The 5 Best South Downs National Park Walks
5 Minute Read
The South Downs National Park is one of the most popular National Parks in the UK. It is an excellent place to go walking and hiking with a variety of stunning landscapes. To get you started, I’ve created a list of the best South Downs National Park walks.
The National Park stretches across Hampshire and Sussex to the south of London. It is home to one of the UK’s most famous walking paths: the South Downs Way.
It is renowned for its sweeping countryside, hill-top views, chalk cliffs, and cosy English villages. There are an endless amount of great day walks throughout the park and plenty of places to explore.
It would be easy to make the top 5 South Downs National Park walks all about the ridge and beacon views along the South Downs Way. But I’ve tried to include a varied selection of shorter walks to highlight the best features this area has to offer.
Some of my other favourite South Downs National Park walks that didn’t make the list include Harting Down, Petworth Deer Park, Devil’s Dyke, and Cissbury Ring.
But as a starting point, here are my top 5 South Downs National Park walks:
- Seven Sisters Country Park & Beachy Head
- Kingley Vale & the Devil’s Humps
- Firle Beacon
- Old Winchester Hill
- Arundel Castle
See also:
How to Walk the South Downs Way
10 Beginner’s Hiking Tips
Day Hiking Gear Essentials
1. Seven Sisters Country Park & Beachy Head
Let’s start with the most dramatic and arguably the most impressive view in the South Downs National Park.
Along the south east coast of the National Park, limestone cliffs rise high above the English Channel. A dirt track follows this soaring cliff edge for nearly 7 miles between the Seven Sisters Country Park and Eastbourne.
The path follows the Cuckmere River to where it reaches the mouth at Cuckemere Haven. The trail then turns sharply up the cliff, past Birling Gap.
It dips up and down, over the Seven Sisters (seven headlands), before arriving at a red and white lighthouse in the sea. This location marks the wonderful Beachy Head.
The trail continues to Eastbourne and finishes at what is the trail head of the South Downs Way. An astoundingly beautiful walk all round.
There are car parks and numerous places along the way so you can walk a shorter section along the cliffs then loop back to your car if you want to avoid the hassle of busses and taxis.
PARKING
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If you have time, visit the village of Alfriston nearby. The South Downs National Park has many beautiful villages but this is undoubtedly one of my favourites. With it’s old church perched over the river, village store selling delicious pastries, and wood-beamed pubs (such as The George Inn), it would be a real shame to miss it!
2. Kingley Vale & the Devil’s Humps
This walk emphasises two of the great aspects of the South Downs National Park: Its history, and its ancient culture.
Kingley Vale is a National Nature Reserve. There is a nature trail that winds its way through the forest and up the surrounding hills.
The woodland contains one of the finest yew forests in Western Europe with some of the oldest trees in Britain. A few of the oldest are dated back 500 years.
Walk amongst their snarled trunks and look up at the dainty leaves. Wonder about the seasons they’ve survived and the centuries of change they’ve existed through.
Next, climb the sloping hill to the top of the ridge for a view out over Chichester towards the English Channel. Atop the hill are two unusual lumps of grass called the Devil’s Humps.
These are known as barrows. They are Bronze Age burial mounds and they can be found all throughout the South Downs National Park. (See the Devil’s Jumps for another example).
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Another great walk nearby is The Trundle. It is the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It overlooks Goodwood Racecourse and has fantastic views on race day. There are also fantastic views out along the coastal plain below.
3. Firle Beacon
There are many spectacular beacons and hill views in the South Downs National Park. Ditchling Beacon, Devil’s Dyke, Chanctonbury Ring, and Butser Hill – to name a few!
However, what swings it for me is the range of views you get around Firle Beacon. As you approach the eastern end of the South Downs National Park in East Sussex, the landscape curls down towards the sea.
This means you are walking on a raised ridge above the sparkling sea on one side, and on the other side the fields and pastures of the English countryside.
It’s a good idea to walk the 7-mile trail along the South Downs Way between Southease and Alfriston to make the most of the views.
The stretch of the South Downs Way between Pyecombe and Southease is also well worth walking along if you want to stay in the area to do multiple walks.
PARKING
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The wetlands around Southease and along the River Ouse are tranquil and well worth visiting. There is an abundance of wildlife in the area and it is good for birdwatching. The historic market town of Lewes is also close by and has a variety of options for refreshments and accommodation.
4. Old Winchester Hill
So far, all these South Downs National Park walks have been in Sussex. Here’s one that’s in Hampshire!
There are many excellent walks in Hampshire. Winchester was the old Saxon capital of England and with its historic cathedral is an excellent place to go for a walk.
See also:
Top 5 Best Winchester Walks
The River Itchen is one of the most clear and pristine chalk rivers in England. You could spend some time exploring the water meadows and watercress fields around Alresford or Cheriton.
Alternatively, follow the Meon Valley Trail and spend the day spotting kingfishers darting about the river.
My favourite viewpoint in Hampshire is Old Winchester Hill. It was the site of an Iron Age hill fort and has gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside.
There is an excellent walk around the summit which can be extended by walking down into the valley. I believe it beats Butser Hill for the best walk in Hampshire as it is more quiet and remote.
Butser Hill is close to the busy A3 which tarnishes its tranquility somewhat. Old Winchester Hill has no such issue and it is a perfect place for a picnic and a walk.
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Slightly north of the main carpark – at the fork of Hayden Lane and Old Winchester Hill Lane – is another smaller car park. Few people know about this and it usually always has a free space. Take advantage of this if the main car park is full! This small carpark also has a kiosk selling tea and coffees out the back of a van!
5. Arundel Castle
The last walk is around a city and historic castle, for those who wish to see a sample of the settlements in the South Downs National Park.
Arundel Castle itself is magnificent. It towers over the city of Arundel and boasts a range of architectural styles. Built during medieval times, it has since been renovated and refurbished many times in the last 1,000 years!
Walk up to Hiorne Tower, then drop down past Swanbourne Lake and back into the Arundel Wetlands. Here you can enjoy the nature of the area and spot many birds nesting along the river bank.
I highly recommend you do the horseshoe loop around the River Arun. This takes you out along the fields and gives you a magnificent view back towards the castle. It is a quiet trail and not as busy as the city.
PARKING
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There are plenty of fantastic cafes and restaurants in Arundel. Make sure you stop for lunch or at least a drink before heading off on your walk. Some of the best places to visit are Partners Cafe, the Red Lion, the Mott & Bailey Cafe, and La Campania.
Before You Go
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