South Downs Way; National Trail via Steyning

The South Downs Way is a delightful 100 mile (160 km) National Trail along the south coast of England, through beautiful countryside that is now to become our newest  National Park.

About half way along the trail is the medieval town of Steyning and it’s here - on the trail - that you’ll find Footprints of Sussex.

                         Poppies on the South Downs

                                      June 2009

                           (photo: Heather Clanfield)

For fifteen years we have been providing high quality holidays along the South Downs Way. Our ' walking holidays' are featured in the menu to the left.

As well as running a  professional business we are also active country walkers ourselves and regularly walk the downs    

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Walking the South Downs  - Winter 2009

And each year in June we lead the Annual South Downs Way Walk on behalf of West Sussex County Council. That's how we know the south downs so well !

We are often asked which is the best direction to walk the south downs way, whether from Eastbourne heading west to Winchester or easterly from the ancient capital of Wessex  to the dramatic chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.

The numbers taking part in the annual south downs way walk would suggest Winchester to Eastbourne is a little more popular - partly because the prevailing wind is then usually at your back and partly because of the spectacular finish of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head

Others will argue that the morning light is much more attractive walking towards Winchester and that the magnificent Winchester Cathedral and imposing statue of King Alfred the Great offer a more fitting end to the southdowns way - with perhaps an extra day being spent in this cathedral city on the banks of the River Itchen.

Whichever way you choose to walk the South Downs Way National Trail you'll be delighted with the sights and sounds of the southdown sheep, the wild orchids and butterflies and those truly amazing views of forty miles or more across the Sussex Weald towards London and out across the English Channel towards the Isle of Wight.