We originally expected to complete the SDW in ten walks in 2013.  In the event we managed it in nine as we grew in strength and confidence. In 2014 we did it in eight walks. The more you do, the easier it becomes. These were our 2013 walks (click on each walk for more details):

Date	Day	Miles walked	Feet climbed	Walk
03-Sep	1	12.5	650	Winchester to Exton
04-Sep	2	11	863	Exton to QE Country Park
11-Sep	3	12	627	QE Country Park to Cocking Hill
18-Sep	4	11.5	624	Cocking Hill to Amberley
25-Sep	5	13	925	Amberley to Upper Beeding
02-Oct	6	10.5	1135	Upper Beeding to Ditchling Beacon
09-Oct	7	11.8	463	Ditchling Beacon to Southease
16-Oct	8	10	751	Southease to Exceat
23-Oct	9	8	719	Exceat to Eastbourne
Totals		100.3	6697	Winchester to Eastbourne

Starting and finishing places were chosen which:

• Provided good car parking
• Were a manageable walk apart
• Enabled refreshments to be had before or after walking
• Provided shelter while cars were repositioned/recovered
• Gave downhill finishes when tired, not uphill.

Not all these desirable traits were always possible but we ensured nobody ever waited to start or for a lift home after the walk without shelter and refreshment.   For a flavour of each walk and its start and finishing places, parking,  teashops, lunchstops, distances and the severity of the hills you will have to tackle, click on the walk  above (in red).  

These accounts are not meant to be practical walking guides (which you will find here).  Just a taster of what you are to expect from – and enjoy about – each walk. 

For details of  car parking and routing for each walk, click here. 

If you have a query, comment or suggestion please contact us here.

See the nine walks here:

Walking the South Downs Way the other way: Eastbourne to Winchester

Walking the South Downs Way using public transport

And probably more cream teas on the SDW!