Cycling the South Downs Way | A Gravel Bikepacking Adventure

The South Downs Way is a popular bikepacking and hiking route going through the UK's newest National Park, between Winchester and Eastbourne. The 100 miles (160km) long route follows old droveways, tracks and bridleways and lies entirely within the National Park. The chalk ridgeway provides a challenging ride, but the stunning scenery makes it a great weekend adventure. It's been on my list of routes to do for a while, so I finally decided it was time to cycle the route, wild camping along the way.
South Downs Way information and GPX file: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB...
Water taps along the route: www.southdownsdouble.co.uk/taps/
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#southdownsway #bikepacking #wildcamping

[@dylanmenzies3973]

Good work, captures the place well.

[@juliet7703]

Very impressed with your efforts in the heat too. 👏🏾 You were rewarded with lovely scenery

[@dannychild5851]

Great to see an honest appraisal of the route, warning of the lack of shade, and being OK to show that you were cool with changing your plan when the circumstances dictated!

[@FollowThomas]

Really beautiful place to ride. Thanks for sharing your bikepacking adventure 👍

[@CeriMiddleton]

Yes it certainly is, especially as it's such an accessible location to get to. Thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@paulsslightlyactivelife]

Great video. I was planning on tackling it a few weeks ago, but the weather just wasn't playing ball that weekend, so one to come back to in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Cheers for watching Paul 👍🏽 Shame you had to prospone your trip, but hope you manage to complete it soon, highly recommend!

[@davesolobiker5601]

Great trip very enjoyable 🚲👍

[@TEFLLemon]

This was great! By the way, I'm from Seaford (near to Eastbourne), and I'd like to say to viewers here that cycling that in one day is an awesome feat! There are some tough climbs there!

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Came across your Channel Ceri and had to subscribe to a fellow Middleton 🤣. I am contemplating doing the South Downs Way over perhaps 3-4 days leisurely so your video was very interesting.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Haha hello to a fellow Middleton! Definitely recommend riding the route, some great trails!

[@NELSON3947]

Epic!

[@CeriMiddleton]

Cheers for watching Gary, glad you enjoyed it!

[@mvee05]

i did southdowns way with my gravel bike 3 years ago! underestimated it and had to add another day and did it in 3 days 🥲🥲

[@VagabondTurtle]

This looks so adventurous, beautiful towns, nature is awesome, and mainly flat 😄 that last one is important for me, I can't stand bike climbing :)))

[@sebvrooij5355]

Nice video, thanks

[@CeriMiddleton]

Cheers Seb!

[@lilibethtrinidad5054]

Thanks for your video

[@CeriMiddleton]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍🏽

[@lilibethtrinidad5054]

@@CeriMiddleton anymore vid coming anytime soon?

[@CeriMiddleton]

I've finished another short video but having some issues exporting it! I'm planning on filming some bike kit videos soon. Thanks for your support 👍🏽

[@mattevans9267]

Nice video. Living close to the South Downs, I am on there fairly often and the whole length is pretty brutal. I did a short bikepacking trip in April when restrictions eased. So great to get out and test out some new kit, but the weather was horrid. The chalk was like an ice ring. Wish I had filmed it as it was more of a climbing adventure scrambling through new fallen trees!!! Can recommend it to anyone :)

[@CeriMiddleton]

Hahah sounds like you had a proper adventure! Yes it is a great route with great scenery, couldn't believe it was all essential off roads!

[@MJDW1972]

Nice video.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Happy adventuring!

[@grumpy-dad3701]

Looks great. This could be next year's adventure. Rode pedders way this year. 1st bikepacking adventure.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks! That sounds great, well done on your first bikepacking trip. I haven't heard of that route so will look it up! Cheers

[@grumpy-dad3701]

@@CeriMiddleton thanks. It runs from Thetford to holme-next-the-sea and then continues on around to Cromer on the east coast. Next in think is the Derby portway goes from Nottingham to the peak District.

[@tgalbraith2152]

Loved the video. You're obviously an experienced cyclist but I did wonder why you kept a cap under your helmet in the heat. The South Downs countryside looks really nice.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I mostly wore it for the shade over my eyes, I somehow lost my sunglasses on the first day, so this was the next best thing!

[@willowwatts]

Watching this from rainy dark and gloomy Wales..⛈️.. I was planning to leave tomorrow for my first bike packing trip but the weather looks grim.. going to wait out till Sunday.. Another great video..👍🏻.One question pal .is it essential to have a sleeping mat?? Or would I be able to get away without one..just want to save some weight and space..cheers..I'm going to be using my soloist and a sleeping bag..

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks for watching! That sounds exciting, fingers crossed the weather improves 🤞🏽 I always take a mat with me, mine makes camping feel almost luxurious! I use a Thermarest NeoAir, it's a blow up one but fairly small and only weighs just over 200g (I've got a 3/4 length one). Definitely good to keep your body off the cold ground and deal with any lumps and bumps in the ground! Good luck!

[@trysomeme21-laurkawchmurka94]

Hi Ceri, great achievement! Quick question: do you think its doable with a bike trailer (with kid)? I mean is the route wide enough or there is a lot of single track sections where wider, two wheeled trailed won't fit?

[@CeriMiddleton]

Good question! While lots of the sections would probably be suitable (although bumpy for the kid), I'm not sure if the whole route would really be possible. There are around 100 gates, some quite narrow sections and rough & steep rocky/rooted sections. I haven't had any experience riding with a trailer though so it might be worth having a look on some Facebook groups etc!

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

Lovely video Ceri thanks! Have you done the Dorset Gravel Dash? I did it last weekend and it looks very similar.. hills of happiness!! All the best :-)

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks :) I haven't, but it looks interesting! Is the route the same as the one from the Dorset Dirt Dash event? Might have to give it a go!

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

@@CeriMiddleton I was wondering that myself, I think it's the same route. Only one way to find out I suppose!! haha! I've just got back from doing my own JOGLE, bloody brilliant! Will be uploading a 'highlights' vid ASAP. See you on the road dude :-)

[@CeriMiddleton]

Haha yes I'll make a plan to ride it! Is it a gravel or MTB kind of route? Ooh that sounds great - I look forward to seeing you video!

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

@@CeriMiddleton I did it on my gravel bike, was fine but some of the sections were more suited to MTB. either would have its own benefits really. If I did it again I'd prob stick with my gravel bike but get chunkier tyres.......🤘

[@nickpousson6297]

Looks amazing. How long have you cycled to get that base of fitness to tackle that.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks Nick! Tricky to say as I've been cycling on and off all my life! With all day rides like this, as well as fitness, pacing is also super important.

[@91722854]

cycling on 15cm wide singletrack with a gravel drop bar is no joke, so much strain on arms.

[@CeriMiddleton]

Yeah there were a few trickier sections! Most of it is doable on a gravel bike though

[@91722854]

@@CeriMiddleton I've been curious as to how gravelish a route for people to consider it gravel route rather than MTB route, as it seems that on komoot, some people with their MTB crushing some baby head rocks still consider it gravel yet those would be really tough or outright impossible for a gravel bike, so I guess the best way is to gauge the first and second most frequently encountered rock size in terms of their diameter and whether those were ridable up/ down hill and then it would better advise whether one should take a gravel bike for actual gravel route or an MTB for those 'gravel' route

[@queasyj]

Lovely vid Ceri, I notice you're using a Norco bike. How is it? I am thinking of getting one

[@CeriMiddleton]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I've got a Norco Search 105 (2018 model I think). Yeah I like riding it, nice adventure bike. However, if I bought another one I'd get one with a bigger tyre clearance. My one can only fit up to 35mm tyres, which is a bit narrow for these types of routes!