Way, looking towardsChanctonbury Ring | |
 | |
| Length | 161 km (100 mi) |
| Location | South EasternEngland,United Kingdom |
| Designation | UK National Trail |
| Trailheads | WinchesterHampshire 51°03′47″N1°18′25″W / 51.063°N 1.307°W /51.063; -1.307 Eastbourne,East Sussex 50°45′04″N0°16′08″E / 50.751°N 0.269°E /50.751; 0.269 |
| Use | Hiking,Cycling |
| Elevation change | 4,150 m (13,620 ft) |
| Highest point | Butser Hill, 270 m (890 ft)[1] |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | All year |
| Sights | Long Man of Wilmington,Chanctonbury Ring |
| National Trails |
|---|
 Acorn symbol used to guide the route of National Trails |
Cross-border |
TheSouth Downs Way is along distance footpath andbridleway running along theSouth Downs in southernEngland. It is one of 16National Trails inEngland and Wales. The trail runs for 160 km (100 mi) fromWinchester inHampshire toEastbourne inEast Sussex, with about 4,150 m (13,620 ft) of ascent and descent. In 2016, over 60,000 people passed a single trail point.
People have been using the paths and tracks that have been linked to form the South Downs Way for approximately 8000 years. They were a safer and drier alternative to those in the wetter lowlands throughout theMesolithic era. Early occupation in the area began 2000 years after that in theNeolithic era.[2] Early inhabitants builttumuli in places on the hills and hill forts later, once tribal fighting became more common.Old Winchester Hill is an example of one of these hill forts along the path.[3] The trail was probably used by the Romans, despite the fact that they built one of their roads across the path atStane Street (Chichester), this use possibly evidenced by the existence ofBignor Roman Villa[4] near Bury, nearby the path.
The South Downs Way was approved as a National Trail in March 1963 and opened in July 1972. It was the UK's fifth national trail to be established and its first long-distance bridleway.[5] It initially ran almost entirely in Sussex, fromBuriton, on the Hampshire–Sussex border, toBeachy Head, near Eastbourne. In 1987 it was decided to extend the route westwards through Hampshire to Winchester.[6]
Of medieval historical interest, the village ofLomer, now only visible as a few small bumps in the ground,[7] was most likely abandoned during theplague in the 14th century.[8] The flat plain to the north of the South Downs Way, where it passes Lewes, is the site of theBattle of Lewes fought bySimon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester andHenry III during theSecond Barons' War.
Ditchling Beacon probably due to its height, had for centuries been used to warn local inhabitants of pending invasion. Again during theTudor period the beacon was utilized to warnQueen Elizabeth I of theSpanish Armada which could be seen coming up the channel.[9]
One particular oddity,The Long Man of Wilmington, can be found only a few metres off the path and down the hill as the path nears one end in Eastbourne. Recent study has shown that it was most likely created in the sixteenth or seventeenth century AD possibly posing more questions than it answers regarding its meaning.[10] Yet still it attracts its fair share ofNeo-Druidism and otherpagan interest with rituals and festival held there commonly.[11]
Another significant hill figure visible from the trail is theLitlington White Horse, located on the western slope of Hindover Hill nearAlfriston. While the Long Man is of uncertain older origin, the White Horse is a 20th-century creation, first cut in 1924 and later recut by local residents in the 1990s. Managed by theNational Trust, it serves as a prominent landmark for walkers navigating the Cuckmere Valley section of the Way. Unlike the Long Man, which is viewed from the path, the South Downs Way passes directly above the White Horse, offering a perspective of the figure's scale and the underlyingchalk geology.
During theSecond World War much of the south coast of England was fortified withpillboxes,tank obstacles and machine gun posts in anticipation of aNazi invasion, the plan for which was known to the Nazis asOperation Sealion. These objects can be seen closer to the sea and require a diversion. The closest isNewhaven Fort, a 5-mile diversion from the path, which is an attraction that houses many World War II artefacts and documents with examples of the huge cannons used in coastal defence.[12]
In 2016, a trail point recorded 61,191 passers-by.[13]
In 2022, the South Downs Way celebrated 50 years since opening by fixing commemorative plaques to signposts along the way in all 66 parishes that the path runs through.[14]
The undulating path begins inWinchester Hampshire, and passesCheesefoot Head, the towns ofPetersfield andArundel, the villages ofStorrington andSteyning,Devil's Dyke viewpoint nearBrighton, followed byDitchling Beacon and miles ofchalk downland across toBeachy Head, and ending inEastbourne, East Sussex. The trail is popular with walkers, including day walkers, overnighters, and through hikers.
Severalyouth hostels are along the route to accommodate walkers. It also passesBirling Gap, a beach area with hotel and restaurant.
Most of the route is on bridleways, permitting access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Occasional short sections are on roads or byways, and these are the only parts on which motor vehicles are permitted. Some sections are on footpath, and in these places an alternative signed route via road or bridleway is provided for cyclists. The footpath sections are mostly short, but between Alfriston and Eastbourne there is an extended footpath section including theSeven Sisters cliffs, for which the bridleway alternative is several miles inland.
The South Downs Way lies within theSouth Downs National Park, mostly on high chalkdownland of theHampshire Downs and theSouth Downs. The easternmost section is on the highchalk cliffs of theSeven Sisters, Sussex. Apart from at the end points, the way keeps to relatively isolated rural areas and some villages, although it passes within a few miles ofBrighton andLewes.
Various running and cycling events are held along the route; including theBritish Heart Foundation's annualrandonée. Part or all of the 100 miles is cycled to raise funds forheart disease research, the fastest times are sub 8 hours with most riders taking under 14 hours.
Part of the South Downs Way is used forOxfam's Trailwalker, the UK's 'toughest team charity challenge'. It is a non-stop 100 km endurance event along the South Downs Way to raise money forOxfam and theGurkha Welfare Trust.[15]
Around 93% of the full 100 miles is run non-stop on foot as part of the 'Centurion South Downs Way 100';[16] course records are held by (male) Mark Darbyshire 13 hrs 42 mins, and (female) Lucy Gossage 16 hrs 30 mins.
For much of its length the South Downs Way forms part of the route of theE9 European Coastal Path which runs for 3,125 miles (5,000 km) fromCabo de São Vicente in south-west Portugal toNarva-Jõesuu in north-eastEstonia, near the border withRussia.
The route runs through Portugal, Spain and France before crossing theEnglish Channel by ferry from the French port ofRoscoff to Plymouth. From Plymouth the route of the E9 follows theSouth West Coast Path,Bournemouth Coast Path, theSolent Way (with anIsle of Wight option) where it meets the South Downs Way at theQueen Elizabeth Country Park nearBuriton. FromJevington the E9 route leaves the South Downs Way and follows the1066 Country Walk andSaxon Shore Way toDover, from where it returns to France.[17] It then continues toBelgium, theNetherlands,Germany,Denmark,Poland,Lithuania,Latvia andEstonia.
As a National Trail, the South Downs Way is also part of the network of routes that form theInternational Appalachian Trail.
The South Downs Way also connects with many otherlong-distance paths offering opportunities for longer expeditions:
