The South Downs Way is one of fifteen National Trails in England and Wales, and the one I know best.   From long association, it is a personal favourite and, whilst it can’t compete with the rugged beauty of say, The Cumbria Way or Hadrian’s Wall Path, I think it is one of the finest paths in the country.

It crosses a densely populated corner of England and yet, the crest of the Downs can be wild and empty (especially midweek.  Especially in the rain).  Keeping close to the chalk escarpment, the path runs the length of the South Downs National Park, linking King Alfred’s capital, Winchester, to the coast at Eastbourne.  Parts of this high, free-draining footpath have been a trade and communication byway for thousands of years and, in places, it does feel ancient: passing several iron-age hill-forts, mediaeval churches and bronze-age tumuli.  But it is more challenging than you might think – for a southern ‘softie’ walk – and especially so if tackled in under a week.  (Here’s a tip: take longer).

In bad weather, the Downs are anything but soft and they soundly thrashed me when, at twenty-two, I first attempted the SDW.  On the morning of my third day, having walked from Eastbourne, I humbly admitted defeat at the half-way point, Amberley.  I’d wild-camped in Chanctonbury Ring the night before; and over-night the skies dropped torrents of water specifically on me and continued, gleefully, as I took down my tent.  I was soaking, all my gear was soaking and my feet were impressively blistered too.  On reaching the gorgeous warmth and chocolate cake of a café in Amberley, I stubbornly shook my head and refused the climb back to the ridge-line in now horizontal, freezing rain; and gratefully limped aboard a heated train back to London.  (Here’s a second tip: the Way is nicer in good weather).

Since that defeat in 1985, I’ve walked every step of the path between Winchester and Eastbourne at least twice – and parts of the eastern section many, many times.  But I had never completed the whole 100-mile challenge in one go.  For some reason (a nerdy one, probably) it seemed important that I do just that.

In April 2016, I caught a train to Winchester and, in startlingly good weather, walked to Eastbourne on six consecutive days.  (An overview of this walk is on my other blog – The Anxious Gardener).

I prebooked accommodation in East Meon for my first night away, South Harting for my second and Amberley for the third.  For the remainder of the path, I slept in my own bed, travelling home at the end of each day’s walk, and returning to the SDW the following morning.

Here is a day by day account of my walk:

Day 1 – Winchester to East Meon

Day 2 – East Meon to South Harting

Day 3 – South Harting to Amberley

Day 4 – Amberley to Pyecombe

Day 5 – Pyecombe to Southease

Day 6 – Southease to Eastbourne

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