TrailstriderLong-distance trail planner

Day-by-day trail itinerary

South Downs Way: 7-day itinerary

Firle Beacon starts the climb back onto open ridge, then Alfriston is the last real village before the coast, after that the character changes completely. Beyond Litlington and Seven Sisters Country Park the trail meets the sea and turns into a genuine switchback: the Seven Sisters cliffs, one steep dip and climb after another, exposed and exhilarating in good weather, hard work in wind. Birling Gap and Beachy Head, Britain's highest chalk cliff, keep the climbing going almost to the end. Eastbourne's seafront promenade is a properly different, urban finish after 100 miles of downland and cliff.

163 km3,239 m ascent7 walking daysEngland
Modelled from eudem25m, sampled every 100 m, 5 m deadband. Sampling cannot see undulation shorter than its own step, so this is a floor rather than a guidebook total.
Plan these dates and stays Vegan trail guide Packing list

Choose your pace

Compare South Downs Way itineraries

7 days23.3 km a day8 days20.4 km a day9 days18.1 km a day

A practical starting point

7 days from Winchester to Eastbourne

Use these daily distances and overnight stops as a starting point, then customise the trip in the planner.

  1. 1
    Day 1: Winchester → Southease

    29.5 km · 643 m ascent · 8h22–11h49 (about 9h50, incl. ~1h38 of stops)

    Via Birling Gap, East Dean, Friston, Exceat, Westdean, Litlington, Alfriston, Berwick, Alciston, Firle, Piddinghoe, South Heighton
  2. 2
    Day 2: Southease → Poynings

    26.2 km · 589 m ascent · 7h23–10h25 (about 8h41, incl. ~1h27 of stops)

    Via Rodmell, Telscombe, Iford, Kingston near Lewes, Falmer, Plumpton, Westmeston, Ditchling, Keymer, Clayton, Hassocks, Pyecombe
  3. 3
    Day 3: Poynings → Washington

    20.4 km · 406 m ascent · 5h43–8h04 (about 6h43, incl. ~1h07 of stops)

    Via Fulking, Small Dole, Upper Beeding, Bramber, Steyning
  4. 4
    Day 4: Washington → Duncton

    22.0 km · 541 m ascent · 6h16–8h50 (about 7h22, incl. ~1h14 of stops)

    Via Storrington, Amberley, Houghton, Bury, West Burton, Bignor, Sutton
  5. 5
    Day 5: Duncton → Chalton

    27.2 km · 514 m ascent · 7h34–10h40 (about 8h53, incl. ~1h29 of stops)

    Via Graffham, Heyshott, Cocking, Elsted, South Harting, Buriton
  6. 6
    Day 6: Chalton → Exton

    18.2 km · 285 m ascent · 4h58–7h01 (about 5h50, incl. ~58m of stops)

    Via Clanfield, East Meon, West Meon, Warnford
  7. 7
    Day 7: Exton → Eastbourne

    19.7 km · 261 m ascent · 5h14–7h23 (about 6h09, incl. ~1h02 of stops)

    Via Cheriton, Chilcomb

Solve the practical questions

Plan South Downs Way with confidence

Route-specific answers from Trailstrider's researched trail data, with the planner ready when you want to turn them into your own trip.

Trail transport Getting there and away Reach the start, leave the finish and understand the awkward one-way leg. Read the guide → Accommodation planning Where to stay 55 researched places, route pinch points and a direct path into the live check. Read the guide → Difficulty and confidence How hard is it? Hardest sections, terrain, bad-weather sensitivity and realistic escape options. Read the guide → Weather and seasons Best time to walk Best months, daylight, ground conditions, crowds and booking pressure. Read the guide → Services on the trail Food and resupply Longest mapped food and shop gaps with stage-level carry notes. Read the guide → Eating on the trail Vegan food guide Trail-specific meals, dependable restocks and the stretches to plan ahead for. Read the guide →