Experience some of the finest countryside in the UK between Winchester, first capital of England, and the white chalk cliffs of sunny Eastbourne by the sea. If you are interested in prehistory, great views, attractive wildlife, fine old pubs and pretty villages, or if you just fancy a challenge, the South Downs Way awaits you.



Anyone who is reasonably fit can walk the South Downs Way - if you can comfortably walk say 12 miles (20km) in a day you shouldn''t have a problem. Most people take 8 or 9 days to walk the whole 100 miles (160km) at 12 to 15 miles (25km) a day.



Or just walk a manageable section if you are only looking for a day out.



On the other hand those seeking a challenge can simply walk the trail in fewer days (the Gurkhas complete with heavy back-pack do 100km of the Trail in under 10 hours!).



The Trail is well marked on the ground - just follow the acorn signs. On the whole the South Downs Way follows an obvious route along the crest of the Downs, especially in Sussex. But it is recommended that you take a map, however, in case you miss a sign and to find your way to and from the Trail.



One word of warning - there are several places where the South Downs Way turns off sharply at a junction. If you''re not paying attention it is easy to walk past the turning and just carry straight on. Look over your route for the day on a map before you set off so you know where to look out for turn-offs.

Do you start at Winchester or Eastbourne? You can do either, and of course you donít have to do the whole Trail in one go anyway. The Trail Officerís personal recommendation is to start in the west and head east, ending at Eastbourne. There are two reasons for this; one is that the wind will be behind you rather than in your face. More importantly the Hampshire countryside is very attractive but the white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head are spectacular. Starting in the west the views just keep getting better whereas if you start at the very best part the rest of the trip is bound to be an anticlimax. Also, what better way to end a walk than to find yourself relaxing on the beach with an ice cream watching the boats go by, ahh! bliss.



Where to stay?

You can walk the South Downs Way staying in campsites, apart from the Hampshire section where campsites are harder to come by. But note that the South Downs Way runs through cultivated land, unlike some other National Trails, so wild camping can be problematic. Youíre unlikely to be able to find anywhere discrete to camp along the Hampshire section - in Sussex the landscape offer more possibilities but you should still seek the landownerís permission wherever possible. Please do not try to wild camp on National Trust land as you will be breaking the byelaws.



You will find accommodation often in the villages along the way many are at the foot of the hill so youíll have to walk down in the evening and up in the morning in addition to the on Trail distance.

If you are Bed & Breakfast-ing you can get away with quite a small backpack with fresh underwear and one set of evening clothes. Alternatively you can post clean clothes to your B+B midway to await your arrival; and then post your dirty clothes back to yourself in the same package. Add a new book, maps, or whatever!



Footprints of Sussex offer both accommodation and luggage packages and luggage movement alone. Luggage movement alone costs £175 for the whole Trail, shorter options possible. 



Pear Tree Cottage, Jarvis Lane, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3GL

www.footprintsofsussex.co.uk





Creation of a new National Park

The South Downs has become Britain’s newest National Park after 60 years of campaigning - and the South Downs Way running for over 100 miles between Winchester and Eastbourne will become the access backbone of this new National Park. This is great news as at last the fantastic landscape, wildlife and culture of this area will have a secure future to ensure that the landscape of the Trail can be enjoyed by walkers for generations to come.



For more information including the detailed boundary map and a timetable for the creation of the new Park visit the DEFRA website.