It's officially graded as an 'easy' National Trail.
The climbs up onto the ridge are not difficult and if they are taken slowly , with lots of stops to admire the views, then they should not present a problem to any seasoned walker.
It is, however, 100 miles long and over nine consecutive days walkers (and their dogs) need to be reasonably fit and to come prepared with the right clothes and footwear.
Whilst the completion of any long distance walk is always an exciting challenge, this is one that can be achieved in relative safety and comfort provided you remember two things :-
♦ Some of the chalk & flint paths on the downland ridge are hard underfoot and good worn-in footwear is essential.
♦ There is little or no shelter from the wind and sun; sensible loose clothing, sun cream and lots of water are a very good idea.
The rewards are an enormous sense of well-being, satisfaction and achievement.
And, of course, nine days spent in good company in the beautiful scenery of the South Downs
And, of course, nine days spent in good company in the beautiful scenery of the South Downs
an unexpected refreshment stop
Both newcomers and ‘old hands’ will be invited to attend a morning
briefing meeting in Pulborough, with complimentary refreshments, a few weeks before the event.
The Footprints Team will be there to offer advice on preparation for the walk, explain how it all ‘works’, show a short DVD about the trail itself and answer any questions that you may have. More details of this meeting will be given with the joining instructions
This event has taken place, without a break, for the past 33 years.
To give you some idea of the people who take part; our questionnaires over the past five years show that :-
- Over half are walking it for the first time;
- 62% are ladies;
-
An amazing 93% say afterwards that they found the whole event : “very enjoyable” !
Join us in June 2012 as we walk the full 100 mile width of the South Downs National Park.
