The South Downs: A Guide to the National Park and the South Downs Way

The South Downs National Park covers some 600 square miles (1,554 km²) of protected countryside across Hampshire and Sussex: rolling chalk hills, ancient woodlands, clear chalk streams, river valleys and, at its eastern end, great white cliffs above the sea. It is England's newest national park and an easy journey from London, Brighton, Winchester and Chichester.

The park falls naturally into four landscapes, each with its own character, linked by one of Britain's best-loved long-distance paths.

The Western Downs

Open rolling farmland, ancient woodland and crystal-clear chalk streams such as the Itchen and the Meon. Climb Butser Hill or Old Winchester Hill for some of the widest views in Hampshire.

The Central Downs

The classic South Downs: sweeping panoramic ridges, dry chalk valleys and dramatic viewpoints. Devil's Dyke near Brighton is the most famous, and the ancient hill fort of Cissbury Ring makes a wonderful walk.

The Wealden Heath

A quieter world of heather, pine and deep beech woods. Black Down, at 280 metres, is the highest point in the National Park.

The Eastern Downs

Here the Downs meet the sea in the white chalk cliffs of the Sussex Heritage Coast: Seven Sisters Country Park, Birling Gap and Beachy Head. One of the great coastal walks in England.

The South Downs Way

The South Downs Way is a 100-mile (160 km) National Trail running along the chalk ridge from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. It is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders along its whole length, and follows the acorn waymarks of England's National Trails.

You can walk it end to end over several days, or simply choose a stretch for a day out: the open ridge above Devil's Dyke, or the final miles over the Seven Sisters towards Eastbourne, give a perfect taste of the whole.

Ancient Woodland and Nature

Roughly a quarter of the park is wooded, making it the most thickly wooded national park in Britain. Kingley Vale near Chichester is an ancient yew forest, and in spring the beech woods are carpeted with bluebells.

Rivers and Estuaries

The rivers Arun, Adur, Ouse and Cuckmere wind through the Downs to the sea, and their quieter reaches are lovely for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Dark Skies

The South Downs is an International Dark Sky Reserve. On a clear night, away from the towns, the stars are extraordinary.

Our advice

Choose one landscape and one good walk rather than trying to see everything. Pair a morning on the Downs with one of the great gardens nearby, such as Parham or West Dean, and finish at a village pub. Check the weather before you set out: the ridge is exposed, and the chalk is slippery after rain.