5 TOP TIPS - Hiking the South Downs Way - 2024

In this video, I give you my 5 top tips for walking the South Downs Way. Useful if you're new to thru hiking or considering walking this great national trail.
Thanks for watching! 🥾🥾

[@gvbalajee]

Thank you for wonderful tips i love hiking

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks for watching

[@michaelgatford6194]

Great tips for anyone thinking of doing it.

[@benhikescamps]

Cheers Michael!

[@neemancallender9092]

Doing the Ridgeway in two weeks Took your advice about campsites Will stay in a couple Thanks

[@benhikescamps]

Glad to help Neeman

[@moyahaigh9593]

Thanks for the advice😊

[@mikeday8295]

Thanks 👍

[@benhikescamps]

No probs.

[@RickallsBushcraft01]

I'm planning on doing it but I'm near Hastings so was going to start from Eastbourne. But I didn't think about the wind 👍🏻

[@benhikescamps]

On the other hand ,Winchester is a nice place to end.

[@rewfisher1]

I done the hike last month. From Eastbourne to Winchester. It isn't that bad as what some will tell you. I done it in 3 days and 3 hours. Absolutely loved it. Wild camping is hard as Ben says. Picking a site is actually extremely hard because the fields are cow or sheep fields, or your just to high up and it's to windy being fully exposed. Saying that, I was tarping and got on fine . I'm redoing the hike later this year and will go both ways, yes a two hundred miler in 6 days . Not bad for a 55 year old guy😂

[@benhikescamps]

@rewfisher1136 3 days and 3 hours is incredible. Respect! 🫡 One day, I may do it in reverse. Good luck on the double!!

[@GraysOutdoors]

Some greatbtips

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks Graham. Hope all well!

[@GraysOutdoors]

@@benhikescamps very busy year at work. Away from the 14 th July for a family camp but need to do a canoe camp.

[@DartmoorPaul]

Great top tips Ben and some apply to any trail. I hiked some of the South West Coast Path and found a few campsites along the way and it was a relief not to worry about waiting for everyone to go home before pitching tent. Plus your food carry is a good tip as I definitely took too much and should have looked more at the places to resupply. Lessons learned🙂

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks Paul for that. Yes, I returned with several pouches of John West tuna!!

[@rooksfoot1184]

Sound advice... Cheers

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks!

[@mandyfinden2707]

All valuable tips to consider for any thru hike I think - Ty Ben 👍🏻

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks Mandy.

[@o.bsoutdoors3871]

Hi Ben, Great video, really useful tips. We are planning our first through hike next year, and while it isn't the SDW, we will definitely be applying some of these tips to that trail😊👍. Thanks for sharing the knowledge👊 Have a great week ahead Shell and Pete😊👍

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks both. Which trail are you doing???

[@o.bsoutdoors3871]

@@benhikescamps we are planning to do the annandale way up in Dumfries, Scotland. It is 56 miles in total so an easier start to see if we like through hiking 😆🤞

[@ramblingracheltrailtales]

Good advice 😊

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks Rachel.

[@ed7540]

Hi Ben I’ve just checked the weather for next week and it’s looking good.!! So hopefully I’m off starting on Thursday and hoping to get it done in 4/5 days. Thanks for the tips

[@benhikescamps]

Enjoy and take care. Wow, 4-5 days is some going. The bit before Amberley is quite tough btw. Amberley is 50 mile point.

[@barryconway]

Good tips for any hike, Ben, I think. ta.

[@benhikescamps]

Thanks Barry.

[@hArtyTruffle]

Thanks Ben. SDW would be a great 1st hike for me I think, given what you’ve said. With my fitness levels, I think I’d start 50 miles in though 🤭 Once my fitness levels improve, I’d maybe take on some wild camping. Great tips 🍻

[@benhikescamps]

Thinking about it, Amberley is meant to be a lovely village to explore. That’s the 50 mile point. It has a train station too.

[@laurencecook7652]

I should have rewatched this. I ticked off 3 of them. Im on the trail now (from winchester) - staying at amberly and had lovely curry for dinner - been looking forward to it all afternoon. Def briught too much food with me - killing the pack weight. For summer the weather hasnt been too hot - amd lots of unofficial water points so mostly water every five miles (so far). Now gonna look at your videos for ideas of places to stay on the rest of the way. And thanks for inspiring me to do this one....

[@benhikescamps]

Hi Laurence. Delighted to hear you’re on the SDW. A good time of year too as our summer has been much cooler. Hope the curry was good!! I remember absolutely demolishing mine there. Water is pretty good to be honest. Lots of places to refill. You’ve done 50 MILES now!!! Halfway!! Keep going. 🥾🥾👍👍✊🏻

[@benhikescamps]

Highly highly recommend the YHA at Truleigh Hill. After climbing all the way up there (you’ll know what I mean), you’ll want to stay. A comfy bed, shower plus all you can eat brekky for 9.99. Phone ahead to reserve a private room: about £40. 👍🛏️

[@laurencecook7652]

@@benhikescamps Thanks Ben. Only just seen your message. They were full but could have squeezed me in for camping, so I've headed on down the road a mile or so to wild camp where it's a bit more peaceful. Also I'll have to make an early start, which I totally failed at today. That brekky might tempt me to start back in the wrong direction though.

[@benhikescamps]

@laurencecook7652 - my next stop after the YHA was Housedean Farm. They met me arrive late, check myself in on a clipboard they left out and then i paid them in the morning. Also do nice coffee to takeaway. It’s on the A27 right next to the SDW official trail. Near Kingston near Lewes.

[@GodAtum]

re tip no 2: I found some pubs are really arsy about single hikers, especially during the peak months. Often they have no tables for food and refuse to service me because they are too busy!

[@benhikescamps]

That seems odd. A shame too.

[@GodAtum]

@@benhikescamps some “gastropubs” are quite busy and need a booking which obviously I can’t do 🙄

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

It's weird how our Summers have got so hot, and yes having to carry gallons of water would be a necessary pain in the rear. I miss our dodgy summers 🤭😉😁

[@benhikescamps]

Yes, bring back the good old wash-out British summers I say! 🇬🇧☔️

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

@@benhikescamps Yup 👍... they were character building 🤪💦

[@JamesAitcheson-labarr-wq2kj]

how long did it take you ?

[@benhikescamps]

6.5 days 👍