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#253 of 300 · South Downs National Park

South Downs Way

United KingdomHampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex

A 100-mile chalk ridge trail from the cathedral city of Winchester to Eastbourne, following ancient droveways past Iron Age hillforts and downland villages before finishing over the Seven Sisters cliffs and Beachy Head.

Distance
160 km
Point to point
Ascent
3,800 m
High point 270 m
Time
8 days
Multi-day trek
Difficulty
Moderate
Sustained climbing or a long day, no exposure.
Best months
Apr–Oct
When the route is usually in condition
Start
Winchester
Finish: Eastbourne (foot of Beachy Head)

Route

Topographic map of South Downs Way, from Winchester to Eastbourne (foot of Beachy Head)WinchesterCheesefoot HeadExtonOld Winchester HillButser HillHarting DownGraffham DownBignor HillRackham HillChanctonbury RingTruleigh HillDevil's DykePyecombeDitchling BeaconSoutheaseFirle BeaconAlfristonExceatBirling GapEastbourne (foot of Beachy Head)Start: WinchesterFinish: Eastbourne (foot of Beachy Head)© OpenStreetMap contributors, SRTM · © OpenTopoMap
StartFinishWaypoints joined by straight lines, not a GPS track.
  1. Winchester
  2. Cheesefoot Head
  3. Exton
  4. Old Winchester Hill
  5. Butser Hill
  6. Harting Down
  7. Graffham Down
  8. Bignor Hill
  9. Rackham Hill
  10. Chanctonbury Ring
  11. Truleigh Hill
  12. Devil's Dyke
  13. Pyecombe
  14. Ditchling Beacon
  15. Southease
  16. Firle Beacon
  17. Alfriston
  18. Exceat
  19. Birling Gap
  20. Eastbourne (foot of Beachy Head)

Wildlife along the route

This hike hasn't been surveyed yet. Its species list is built from iNaturalist records around the route by the survey script — see how the data is made.

Nearby on the list