Day-by-day trail itinerary
South Downs Way: 9-day itinerary
Leaves Winchester on farm tracks and country lanes across gently rolling downland, arable fields, hedgerows, beech hangers, building steadily rather than climbing hard. Cheesefoot Head and Beacon Hill give the first proper high views, and the walking stays on undulating high ground with no steep pitches. This opening stretch sets the pattern for the whole trail: the path itself passes no village directly, so food, water and beds all mean a detour off the ridge. Quiet and rural rather than dramatic, a settling-in day before Butser Hill and Queen Elizabeth Country Park raise the stakes.
Choose your pace
Compare South Downs Way itineraries
A practical starting point
9 days from Winchester to Eastbourne
Use these daily distances and overnight stops as a starting point, then customise the trip in the planner.
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1
Day 1: Winchester → Exton
19.7 km · 267 m ascent · 5h12–7h20 (about 6h07, incl. ~1h01 of stops)
Via Chilcomb, Cheriton -
2
Day 2: Exton → Chalton
18.3 km · 398 m ascent · 5h07–7h13 (about 6h01, incl. ~1h of stops)
Via Warnford, West Meon, East Meon, Clanfield -
3
Day 3: Chalton → Cocking
20.2 km · 406 m ascent · 5h41–8h01 (about 6h41, incl. ~1h07 of stops)
Via Buriton, South Harting, Elsted -
4
Day 4: Cocking → Houghton
17.2 km · 318 m ascent · 4h48–6h47 (about 5h39, incl. ~56m of stops)
Via Heyshott, Graffham, Duncton, Sutton, Bignor, West Burton, Bury -
5
Day 5: Houghton → Washington
11.8 km · 231 m ascent · 3h14–4h34 (about 3h49, incl. ~38m of stops)
Via Amberley, Storrington -
6
Day 6: Washington → Poynings
20.3 km · 454 m ascent · 5h44–8h05 (about 6h44, incl. ~1h07 of stops)
Via Steyning, Bramber, Upper Beeding, Small Dole, Fulking -
7
Day 7: Poynings → Falmer
16.1 km · 291 m ascent · 4h28–6h18 (about 5h15, incl. ~52m of stops)
Via Pyecombe, Clayton, Hassocks, Keymer, Ditchling, Westmeston, Plumpton -
8
Day 8: Falmer → Alfriston
22.4 km · 432 m ascent · 6h14–8h49 (about 7h20, incl. ~1h13 of stops)
Via Kingston near Lewes, Iford, Telscombe, Rodmell, Southease, Piddinghoe, South Heighton, Firle, Alciston, Berwick -
9
Day 9: Alfriston → Eastbourne
17.2 km · 466 m ascent · 5h02–7h07 (about 5h56, incl. ~59m of stops)
Via Litlington, Westdean, Exceat, Friston, East Dean, Birling Gap
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.